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Cheap printer and ink costs any tips?

I hate inkjet printers with a passion, my current Epson one is so annoying that if it were a friend I would have chinned him years ago in a drunken rage. Why aren't you using Epson Paper, are you sure you wnat to print this on none Epson paper, Why aren't you using epson ink, your ink isn't as good, would you like to buy epson ink, here's an epson ink shop pop=up window that needs three button clicks to remove, oh sorry, f_ck you now I'm sleeping. That sort of thing, every single frigging print I want to do I have to hit at least ten f_ck off epson and just print the damn thing buttons.
 
As already said if B&W is all you need then a laser printer every time.
I do require colour so chose a Epson L405 printer/scanner with eco-tanks.
Had it two years now, refilled the black twice for peanuts compared to cartridges and colours are still on the original fill.
My only complaint is the WiFi connection can be rather flaky, requiring a re-install to fix.
 
Arkless Electronics said:
My printer packed in and I'm having a hell of a time working out what to replace it with... I guess there is the obvious answers of "you only get what you pay for" and "if it's cheap expect catches over ink costs":rolleyes:

Has anyone recent experience and knowledge of whats available that won't break the bank over ink costs etc?

I usually just refill the carts but it seems to be getting more difficult and some brands now appear to have tech to prevent refilling. For Epson 603 carts used in their cheaper models it appears you need to buy a set of empty carts that have built in tech to fool the printer and that a set of empty refillable carts is about £60-70!

8 years ish ago when I last bought a printer you could buy "compatible" carts for only say £6 when the real thing was say £15 but now it seems genuine are like £25 just for a black cart and compatibles are still £18-20!

I have usually favoured Canon for reliability reasons but have no idea how the brands stack up these days.

Many are available for under £60 and it is this sort of price I'm looking at.

Canon TS3350 @ £40 is looking "as good as any" but are there better options?

All seem to have more features than you can shake a stick at and trying to get cheaper/better by getting something without wi-fi, scanner and copier seems a non starter!?
Click to expand...
I bought an HP Envy 4524 and signed up to their "Instant Ink" deal in 2016. I've paid £1.99 per month since then and never had to buy another ink cartridge, they just come through the letter box when I need one.

https://instantink.hpconnected.com/uk/en/l/
 
I only print infrequently, so an inkjet probably wouldn’t work for me as the nozzles would probably clog up. And as I only really print text and monochrome images, a laser has always been a no brainer. Cheap enough to buy the printer in the first place (I bought a Lexmark E120 several years ago, for about £50; replacement cartridges around £30, last me ages) and consumables seem cheap compared to ink jets. Less degradation under occasional use, too.

If I need photo prints, I use the self-print machines in Boots.
 
I got a Dell in Tesco, ex dem, £40. Cartridges lasted 5 years plus of light use, replacement set of 4 compatible ones £20. I suspect it will outlast me.
 
Bart said:
Where can I find one of these Spike? (With iPad wireless conn.)
Click to expand...
One click found this:
https://www.printerland.co.uk/product/xerox-b210/146516

Plenty more out there. I have a Samsung. Can get cheaper than this if you only want Wi-fi. Put it on your network and iPad selects it. Do a search of pc magazines for current best buys and reviews.
Many places offering cash back on canon laser printers.

https://www.printerland.co.uk/product/hp-laserjet-pro-m118dw/144353

£112 and £30 cash back.

https://www.printerland.co.uk/product/canon-i-sensys-lbp162dw/144703

£145 and £60 cashback. Lot of printer for £85.
 
Any particular makes that are fab or to be avoided with laser printers? I see Kyocera and Brother seem to be big in lasers though hardly heard of in ink jets.
New £75-100 model or refurbished model at about £65-90? Is there too much to go wrong/be worn on cheap refurbished ones or are they ex commercial really high quality units which would be £600 new and much better than any cheapo £80 brand new one?
 
I buy my inks from here: https://www.prink.co.uk/ Very cheap and the results are excellent.
No association with the company.

The guy who sold me the inks for my Epson printer told me never to update the software for the printer under any circumstances!
I took his advise and have never had a problem.
 
I have a Samsung M2070 black and white laser printer. I have had it for two years and it has worked. Wireless setup was the most problematic part but Samsung support picked up the phone quickly and held my hand, I've had to reset the wireless settings just once. I remember that Samsung support (which was provided by HP) said that software support will go on for the lifetime of the device, irrespective of whether the hardware is still under guarantee. I have come to appreciate the Samsung print and scan apps on my windows PC. It connects to my ipads with no problem.
 
Arkless Electronics said:
Ah yes Samsung is another make you see a lot when googling laser printers but which you hardly if ever see in inkjets...
Click to expand...

I have a Brother laser given to me by a mutton head who 'got a new PC' and didn't want cables when he could have a black shiny wireless wizz bang flakejet. After 10 years on a parallel port, I have never replaced the toner. Just ask idiot people - they give them away. Maybe try a school, they are starved of cash and too dumb to save money. I have an A3 laser in my shed for when the Brother runs out of toner. I sometimes use an inkjet for photos and it's as crap as everyone says - clogged with low use, farting about with refill syringes etc..
 
Samsung printers are now made by HP.
Jez, seriously go for that canon I linked too. When my timer runs out on my Samsung that’s to one I’ll buy.
Don’t mess about with reconditioned. £85 will keep you going years.
 
Spike said:
One click found this:
https://www.printerland.co.uk/product/xerox-b210/146516

Plenty more out there. I have a Samsung. Can get cheaper than this if you only want Wi-fi. Put it on your network and iPad selects it. Do a search of pc magazines for current best buys and reviews.
Many places offering cash back on canon laser printers.

https://www.printerland.co.uk/product/hp-laserjet-pro-m118dw/144353

£112 and £30 cash back.

https://www.printerland.co.uk/product/canon-i-sensys-lbp162dw/144703

£145 and £60 cashback. Lot of printer for £85.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I did look fairly recently and couldn’t find anything like this.Good to know anyway. Thanks again.
 
I'm amazed that anyone still uses ink-jet - I thought that the thread title was a mistake, meaning toner rather than ink.

As for intelligent cartridges - up to about 25 years ago I worked in R&D for a company that made OHP film (remember that?) for any and all printers and plotters (remember those?) - we had HP IJ printers in particular before they went on general sale. Even then they had started to fit intelligent cartridges so that you couldn't refill them.

IJ technology is way more complicated technology than almost everyone could ever think possible. Laser is mind-numbingly simple technology.
 
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