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Celtic_Frost
Raven
Joined: Sep 13, 2009
Age: 18
Posts: 112
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 Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:55 pm Post subject: Which All-in-One printer is the best? |
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I am looking for an all-in-one that can print, copy, and scan. I am trying to be careful in my selection because I have heard about manufacturers purposely making their printers use up more ink so that you have to buy more ink cartridges and it seems like a lot of printers do not work right and malfunction for no reason, and I would love to avoid all of that hassle as much as possible.
My budget is up to $200. Any suggestions? |
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Apep
Blue Jay
Joined: Jan 25, 2009
Posts: 87
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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I would advise saving more money. My HP Color Laser Jet CM1312nfi MFP cost $500 a year ago. It's under $400 now. Networked scanning, printing, faxing, slots for memory cards. The only thing it doesn't do is duplex. My last HP laser jet did not die, I just needed something more, after seven years. I expect this one to last a few years, spending $100 or so on toner cartridges each year. It's cheaper in the long-run.
Going with an inkjet all-in-one is a waste of time usually, unless you buy the cheapest models and replace them every year or so. |
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gramirez
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 10, 2008
Posts: 1019
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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I would go Laser, and just buy/use a scanner. The scanner can scan (duh) and copy, if you just print out whatever it is that you scanned. I would never touch the AIO's these days, 95% of them are garbage.
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-Gil |
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Celtic_Frost
Raven
Joined: Sep 13, 2009
Age: 18
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:37 am Post subject: |
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| Any suggestions on any color laser printer models under 200 dollars? |
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zer0netgain
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 03, 2009
Posts: 1350
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:47 am Post subject: |
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My 2 cents.
HP still makes some of the best all-in-one devices. Inkjet still is the best value of quality vs. price (color laser is still too expensive). However, the ink is expensive.
I like HP, but you have to really be careful over the product reviews, because a lot of them got poor ratings and others got good ratings. We have a scan/copy/print HP in the office. It sits not doing color for months and works fine when we give it a job to do. My mom got a newer HP of similar design and function. I have to run a basic color print job once a month (1 page) to ensure the ink doesn't dry in the jets.
I like HP for inkjet purely because the inkjet is incorporated into the ink tub. So, if you get catastrophic inkjet clogging, just replace the ink cartridges. Other printers keep them separate. I had an Epson that did great print jobs, but once the jets clogged, the cost and trouble to get them working again wasn't worth it.
You can search models on Newegg and read the customer reviews. That helps a lot in narrowing your choices to what's better than others. |
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0_equals_true
Genuine Charlatan
Joined: Apr 06, 2007
Age: 27
Posts: 7000
Location: London
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:16 am Post subject: |
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I would avoid all in one solutions, unless you need small office capacity.
Small modulised design may be able to do the task but it doesn't do very efficiently. They are also very slow as a photocopier, and the ink runs out very quickly and tends to be poor value for money, even with the generics.
Office jets are now competing with laser. Don't automatically assume laser is the best option. It is jets not lasers that are used for photographic prints. Jets can be economical for mid range capacity. Neither is viable for high volume publishing.
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0_equals_true
Genuine Charlatan
Joined: Apr 06, 2007
Age: 27
Posts: 7000
Location: London
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:20 am Post subject: |
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| zer0netgain wrote: | | I like HP for inkjet purely because the inkjet is incorporated into the ink tub. So, if you get catastrophic inkjet clogging, just replace the ink cartridges. Other printers keep them separate. I had an Epson that did great print jobs, but once the jets clogged, the cost and trouble to get them working again wasn't worth it. |
Actually high end HPs you can change the heads separately from the cartridges. There are two head cartages for four ink cartridges. Heads combine magenta and cyan and yellow and black.
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0_equals_true
Genuine Charlatan
Joined: Apr 06, 2007
Age: 27
Posts: 7000
Location: London
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:23 am Post subject: |
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If $200 is your budget then you might want to go for resale if you want decent equipment.
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DavidK
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jun 07, 2009
Age: 24
Posts: 150
Location: Kent, UK
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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If you buy a cheap-ass all-in-one it will often cost more for one cartridge than for a new printer. I read somewhere that for the volume, ink costs more than vintage champagne. I have a Brother HL-5250DN black-and-white laser, which has network and duplex. Second-hand from eBay but in excellent condition. I haven't replaced the cartridge yet but it is economical compared to others in its class. My previous printer was a Lexmark X85 which is twice the size of most all-in-ones now, has no Vista/7 or Linux support even at 32-bit, and the cartridges get clogged before they get empty if you don't use them regularly enough.
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When faced with my demons, I clothe them and feed them
And I smile, yes I smile as they're taking me over
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pakled
"Bless his Heart"
Joined: Nov 13, 2007
Age: 52
Posts: 6741
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think you're going to find a color laserjet under $200, unless it fell off the back of a truck...
(Depends on the technology; you've got 3-4 toners depending. Prices could go from oh...say $800-800,000)
of course, mileage may vary...
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gramirez
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 10, 2008
Posts: 1019
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| pakled wrote: | | I don't think you're going to find a color laserjet under $200, unless it fell off the back of a truck... |
Not new. They've been making Color LaserJets for over 10 years. Surely there is one out there for less than $100 by now.
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-Gil |
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