Discussion
It's time to replace my aged Laserjet.
So, what do I go for next. The ability to print in colour would occasionally be useful as would copying but are those combined systems just asking for trouble or are they a genuinely versatile tool?
I probably print something like 500-1000 sheets a month. Will a colour printer (i.e. ink jet) bankrupt me in ink cartridges?
Thoughts and experiences appreciated.
So, what do I go for next. The ability to print in colour would occasionally be useful as would copying but are those combined systems just asking for trouble or are they a genuinely versatile tool?
I probably print something like 500-1000 sheets a month. Will a colour printer (i.e. ink jet) bankrupt me in ink cartridges?
Thoughts and experiences appreciated.
Colour Lasers are very good value these days.
Although I currently run a Laserjet 4plus (and have a spare for if / when it fails) use this for all bulk / black work
and also a HP7140EX multifunction colour inkjet / printer / copier / fax etc (also makes tea but havnt found that page in the manual yet)
Combination of the 2 is great
Although I currently run a Laserjet 4plus (and have a spare for if / when it fails) use this for all bulk / black work
and also a HP7140EX multifunction colour inkjet / printer / copier / fax etc (also makes tea but havnt found that page in the manual yet)
Combination of the 2 is great
There's quite a bit of choice in the colour laser maket at around the £500 mark these days.
Colour Laser = more expensive machine, cheaper prints
Colour Inkjet = cheaper machine, more expensive prints
Therefore if you do a lot of colour printing, a laser works out cheaper in the long run.
{edited to add:} There's a group test of budget colour lasers in the (current) March '04 edition of Personal Computer World
>> Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 11th February 14:12
Colour Laser = more expensive machine, cheaper prints
Colour Inkjet = cheaper machine, more expensive prints
Therefore if you do a lot of colour printing, a laser works out cheaper in the long run.
{edited to add:} There's a group test of budget colour lasers in the (current) March '04 edition of Personal Computer World
>> Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 11th February 14:12
Ted Ive got a minolta QMS ive got the 2300 DL in the office. print supberb but its based on a epson machine
http://konicaminolta.co.uk/printer/offers/
Steve
http://konicaminolta.co.uk/printer/offers/
Steve
Ted - HP are great colour lasers.
We have one of the 8500 series in the office and it works wonders. Cuts down dramatically in a lot of outsourced print jobs. We even print our own business cards for new hires so that we don't get stuck with a bunch of cards when/if they quit after a month or so.
Here is the HP line of colour ljs (US dollars - but you will get the idea):
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF02a/18972-236251-236268.html
(Oh - and using cartridges instead of "dump in toner" is great in modern colour ljs)
ErnestM
We have one of the 8500 series in the office and it works wonders. Cuts down dramatically in a lot of outsourced print jobs. We even print our own business cards for new hires so that we don't get stuck with a bunch of cards when/if they quit after a month or so.
Here is the HP line of colour ljs (US dollars - but you will get the idea):
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF02a/18972-236251-236268.html
(Oh - and using cartridges instead of "dump in toner" is great in modern colour ljs)
ErnestM
Or you could get a 'normal' Epson and connect it to these big ink bottles...?
www.mwords.co.uk/pages/cis/chipFAQ.htm
www.mwords.co.uk/pages/cis/chipFAQ.htm
We use the Xerox colour wax printers here. I have also put them into a number of my clients with great success. They give a lovely, rich glossy finish which is ideal for presentations and newsletters. Also very good for general printing. No special paper required, will give good results on normal 'copier' paper.
And the best news is that Xerox have just slashed the price ('cos the Phaser 8400 (start at £699) is about to come out and replace the 8200). Now the entry level version of the 8200 is available for under £500. They are also a lot less fiddly than lasers when it comes to replenishing.
If I can find the datasheet, I will email it to you.
And the best news is that Xerox have just slashed the price ('cos the Phaser 8400 (start at £699) is about to come out and replace the 8200). Now the entry level version of the 8200 is available for under £500. They are also a lot less fiddly than lasers when it comes to replenishing.
If I can find the datasheet, I will email it to you.
Once did a cost comparison on a colour laser c.£700 and a business inkjet c.£150. At about 3,000 pages a month it would take around 3yrs to make up the price diferential based on the more costly ink cartridges. As you don't really get a decent colour laser for much under £1,500, it isn't worth the expense, unless you need to do very good quality colour work at reasonable volumes.
You could get a good HP 2300DN laser for £600 plus a Business Inkjet 1100DTN for £165. They are both equipped with NICs and the quality of the colour is very good, and not all your eggs are in one basket.
Andy
You could get a good HP 2300DN laser for £600 plus a Business Inkjet 1100DTN for £165. They are both equipped with NICs and the quality of the colour is very good, and not all your eggs are in one basket.
Andy
Ted,
I've got an HP 6127 colour inkjet designed for around 3000+ pages per month. It prints double sided slowly or single sided like a rocket. With good photo quality paper the image is stunning. It's got a built in ethernet port, plus USB and it doesn't go throw that many cartridges despite heavy use. I thoroughly recommend it.
I've got an HP 6127 colour inkjet designed for around 3000+ pages per month. It prints double sided slowly or single sided like a rocket. With good photo quality paper the image is stunning. It's got a built in ethernet port, plus USB and it doesn't go throw that many cartridges despite heavy use. I thoroughly recommend it.
PetrolTed said:
Thanks, I'm confused as hell now 
What's the quality of the simple colour lasers like?
Ted have a read below.
www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/labs_subindex.php?issue=109&headline=Budget+colour+lasers&filename=budget+colour+lasers_109_1.pdf
Steve
PetrolTed said:
What's the quality of the simple colour lasers like?
Pretty good, but in real terms, the £700 - £900 ones are only on a par with inkjets for quality and performance, on occasion some are worse. Reliability may also be an issue with cheap lasers.
The HP 1100 I mentioned will do 4800 x 1200 resolution at 26 pages per minute for mono and 22 for colour. It is also cheaper on ink than the usual deskjets due to the larger seperate(4) ink cartridges.
A GOOD simple colour laser will still be around £1,500. But do the maths on the cost of replacement toners and their related printing capacities, some that appear to have cheaper cartridges also produce fewer pages per cartridge.
>> Edited by andyf007 on Friday 13th February 14:18
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