general consensus on home printing
Discussion
I'm looking to get a new home printer (before tax year end!). Having not looked at printers for over 10+ years I'm a little out of date regarding what the best move is...
- Needs to be colour
- Needs to be multifunctional (scanner is a must)
- Likely use is the odd postage/packaging printing, occasional printing for records and likely printing for school work etc over the coming years
- Not looking for photo quality printing - happy paying for the pros to do the honours
- I'd say very limited/light usage
Happy to spend up to £300 if it makes financial sense (e.g. £300 now and no ink needed for years versus £50 now and £50 worth of ink needed every other month!).
What's the general view these days? Any manufacturers worth considering/avoiding?
TIA!
- Needs to be colour
- Needs to be multifunctional (scanner is a must)
- Likely use is the odd postage/packaging printing, occasional printing for records and likely printing for school work etc over the coming years
- Not looking for photo quality printing - happy paying for the pros to do the honours
- I'd say very limited/light usage
Happy to spend up to £300 if it makes financial sense (e.g. £300 now and no ink needed for years versus £50 now and £50 worth of ink needed every other month!).
What's the general view these days? Any manufacturers worth considering/avoiding?
TIA!
I'd definitely be going for a laser printer, so to avoid dried print heads, wasted ink, and stupid stuff like the yellow cartridge has run out, so the thing prevents you printing mono (although think some lasers will stop mono printing if the colour toner is out, whereas others don't).
As far as manufacturers, I understand that all the main ones make decent kit - Xerox, Brother, Kyocera, Canon etc..
I haven't used them, but this site seems to have a decent range and also indicates cost per page for both mono and colour. They also seem to have good Trustpilot reviews.
As far as manufacturers, I understand that all the main ones make decent kit - Xerox, Brother, Kyocera, Canon etc..
I haven't used them, but this site seems to have a decent range and also indicates cost per page for both mono and colour. They also seem to have good Trustpilot reviews.
All the cheaper lasers I've looked at seem to follow a similar practice of the cheaper inkjets, in that the included ink/toner is a 'sample' size which last about 20-30% of the full size carts. Which means it's almost cheaper to throw the machine away when it needs new ink/toner.
I'm not going to argue over which is better, or suggest laser over inkjet over wax transfer over dye sub. I'm just going to say what I'd do/have done.
I'd be looking at the Epson Ecotank range - shouldn't need filling for a few years (up to 4500 B&W / 7500 colour prints).
I've got a 2 year old Ecotank ET2600 (no document feeder or fax on mine) alongside my 6 year old photo printer (XP860). The photo printer probably does 500 sheets a year, and the Ecotank about 500 a month (average) and neither have ever blocked...but I've only ever used genuine inks.
Yes, the photo inks are extortionate (6 x £15 each for the XL packs), but the Ecotank are much cheaper, e.g. I've just ordered my first full set of refills £35 (non-genuine, compatible inks can be had for 50% of that if you're happy using those).
If you don't need fax or a document feeder for scanning/copying then the newer version of mine can be had for about £260.
3-in-1 ET2750 for £260
If you need an automatic document feeder and/or fax then:
This 4-in-1 ET4700 for £250
I'm not going to argue over which is better, or suggest laser over inkjet over wax transfer over dye sub. I'm just going to say what I'd do/have done.
I'd be looking at the Epson Ecotank range - shouldn't need filling for a few years (up to 4500 B&W / 7500 colour prints).
I've got a 2 year old Ecotank ET2600 (no document feeder or fax on mine) alongside my 6 year old photo printer (XP860). The photo printer probably does 500 sheets a year, and the Ecotank about 500 a month (average) and neither have ever blocked...but I've only ever used genuine inks.
Yes, the photo inks are extortionate (6 x £15 each for the XL packs), but the Ecotank are much cheaper, e.g. I've just ordered my first full set of refills £35 (non-genuine, compatible inks can be had for 50% of that if you're happy using those).
If you don't need fax or a document feeder for scanning/copying then the newer version of mine can be had for about £260.
3-in-1 ET2750 for £260
If you need an automatic document feeder and/or fax then:
This 4-in-1 ET4700 for £250
Previous posters have reported good things about the Brother DCPL3550CDW:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3287222
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brother-DCP-L3550CDW-Wire...
Importantly you can get third party toner cartridges which bring the running cost down.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3287222
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brother-DCP-L3550CDW-Wire...
Importantly you can get third party toner cartridges which bring the running cost down.
I bought an HP m254dw a couple of years ago. Colour laser, docker sided but no scanner ... I think there is a variant with scanner though.
Supplied toner didn't last long. HP toner is about 70-80 per colour. Plus they just changed the chips in the cartridges to try and force to to buy theirs. Alternative toner suppliers have caught up though and you can get a full set of 4 colours for 70 quid that seem fine.
Supplied toner didn't last long. HP toner is about 70-80 per colour. Plus they just changed the chips in the cartridges to try and force to to buy theirs. Alternative toner suppliers have caught up though and you can get a full set of 4 colours for 70 quid that seem fine.
