05-10-2004, 02:26 PM
That kind of black and white printing suggests to me that you get a laser. Most lasers are about $.02 to $.05 per page, most inkjets are about $.10 to $.15 per page. Then get the cheapest color inkjet you can find for the infrequent color printing. When the ink runs on out the color, just go to Wal-Mart and get their $30 special in inkjets instead of pay $40 to replace the ink.
O.K. I'm only half serious about the disposable printers because a lot of the cheapo specials aren't coming with ink carts anymore. But you are serious in the range where a laser printer (an HP 1100, 1200, or 1300) would be a good idea. It's what I did. Mine will have made up the difference in cost in about 6 more months, and my print volume has gone down and I paid $400 for it, and you can get one for $200 now.
I like Epsons because the ink doesn't dry as fast if you don't use it. I really like Cannons because they usually don't have the print head in the ink cart so the ink is cheaper and you only need to change the head about every 4 or 5 ink cart changes, that generally makes them cheaper. With pretty much every inkjet printer but HP's you really should stay away from the off brand ink carts. They may be cheaper, but do see more problems with printers that use off brand carts.
Of course that is just my thoughts. Black and White lasers are home printers now. Good color lasers can be had for under $800 now (probably less I haven't looked in awhile) but they still have too high a price per page. Of course most people realize they don't need as much color printing as they think if they start using a laser. I really like my HP 1200. I have an Epson 880 that I got refurbished for $30. I didn't like putting $45 in ink carts in it here a little bit ago, but they lasted me a year and a half because of the infrequency of use. So it wasn't all bad.
O.K. I'm only half serious about the disposable printers because a lot of the cheapo specials aren't coming with ink carts anymore. But you are serious in the range where a laser printer (an HP 1100, 1200, or 1300) would be a good idea. It's what I did. Mine will have made up the difference in cost in about 6 more months, and my print volume has gone down and I paid $400 for it, and you can get one for $200 now.
I like Epsons because the ink doesn't dry as fast if you don't use it. I really like Cannons because they usually don't have the print head in the ink cart so the ink is cheaper and you only need to change the head about every 4 or 5 ink cart changes, that generally makes them cheaper. With pretty much every inkjet printer but HP's you really should stay away from the off brand ink carts. They may be cheaper, but do see more problems with printers that use off brand carts.
Of course that is just my thoughts. Black and White lasers are home printers now. Good color lasers can be had for under $800 now (probably less I haven't looked in awhile) but they still have too high a price per page. Of course most people realize they don't need as much color printing as they think if they start using a laser. I really like my HP 1200. I have an Epson 880 that I got refurbished for $30. I didn't like putting $45 in ink carts in it here a little bit ago, but they lasted me a year and a half because of the infrequency of use. So it wasn't all bad.
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It's all just zeroes and ones and duct tape in the end.
It's all just zeroes and ones and duct tape in the end.