Does any color laser printer make sense to replace inkjets?

[Raycaster]

I'm constantly replacing color inkjet cartridges/printers for the kids homework and now looking at laser printers.
I have a cheap b/w laser printer that has been great and economical for 2 years and wondering now about laser.

If I use the color printer carts they need $ replacing.
If I don't use them they dry up, can't win.

Does it make sense to go laser?
Is there a color laser printer that won't kill me on cost (setup and carts)?
I don't need photo quality.

Any help would be appreciated.

[_Allan_]

I'm going to help you out ... it's a bit complicated, to figure out price per page (ppp) because most companies don't post yield counts.
However, that being said, I'll try to compare printers from the same company.
HP PhotoSmart 3050 Printer/Scanner/Copier (http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=34_458&item_id=041402) is $69.99.
Replacement cartridges are $20 (http://www.123inkcartridges.ca/hp-ink-cartridges/Deskjet-3050.html) at 1-2-3 Ink Cartridges. They yield (supposedly) 480pg/blk and 330pg/colour.
So, blk is around 0.041 CENTS/page, and colour is 0.06 CENTS/page.

HP LaserJet Pro 200 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=34_451_456&item_id=049680) is $289.99.
Replacement toner's are:
Black: $48.99 (http://www.123inkcartridges.ca/hp-toner-cartridge/-HP-126A-CE310A-BK.html) yield : 1200pgs
Magenta: $48.65 (http://www.123inkcartridges.ca/hp-toner-cartridge/HP-126A-CE313A-M.html) yield: 1200pgs
Yellow: $48.65 (http://www.123inkcartridges.ca/hp-toner-cartridge/HP-126A-CE312A-Y.html) yield: 1200pgs
Cyan: $48.65 (http://www.123inkcartridges.ca/hp-toner-cartridge/HP-126A-CE312A-C.html) yield: 1200pgs

so that's $200 for FULL replacements, with a ppp of around 0.17 CENTS/page

So you can see for the full colour Laser it's around 10x per page, but, in the long run, I think it's worth it.

BTW... I bought my HP Laser 1020 black/white in 2005. It came with a 1/2 full toner. It lasted me until 2010. I replaced it for around $50 at that time.

[ShadowVlican]

Go laser if ur not after quality colour prints... colour laser printers are so cheap nowadays

[JAC]

The ONLY way an inkjet printer makes sense is if you're printing your own photos. Otherwise, they're a complete scam.

[Busybuyer888]

If inkjets were so great, why do companies have colour copiers (with built-in network colour laser option)?

Instead of buying a dedicated network inkjet printer.

I put up with a colour inkjet for 5 years. It was SLOW. Was constantly doing re-alignments. Afraid to print much colour due to speed. And needed to use 24 lb paper for good results. Otherwise paper felt wimpy.

Now with a colour laser, I use colour print whenever there is colour on the page. No slow downs at all.

Refilling my own colour toners. Don't get trapped by the ($) cost numbers. Do what you can and just enjoy life.

[indca]

If inkjets were so great, why do companies have colour copiers (with built-in network colour laser option)?

Instead of buying a dedicated network inkjet printer.

I put up with a colour inkjet for 5 years. It was SLOW. Was constantly doing re-alignments. Afraid to print much colour due to speed. And needed to use 24 lb paper for good results. Otherwise paper felt wimpy.

Now with a colour laser, I use colour print whenever there is colour on the page. No slow downs at all.

Refilling my own colour toners. Don't get trapped by the ($) cost numbers. Do what you can and just enjoy life.


Actually I just bought a HP 8600 Plus after extensive research comparing it to Color laser printers, 18 ppm black, 13 ppm color that is some fast speed right there, and there is no cooling down or start up lag like laser printer;

What I found is HP 8600 is faster then most of color laser printer.

Then came the next test which I thought favors laser printers about printing cost, but again HP 8600 won with at 1.6 cents per black and white page and 7.2 cents per color page; laser printers will be more expensive then this especially for black prints. And this are the original cartridge cost, and remanufactured chips will probably lower this cost even more in a long run.

Laser technology needs to do something major soon otherwise HP and other injets is gonna make a dent out of them big time..

[Manatus]

Actually I just bought a HP 8600 Plus after extensive research comparing it to Color laser printers, 18 ppm black, 13 ppm color that is some fast speed right there, and there is no cooling down or start up lag like laser printer;

What I found is HP 8600 is faster then most of color laser printer.

Then came the next test which I thought favors laser printers about printing cost, but again HP 8600 won with at 1.6 cents per black and white page and 7.2 cents per color page; laser printers will be more expensive then this especially for black prints. And this are the original cartridge cost, and remanufactured chips will probably lower this cost even more in a long run.

Laser technology needs to do something major soon otherwise HP and other injets is gonna make a dent out of them big time..

