Student + Laser Printer = ?

Sovereign

2[H]4U
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Given that I have burned through three black and two color ink cartridges this year at college, and assuming that I do not want to deal with refills (the local Walgreens says they can't do my particular type), could someone recommend me a good quality, compact color laser printer? Or would that just be impractical? I'm aware that laser printers cost more in the beginning, but cost per sheet printed should be less than an inkjet. Also, I know that one must replace toner cartridges, which can be even more expensive than ink, but toner doesn't dry out (IIRC) and the cartridges last MUCH longer anyway.
 
Color laser printers are stupid costly. I work at Staples and I gotta tell ya, its highway robbery for the prices of color toner.

Get a monochrome laser and a color inkjet.
 
Get something like a HP LJ P1005 and a throw away color ink jet.

I got a HP LJ 1022 back in 6/23/2006 (woot for order history on purchases from the egg) and I am still on the starter toner that came with it (even though I did order a spare toner at the same time).
 
Okay, what would you recommend as far as monochrome lasers?

Get something like a HP LJ P1005 and a throw away color ink jet.

I got a HP LJ 1022 back in 6/23/2006 (woot for order history on purchases from the egg) and I am still on the starter toner that came with it (even though I did order a spare toner at the same time).

And how much have you printed on it?

I actually have such "throw-away color inkjet," I think it was $50 - rebate = FREE so... I'll just not stick black ink cartridges in anymore :) What about this HP?
 
The one you just linked to on the egg is the one that I said to get.

I've gone through probably somewhere around 4 - 5 reams of paper on the starter toner.

I got it mostly because my printing goes in spurts and it would always seem the stupid inkjet would be dried out when I went to print.

Depending on what colour inkjet you have some need the black for mixing colours plus if it is a combo of a picture and text you will need the black ink cart yet.
 
Any of the lower end HP laserjets should be good. If you want something cheaper than $100, wait around for a deal. My LJ 1018 was only $65 - $65MIR. ;) I think there's usually a Samsung or Brother laser printer that usually goes for around $50.
 
I've got a Samsung ML-1710 laser. Cost about $70 AR about two or three years ago. Toner lasts sufficently long, good printing. But definitely get a laser for B+W and a cheap inkjet for color. Or use a place like Kinkos for color or share one color printer with several other students to consolodate costs.
 
Either:
-Your printer has a problem, eating ink so fast, or
-You're one of those people that types 15 page papers when asked for 5 pages. Stop it. Or,
-You're in the wrong classes. Use RateMyProfessors.com next time.

Good inkjets should be fine for anyone not printing books.
 
get a brother HL-2070N laser printer. if your just printing papers toners will last a long ass time. i have one and a full toner last me about almost 2 years between me and my brother. and it has networking capability which is a plus. sometimes it goes on sale for around $80 bones
 
I've got a Samsung ML-1710 laser. Cost about $70 AR about two or three years ago. Toner lasts sufficently long, good printing. But definitely get a laser for B+W and a cheap inkjet for color. Or use a place like Kinkos for color or share one color printer with several other students to consolodate costs.

Me too. That 1710 goes and goes and goes.
 
I had a nice (at the time) Canon inject printer. Ink cartridges were considered, "cheap". I honestly don't do that much printing and I'm pretty darn sure those things were drying out more than I was actually using. I gave up on it.

For the last year of College I had a Brother B&W laser printer and to be perfectly honest, for most requirements this is sufficient. I got great marks. Not everything HAS to be in color. If you do have something that needs to be in color, consider visiting the print shop at your college if they have one or just take it to an external print shop. For the amount that color printing is required, I don't believe it's worth the money to maintain your own equipment. This is the same reason why I will never buy a "Photo Printer". Just take it to the photo lab for the odd time you need to have something printed and use their (usually better quality) equipment.

B&W laser is the way to go unless you have money to burn IMHO, unless you are in some sort of art program that requires large amounts of color printing, it's just not worth it.

Models are constantly changing so I can't give you a solid recommendation other than to tell you that I have used some of the low end Brother printers (HL-1230(old, my mother used it when she was going to college) and an HL-2030).
 
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