General > General Technical Chat
What's a good printer for minimal usage ?
MathWizard:
Once and I while I want to print something, just B/W text I guess, but I haven't had a working printer in years.
Does anyone make a cheap one, that won't clog up, or anything else bad, like need new ink every time, if you hardly ever use it ?
pcprogrammer:
If you only print once in a while it is best to buy a laser printer.
A couple of years back I bought a MFP M182n, which does color, after ditching several inkjet printers due to the cartridges going bad. Only print a couple times per year and the laser one does not seem to have problems with this.
You can find cheaper ones that only do black and white and don't have a scanner bed to suit your needs.
MathWizard:
They don't cost that much anyone, but just looking at some pictures, I'd want a small one fore sure. I haven't owned a toaster in years, I wonder if they make a printer that doubles as a toaster.
Electro Detective:
--- Quote from: pcprogrammer on February 02, 2023, 07:58:43 am ---If you only print once in a while it is best to buy a laser printer.
A couple of years back I bought a MFP M182n, which does color, after ditching several inkjet printers due to the cartridges going bad. Only print a couple times per year and the laser one does not seem to have problems with this.
You can find cheaper ones that only do black and white and don't have a scanner bed to suit your needs.
--- End quote ---
The jet printer companies have been rolling consumers like this for 20+ years, myself included. >:(
They literally have a license to 'print' money from not advising connedsumers about the 'drying out' factor on many/all printers,
and us 'print every so often..' bunnies either keep buying new printers and litter nature strips with the stuffed ones,
and or go the 'DIY ink refill' -crossed fingers and legs- route. :-[
That's assuming most battling users survive the 'Quick Setup' and software install procedure,
much less the countless dramas that come later, once the 'works great!' honeymoon period is over. :popcorn:
"..cheaper ones that only do black and white and don't have a scanner bed.." is where I'm at but have not bothered yet
I would much rather save on the expense and headbanging of 'what to buy' and cartridge 'bang for buck'decisions for now,
and USB stick the documents and picture/photos, and spend the same money (or less) in a 12 month period,
by rocking up to Officeworks or a local printer, and let the everyday practicing pro staff sort it out :-+
I won't even do DIY printing there either to save cents, as my time is important too I think..
and don't want to drop the effort, just to wait in the queue to complain to counter staff
that the DIY printers are knackered,
as they always seem to be with punters bitching and or walking out in disgust.
fwiw I go during quiet times when the staff are not stressed and always do a great job for me
i.e. who wants to trade this affordable no brainer service, to root around with a SOHO printer
that NEVER works when you just need ONE page asap |O
No thanks..
magic:
B/W laser is cheap, reliable and doesn't dry or clog up because the toner is just a powder in a plastic cartridge.
For some popular brands and models even 3rd party cartridges are available, which vary from very cheap and failing after a few dozen pages to only slightly more expensive and lasting for a few years of light use.
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