Lesson learned

[Spinney]

I've got an Epson, bought on the recommendation of my local computer shop (small, 2 man operation). Each cartridge can be reloaded separately, and I buy compatible cartridges, not Epson ones. No probs so far (it is a combined printer/scanner).
Maybe it depends on the model they flogged you?

 

[ttcycle]

Canon had one on offer in Jessops a while back - I forget what model they are - we didn't get the wireless one but the one we have is pretty good. The ink didn't last long to begin with but we found cheap replacements on 7 day shop and another online place.


If it's light use it should last you a while

 

[PaulSB]

[QUOTE 1409757"]I'm thinking of going laptop + wireless soon, so might end up getting a new wireless one anyway. Any recommendations?[/quote]
I'm no expert but have a couple of suggestions. Although I have a multiple-function machine at home I would always buy machines with a single function as they then do one task well. For work, which is were I do a lot of printing, we long ago stopped buying cheap printers. Going to the £120-150 mark gives an enormous improvement in quality.

For wireless + laptop we currently use an HP 8000 Pro. It can be USB or wireless connected, set up is very simple, print quality excellent, very fast, has auto-duplex and is economical to run. Separate ink cartridges and the black is double capacity. The Bluetooth connection always works at boot up and the connection networks easily. At initial set up despite the instructions saying it will be automatic I found it neccesary to do a manual connection.

The negatives are what I call spool time. Once a doc is sent to print it takes a while to prepare the pages for actual printing, once the info is sent the actual printing is very fast. For large print runs the spool time, waiting time if you like, is more than compensated for by the print speed but for 2-3 pages it seems frustratingly long. I don't know but I guess this is a function of wireless printing and is not specific to this printer.

The other negative is HP have developed what I find to be a complicated online diagnostic process for problem solving. Only had to use it twice in 12 months for very simple problems but it didn't fill me with confidence.

 

[asterix]

[QUOTE 1409757"]<br />I'm thinking of going laptop + wireless soon, so might end up getting a new wireless one anyway. Any recommendations?<br />[/quote]<br /><br /><br />


Bought a Canon MP495 early in the new year for our simple wireless needs. It's been remarkably trouble-free (touches wood rapidly) and we are still on the first cartridge.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...ers&field-keywords=mp495+cartridges&x=21&y=19

 

[ian turner]

[QUOTE 1409765"]
Only light use. Mainly black and white, some colour for the school projects, but no photo printing.
[/quote]
The internet is a wonderful thing. You can search for cheap printers on say pcworlds site and then search for reviews before spending petrol money to go get it (plus sometimes reserve and buy can save you money in advance)
If you used up the black ink cartridge in 3 weeks then even on a relatively small cartridge that suggests you were giving
it some heavy usage at that time.

If you replace the ink cartridges say once a year i'd stick with the manufacturers cartridges to avoid the possibility of having to try various compatibles to find ones that don't block up the heads and spread over a year it's not a large outlay. You might contend that if everyone bought compatibles it would force the printer companies to reduce their prices. In fact it would result in printer prices going up.

As to buying seperates not everyone has the space to fit in an a4 scanner and printer.


I'd recommend the Canon MG6150 from dixons or amazon for about £129 for a wireless all in one.

 

[fossyant]

If you do go to one of these shops - ask if you can buy at the internet price, they will tell you that you can't

Simply get out your phone, ring the on line sales and find out the internet price.

Then ask to "Collect at Store"

Now give the order number to the salesperson and pay the internet price

Or do it on the web whilst in the store on your phone, or even borrow a demo computer - hah !

 

[twowheelsgood]

Until 5 years ago I'd go through a printer every 6 months or so. Then I was given an old HP laserjet 4M - a kind of unsung modern design clasic IMHO, you've seen one in every office, school, unversity, public building etc. It sits perfectly off a network print server box (from the IT recycling bin).

A knock-off cartridge prints 10,000 pages and cost £22 (well, it's only soot and glue).

I hardly ever print photos, if I do I do it at one of those booth things in the supermarket; the last colour cartridge set I had actually dried-out.

The chasis (built like a brick privvy but still compact) says 1993 and the diagnostic pages says it's printed 145.000 pages. Print quality is still perfect.

If and when it dies (me or it first?) I'll be searching the bins outside offices for another. Seriously, a modern printer is basically designed to last only a couple of cartirdges.

It's not actually the oldest piece of hardware I use. That honour goes to my IBM model-m keyboard, which is now 25 years old and still is better to type on than anything made since.