#1 2013-03-01 00:33:34
I bought my first printer 30 years ago cheap, an ibm/epson 9-pin. Fell offa back offa truck, I was assured. I prayed to the new god of paperless offices I'd never have to buy a new one, quickly learning how to replace and ink its ribbon. I tried everything from toner to bootblack, my typewriter standby. Both methods sort of worked.
I retired the 9-pin after 15 years of slower than death service and bought an inkjet. Refilling cartridges wasn't taxing but auto-printing the same test page every day just to keep the jets unclogged ate at me. I kicked the inkjet to the curb before its warranty expired and have gone printerless more than 10 years.
Now I need one again for photos and documents. Any advice for a determined cheap fuck?
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#2 2013-03-01 00:52:12
Lexmark.
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#3 2013-03-01 00:52:36
Oh yeah, and this for your troubles:
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#4 2013-03-01 06:01:39
If you don't need color, the Brother HL-2xxx series is cheap (<$100 when the office supply stores have them on sale) and well supported under Linux (probably built-in to your distro; here are drivers if it's not).
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#5 2013-03-01 08:07:47
Ill concur. Both of my Brother printers have been workhorses and cheap to feed.
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#6 2013-03-01 10:34:20
HP LaserJet 100 - cheap and the ink never dries out on you. Toner can be a bit expensive though.
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#7 2013-03-01 10:59:08
Buy the cheapest thing that meets your needs. Printers at our price point are generally a scam to sell ink. I have an HP3510 that meets all my requirements. I have success and failure with all the major brands. Don't expect anything you buy today to last longer than 3 years.
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#8 2013-03-01 11:12:23
Buy a cheap HP, Brother, or Lexmark and throw it away at the first sign of trouble. Unless you need a good graphics printer, the inkjets are pretty damn good for routine jobs.
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#9 2013-03-01 11:59:53
Funny thing, I've had (work supplied) ink jet printers for years and maybe it's just the climate but we used it so infrequently that the ink was always dried up when we needed it. I have three teenagers and even with school work there just isn't that much call for printing these days. So the Multi-function LaserJet is a good solution for us as toner doesn't dry out and the quality is awesome.
Of course it's wireless and sits quietly in the corner of a back room (which is an awesome departure from the days of yore); I suspect if we needed to print more I'd be better served with an ink jet. But as it is I'm very happy with this little laserjet.
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#10 2013-03-01 12:44:47
RangerX makes a point. It is the HP and Brother branded inkjet cartridges that are expensive. Note that you can now buy very cheap chinese ink refills. Even cheaper than refilling the cartridges themselves. The last order I did from EZInk via Amazon was $1.50 a cartridge vs $24.00 at the local office supply. The shipping was included.
Not sure if a higher quality ink is needed for photos. Ok for all my docs with graphics.
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#11 2013-03-01 13:53:09
Canon has the cheapest refill cartridges.
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#12 2013-03-01 16:32:56
Great source for ink cartridges.... http://www.lasermonks.com
Sadly, it's no longer run by monks anymore, but still a good value.
Last edited by whosasailorthen (2013-03-01 16:35:30)
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#13 2013-03-01 20:32:45
Listen to the wise Square and McNutly, A Brother HL-2xxx laser is the way to go. Cheap, reliable, and if it breaks you can pull the toner and drum and buy a replacement. Sits happily for months on end and works when you need it, no inkjet bullshit.
If budget is an issue I have an old Laserjet I can bring you on my next visit or or a Panasonic KXP-4410. Actually I think I have two of those. All are parallel only and I don't remember what works and what doesn't, but you're welcome to find out. The laserjet in particular was a pretty darn nice unit in its day.
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