Mr Pointy said:
Previous posters have reported good things about the Brother DCPL3550CDW:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3287222
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brother-DCP-L3550CDW-Wire...
Importantly you can get third party toner cartridges which bring the running cost down.
Have an older version which just works. Third party toner controls cost, occasionally at poor ink quality.https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3287222
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brother-DCP-L3550CDW-Wire...
Importantly you can get third party toner cartridges which bring the running cost down.
Thanks for all the advice folks, some really insightful replies here! After much deliberation I've gone with a lower priced Canon Inkjet. Seemed to have pretty good reviews online.
£88 up front for probably a years worth of printing, then ongoing (ink) costs of ~12p a sheet.
Last printer was a similar spec and lasted me 10 years. If my printing demands go up in the future - I'll jump into the Laserjet game!
£88 up front for probably a years worth of printing, then ongoing (ink) costs of ~12p a sheet.
Last printer was a similar spec and lasted me 10 years. If my printing demands go up in the future - I'll jump into the Laserjet game!
Ours is split between a colour and a black n white Laser
The B+W one was cheap second hand at £30 ish several years ago though I see prices have risen as they become rarer. It's a HP Laserjet 1022n and as its n suggests is on the network.
Our young teen prints a lot of black n white stuff out as do I and the wife ranging from homework to addresses on paper for e bay parcels
We can get copy cartridges that work out around £4 when we buy a few together, Having the same one well 2 actually at work helps with the cartridge costs.
Its one of the best most economical printers I have ever had Its a bit of an oddity in that to install it on a network post Windows 7 I have to use a fixed DHCP address on the router and a really old Laserjet 6L driver which reduces some functionality but the point is it just works
Also at work we have a large Brother colour laser (again )network printer not sure of model but works fine
At home we also have another colour laser HP which is a few years old and works well
We did try some colour inkjets some years ago KOdak was one the other a Canon when they worked they were good but there seemed to be a lot of cleaning cycles and their inbuilt wifi cards were not that good losing connections etc.
For scanning we have an old Epson photo scanner flatbed thing that is used when required - ie not often
FWIW I thinlk personally Lasers are better
The B+W one was cheap second hand at £30 ish several years ago though I see prices have risen as they become rarer. It's a HP Laserjet 1022n and as its n suggests is on the network.
Our young teen prints a lot of black n white stuff out as do I and the wife ranging from homework to addresses on paper for e bay parcels
We can get copy cartridges that work out around £4 when we buy a few together, Having the same one well 2 actually at work helps with the cartridge costs.
Its one of the best most economical printers I have ever had Its a bit of an oddity in that to install it on a network post Windows 7 I have to use a fixed DHCP address on the router and a really old Laserjet 6L driver which reduces some functionality but the point is it just works
Also at work we have a large Brother colour laser (again )network printer not sure of model but works fine
At home we also have another colour laser HP which is a few years old and works well
We did try some colour inkjets some years ago KOdak was one the other a Canon when they worked they were good but there seemed to be a lot of cleaning cycles and their inbuilt wifi cards were not that good losing connections etc.
For scanning we have an old Epson photo scanner flatbed thing that is used when required - ie not often
FWIW I thinlk personally Lasers are better
It's probably worth paying for a networkable printer, especially for occasional use. Then you can put it in a cupboard out of the way and not have it blight your office.
Plus if it's on the network anything and anyone can use it easily, just set it up on your phone, tablet, whatever. Mine is in a cupboard out of the way, networked so we can all use it, then a USB cable so my wife can plugin her work laptop, which is on it's own VPN so can't talk to the networked printer over the network.
As an extra bonus, the main user is my Wife for work, so the cartridges are all paid for too.
Plus if it's on the network anything and anyone can use it easily, just set it up on your phone, tablet, whatever. Mine is in a cupboard out of the way, networked so we can all use it, then a USB cable so my wife can plugin her work laptop, which is on it's own VPN so can't talk to the networked printer over the network.
As an extra bonus, the main user is my Wife for work, so the cartridges are all paid for too.
paulrockliffe said:
It's probably worth paying for a networkable printer, especially for occasional use. Then you can put it in a cupboard out of the way and not have it blight your office.
o.
That's exactly where ours are in the "media Cupboard" as we call it along with the router/ network switch and network hard drives o.
Doofus said:
Inkjets dry out of not used regularly. Lasers are cheap, the toner isn't.
I have an HP multifunction laser which probably cost £300 or so, but a full set of toner cartridges (I need them once a year on average) is £400.
I've just refilled a toner cartridge(magenta, the last of the set of 4), complete with chip swap. $27. The recommendation from the toner company is that you should be able to refill them twice without issue. I have an HP multifunction laser which probably cost £300 or so, but a full set of toner cartridges (I need them once a year on average) is £400.
jimmyjimjim said:
I've just refilled a toner cartridge(magenta, the last of the set of 4), complete with chip swap. $27. The recommendation from the toner company is that you should be able to refill them twice without issue.