How are new inkjets in terms of ink permanence? What I remember about inkjets is having to wave newly printed sheets around or wait for them to dry (couldn't just leave them in a stack or it would all smudge), and half the time the ink transferred like it was newspaper anyway.

One thing though... if you're really looking at a laser printer in terms of saving money, don't bother looking at how much the manufacturer charges for new toner, usually it's just as much as a new printer. Even if you don't want to refill your own toner, buying a 3rd party remanufactured one usually costs half or less.

[indca]

How are new inkjets in terms of ink permanence? What I remember about inkjets is having to wave newly printed sheets around or wait for them to dry (couldn't just leave them in a stack or it would all smudge), and half the time the ink transferred like it was newspaper anyway.

One thing though... if you're really looking at a laser printer in terms of saving money, don't bother looking at how much the manufacturer charges for new toner, usually it's just as much as a new printer. Even if you don't want to refill your own toner, buying a 3rd party remanufactured one usually costs half or less.


When I was looking for a printer I had four things that I wanted in a printer like scanning, Fax, Copy and off course printing; and injets have very good features for all-in-one printer setup.

There was one backdraw to injets and that is a self maintenance routine that printer goes through, and this off course wastes some cartridge when doing so; Still, my wife just joined a college and we have been printing very consistently, and I am very impressed with the printing quality as well as scanning and faxing.

For me other features make printer more powerful then just printing tool, and HP 8600 plus delivered on that completely.

[will888]

Totally agree with JAC. Owned an inkjet long time ago. Stupid thing would dry out unless it was used literally every day. Refills are not the panacea because quality changes with each fill. When the cartridge dries, the liquid portion dries out but the pigment stays behind. So, viscosity changes a bit which alters performance. I don't know if the newer units are able to work better with refills, but that was my one and only experience. Never again!

[Raycaster]

Thank you for the replies, very much appreciated.

The kids don't need color all the time but once every 2 months I seem to go thru the same nightmare. $50> color $50>b/w.
I yell at the kids not to use it if not needed so.... they dry out!

Don't need a multi-function printer either.

Any suggestion for an economical color laser under $500 I can sell the wife on?

[HeChats]

Thank you for the replies, very much appreciated.

The kids don't need color all the time but once every 2 months I seem to go thru the same nightmare. $50> color $50>b/w.
I yell at the kids not to use it if not needed so.... they dry out!

Don't need a multi-function printer either.

Any suggestion for an economical color laser under $500 I can sell the wife on?

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?webid=900987&affixedcode=WW
$199

You could probably find cheaper ones, but that's a good price for an all in one.


Might be able to save more by finding a coupon here: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/staples-coupons-3-total-updated-08-06-2009-a-389024/3395/

[wilsonlam97]

Any colour laser printer with a DPI comparably to inkjet? Budget laser printers seem to print so pixelly in general.

[Wingding]

Thank you for the replies, very much appreciated.

The kids don't need color all the time but once every 2 months I seem to go thru the same nightmare. $50> color $50>b/w.
I yell at the kids not to use it if not needed so.... they dry out!

Don't need a multi-function printer either.

Any suggestion for an economical color laser under $500 I can sell the wife on?

Dude, I don't know where you live but if it's anything like here in Alberta you'd have to be absolutely nuts to buy a new color laser for the home. Just go to kijiji and do a search for "Laserjet" and I'll bet you'll find endless listings. On the weekend I picked up an HP Laserjet duplexing color printer with a nearly full set of toner cartridges for $25. It's about 4 years old but working perfectly with only 15,000 total pages printed (which for one of these machines is nothing.) The cartridges on this thing are good for around 5,000 pages. So, I'll use this $25 machine for a year or two til it runs out of toner or the transfer belt wears out, then simply take it to the recycler and look around for another one. For whatever reason the market for used color lasers is just about zip in most parts of Canada, and people can barely seem to give them away right now.

Among the obvious bargains you'll also find lots and lots of listings with people (still at the early stages of trying to sell) imagining they're going to get $300, $400, $500 for their machines, but eventually they'll come way down as reality sets in. Don't be shy about e-mailing such sellers a lowball offer as you might be surprised; and the worse they can do is tell you to go stuff yourself.

[Phils]

Staples has the HP C1025nw colour laser for $149 this week. I bought it at a previous sale for $98 and some people were able to snare it for $49. It has networking including wireless and the quality of the printing is excellent. I've printed out a few (not many) pictures the quality was great.I've had it for months and the starter cartridges are still mostly full.

$149 isn't $98 or $49 but if I were in a rush I'd spring for it at that price. If were not in a rush I'd wait for a better price.

[Fraser River Rat]

Hi,

If you're looking for just a colour laser printer, check out this Lexmark. Kids only use it 2 times/week. Always on sale at roughly this price. Comes with fully filled cartridges. Other printers either print in colour slower or come with starter cartridges. At this time, it's cheaper to buy another printer than to buy toner cartridges for this printer.
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=45381&vpn=26B0001&manufacture=Lexmark&promoid=1027