Printers

[JonnyBlaze]

I need to suggest a printer for a guy here at work. I have no clue whos the best brand lately.

specs:
Color inkjet
photos (nothing too fancy)
$200 or cheaper.

thanks for any suggestions.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

bump

 

[CraigRT]

IMO there is no good inkjet, I hate them all. I hate printers with a passion infact.

But, I can say this, in terms of printout quality, you can't beat Epsons' high end inkjets.

 

[bendixG15]

This site uses Canon and Epson

This site bad mouths Epson for ink clogging in print head

This site does not like the new Canon printers, loves the series that just got replaced.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: bendixG15
This site uses Canon and Epson

This site bad mouths Epson for ink clogging in print head

This site does not like the new Canon printers, loves the series that just got replaced.

That is true about the ink clogging on Epsons, happens on both high and low end inkjets here.

We have both a 1280 and a C86.. does on both (they see a lot of work) But as I said, the printout quality overall rules on the Epsons.

I don't really care too much for Canon's either.

I own a Samsung ML-1740 at home which I love.

 

[Greenman]

I've had nothing but trouble with epson printers, and wouldn't own one if they were free. Cannon has been a bit better. None of them can touch a cheap laser though.

 

[Oyeve]

Epson r320. Awesome.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
Epson r320. Awesome.

 

[Lemon law]

Most people have one and only one printer. In terms of versatility, the inkjet has it all over the laser in producing color output and phptographic prints. Monochrome lasers are fine for economy but lack color.
$300-500 color lasers are just coming onto the market but can't competete with inkjets in terms of photoprinting quality.

But in the hands of a refiller or user of very good and very cheap refill cartridges, the old style Canon like the ip3000, 4000, and ip5000 can outpreform a laser in terms of output quality and printing ECONOMY for all types of printing. Be it b/w text, plain paper color, or photoprinting.

Canon has show this is possible and what Canon givith is now taken away. But a properly designed inkjet could dominate commercial markets now dominated by Lasers. Except the entire inkjet industry is wedded to the idea that inkjets should be consumer rip off devices and profit centers for the manufacter.

 

[Aenslead]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
I need to suggest a printer for a guy here at work. I have no clue whos the best brand lately.

specs:
Color inkjet
photos (nothing too fancy)
$200 or cheaper.

thanks for any suggestions.

HP's Deskjet 6540 is as good as it gets. Incredibly fast, accurate colors, great detail, and... way bellow 200usd.

 

[pontifex]

the company i work for uses HP inkjets. we have many different models. mine is a deskjet 5650. I've been here for almost a year and only 2 have had problems. we have probably 20 or more of them.

i own a hp psc1310 at home and aside from the software for it being fussy during installation, it works great.

edit: i should mention it works great for printing text and stuff like that. i don't print photos off of it.

 

[Dufrane]

I love my hp photosmart 7960. Used to be $250. I am not sure if you can get it anymore.

 

[Lemon law]

There are many HP's that provide good output. The curse with HP's is that none offer good printing economy---and the same can be said of Lexmark and Dell. If one is willing to refill their own cartridges, there is some hope for economy with these brands.-----but refilling can be a real mess with spotty results.

Printers like the ip3000, 4000, and 5000 offer excellent output with far better economy using OEM ink. Roughly half or less the consumable costs of the most economical of HP's using OEM ink. But use readily available third party cartridges in those Canon models and you beat HP by a factor of ten or so on economy.

The sweet spot is the ip4000----still $100.00 street price. But get em while they last. The new Canon chipped cartridge models won't let you use thirdparty cartridges until a way around the chip is found. But still beat HP on output quality and economy.