I've wasted money on non-OEM toner before, and it always streaks. I currently have five part used cartridges in the office (one full set plus one extra black). I've never heard of a 'chip swap' though. What's that?mmm-five said:
All the cheaper lasers I've looked at seem to follow a similar practice of the cheaper inkjets, in that the included ink/toner is a 'sample' size which last about 20-30% of the full size carts. Which means it's almost cheaper to throw the machine away when it needs new ink/toner.
I'm not going to argue over which is better, or suggest laser over inkjet over wax transfer over dye sub. I'm just going to say what I'd do/have done.
I'd be looking at the Epson Ecotank range - shouldn't need filling for a few years (up to 4500 B&W / 7500 colour prints).
I've got a 2 year old Ecotank ET2600 (no document feeder or fax on mine) alongside my 6 year old photo printer (XP860). The photo printer probably does 500 sheets a year, and the Ecotank about 500 a month (average) and neither have ever blocked...but I've only ever used genuine inks.
Yes, the photo inks are extortionate (6 x £15 each for the XL packs), but the Ecotank are much cheaper, e.g. I've just ordered my first full set of refills £35 (non-genuine, compatible inks can be had for 50% of that if you're happy using those).
If you don't need fax or a document feeder for scanning/copying then the newer version of mine can be had for about £260.
3-in-1 ET2750 for £260
If you need an automatic document feeder and/or fax then:
This 4-in-1 ET4700 for £250
Been eyeing up these Ink Tank models for a while, just need my current printer to die then I will get one!I'm not going to argue over which is better, or suggest laser over inkjet over wax transfer over dye sub. I'm just going to say what I'd do/have done.
I'd be looking at the Epson Ecotank range - shouldn't need filling for a few years (up to 4500 B&W / 7500 colour prints).
I've got a 2 year old Ecotank ET2600 (no document feeder or fax on mine) alongside my 6 year old photo printer (XP860). The photo printer probably does 500 sheets a year, and the Ecotank about 500 a month (average) and neither have ever blocked...but I've only ever used genuine inks.
Yes, the photo inks are extortionate (6 x £15 each for the XL packs), but the Ecotank are much cheaper, e.g. I've just ordered my first full set of refills £35 (non-genuine, compatible inks can be had for 50% of that if you're happy using those).
If you don't need fax or a document feeder for scanning/copying then the newer version of mine can be had for about £260.
3-in-1 ET2750 for £260
If you need an automatic document feeder and/or fax then:
This 4-in-1 ET4700 for £250
Have a HP Envy with the ink subscription at the moment - think I paid about £50 for it 3 years ago, it is still working mostly but noticed since its gone off warranty some of the laptops won't communicate to it wirelessly through the previously working fine config... re-added it in where needed as a IP Printer for now outisde the HP Software setup and that seems to be working ok but if it starts being uncommunicative it will get dumped
Spent £199 on an HP mfp m277dw colour laserjet back in 2016. I use it for scanning, printing postage both on labels and envelopes and general printing. Just purchased a 2nd set of replacement toners. Went for non genuine as a lot cheaper and quality is still good. Only issue I had is that the magenta on my 1st set of replacements leaked and therefore left a magenta stripe going down the page. Bought another full set and this time it is fine. 1st lot of replacement toner (full set inc the dodgy magenta) was £82. 2nd set £38. At £38 for 4 toners, I can afford to have the occasional dodgy one, although it looks like price is now £50.
Doofus said:
I've wasted money on non-OEM toner before, and it always streaks. I currently have five part used cartridges in the office (one full set plus one extra black). I've never heard of a 'chip swap' though. What's that?
I'm curious as to what cartridges you have that don't have chips. Normally (in my albeit limited experience), each toner cartridge has a small pcb (1"x.75" for my samsung cartridges) which records how much toner the cartridge has used, and that's what reports that the cartridge needs replacing. So you replace the chip - it slots into the cartridge so you just pry it out and slap in the replacement - hey presto, it reports as a new, full cartridge.jimmyjimjim said:
I'm curious as to what cartridges you have that don't have chips. Normally (in my albeit limited experience), each toner cartridge has a small pcb (1"x.75" for my samsung cartridges) which records how much toner the cartridge has used, and that's what reports that the cartridge needs replacing. So you replace the chip - it slots into the cartridge so you just pry it out and slap in the replacement - hey presto, it reports as a new, full cartridge.
My cartridges do have chips. I said I've never heard of a chip swap. And TBH, I'm still a bit puzzled. If you swap the chip so the printer thinks there's toner in the cartridge when there isn't, I'm not sure how you win. 
As I said before, my problem is that pattern cartridges always streak. The black does it worse tha the others, so I can't even print in b/w. Not really sure why I've still got the five barely used cartridges. Prolly for emergencies or somesuch.
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