Printer advice

[EmoHawk]

I am looking for a printer (not Laser) for a generic 2 + 2 family, kids are gonna be doing school work, photo printing not essential, something on the cheap side of things Any suggestions or recommendations gratefully received.

 

[Lemon law]

Don't try to go too cheap---I assume you are talking inkjet---and really cheap inkjets will generally eat you out of house and home in cartridge replacements costs.

For just an inkjet---a Canon ip4200 or ip4300 will offer you the lowest per page printing costs of any currently produced inkjet.---even if they are--yeech--chipped cartridges
that are made harder to refill.----but a $100.00 with careful shopping will get you either printer.---both use CLI-5&8 cartridges.

If you want to add a scanner to the mix---you get the same lowest consumable costs with the Canon MP500---but move down to a MP number lower than 500 and you will find different more rip off cartridges.-------get Canons that use the CLI-5&8 cartridges---and avoid all other Canons is the general rule.

But lucky people like me had the foresight to buy the previous generations non-chipped Canons using the BCI-3&6 cartridges---and we print dirt cheap.--either we refill or use third party cartridges to slash costs to near nothing.

If you could find a new or used canon ip4000 or MP780---you would be far better off.

 

[Zepper]

Come on now, Lemon. There are third party tanks for the 4200/4300 now so your consumables cost can be nearly as low as the older generation. Just a bit more hassle in moving the chips for now. But on the main point, Lemon was right on. Canon gives the best combo of cost and quality output to be found. You can get the iP4300 from the Egg for $90 shipped (unless you live in one of the states where they have to collect slstx.

.bh.

 

[Lemon law]

Zepper is correct---and no matter what inkjet you purchase--do look into refilling or using clone tanks.
But nearly all inkjets with the notable exception of brother---are now chipped---making it harder for the consumer to use money saving options---and helping the manufacters profit margins.

 

[adammthompson]

I had a Canon S530D that was such a POS I couldn't even give it away, so I would avoid Canon. I'm using an HP Deskjet 5740 now, which works pretty well for an inexpensive printer. I can live with the high cost of HP ink cartridges; at least the printer works.

 

[Zepper]

Well, there's a good reason to be skeptical about anecdotal evidence. One can get more than they payed for a clean example of the first Pixma series (ip3000, 4000, 5000 and the MP equivalents) on eBay.

..bh.

 

[xgsound]

Originally posted by: adammthompson
I had a Canon S530D that was such a POS I couldn't even give it away, so I would avoid Canon. I'm using an HP Deskjet 5740 now, which works pretty well for an inexpensive printer. I can live with the high cost of HP ink cartridges; at least the printer works.

Too bad you got a lemon (sorry Lemon law) on your Canon. In my extended family there are about 12 Canon and HP printers. The only serious problem any have had was getting drivers to work (either brand) and stay working on specific (usually older or memory starved) machines. Eventually we clear up that problem. The minor problem is HP ink costs, but most don't print enough for it to be important. The ones who print a lot or have kids that like to print thier name over a 8 X 10 solid red background have gone to Canon with http://www.swiftink.com replacement ($3.95) cartridges. My BJC600 from around 1994 is still in use by one of the aunts.


Jim