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printers: laser vs. deskjet

B

black_b[ ]x

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jul 1, 2002
Messages
1,753
I'm thinking about getting a printer, but the problem is I hardly ever use one. The crappy canon bubblejet that I have works ok when it has ink, but the ink keeps drying out from lack of use. How long will a laser toner cartridge last if its not used? longer, or about the same?
 
lasers last for freakin' ever.

I've pulled old Laserjets out of back closets where I work, they haven't printed for years, and they print perfectly, first time.

Laser is so much better than inkjet it's not even funny, it's like you had to bike to work all your life and then you get a private helicopter.
 
I highly recommend a laser printer. We got a Xerox Phaser 6250 and boy its sure much nicer than a deskjet. 700mhz processor, 26 ppm full color. It brings photos in our catalogs just as good as the deskjet does.
 
If its just black and white I recommend the Hp 1012 it very low profile and prints the first sheet in less than 10 sec. Its only $200 I have it and I love it...

If not the Hp get the samsung 1710 its a little bigger, you'll have to wait longer for the first sheet (heat lamp has to warm up), but its ony $179 and the toner is cheaper.
 
thats exactly what I wanted to hear, thanks guys.
now the question becomes... color or b/w... The color one I bought for work is huge, I assume they'll all be pretty big since you need 4 toner cartridges right? (black/C/M/Y, or whatever)
 
I also have to recommend a low end laser, for both speed, quality and cost efficiency (toner is so much cheaper than ink, even if you hardly use it).

I have a fairly old HP laserjet which has worked me wonders. Zero maintainance, and it has lasted me much longer than any inkjet that I've had (which I've had many). I'm sure there's much better out there now, but any low end laser should do you fine.
 
Well if you want color, then get one of those Canon Inkjets. Color lasers are too freakin expensive.

I personally have an ML-1710 by Samsung, and I'm loving it. Cheap, prints forever. I only print black and white though, so lasers' for me. Laser is much cheaper, per page I mean.
 
I know everyone has already said it, but go with a laser printer. They use dry toner so it really shouldn't go bad after nonuse. As far as colour vs b/w, I say go with the black and white. You say you don't print much, so I just can't see the colour laser printer being worth it. The base cost is more and you have three more toner cartridges to buy. Also, laser colour generally isn't as good as inkjet colour. I still fucking hate inkjets though!!!
 
I greatly prefer laser printers over inkjets. Text qualty is just incomparable, and laser printers are far more convenient.

Erik
 
Get one of these, HP 4500DN with 64megs. has a 10/100 port on it.
hp4500dn.jpg

We paid $2400 back in 99 for it but you can get one used for about $500
 
I would also recommend a laser, I picked up a samsung ml-4600 on ebay for $70 shipped.
I also have a low-end inkjet if i ever need to do color.
If you go this route make sure to get a printer that uses cartridges with the print head built into them, they seem to clog up quite a bit less, at least for me they have.

Color lasers aren't too expensive if you get them used, it's just the damn fusers, and transfer kits, and toner, and maintenance kits, and etc etc etc. Consumables will kill ya after a while.
 
Originally posted by black_b[ ]x
thats exactly what I wanted to hear, thanks guys.
now the question becomes... color or b/w... The color one I bought for work is huge, I assume they'll all be pretty big since you need 4 toner cartridges right? (black/C/M/Y, or whatever)
Click to expand...
pretty much any laserjet will be pretty big. it's well worth it, they're real workhorses.
 
Originally posted by jagec
pretty much any laserjet will be pretty big. it's well worth it, they're real workhorses.
Click to expand...

Color lasers are going to be big, i think the smallest one is about 18x18x24 or so. (WxDxH)

But b&w lasers are pretty small, mine is about 12x12x12. and they have one that i think are about 12x15x8 or so.
 
I've got a Panasonic KX-P4400 that is 11x5x15: HxWxD
It's not working anymore.
 
You can always find great deals on used laser printers. I bought my HP Laserjet 4 at the surplus equipment sale at the Univeristy I attend. Paid 25 bucks for the printer and it included a half used toner cartridge and a brand new HP toner cartridge.
 
I've had an Apple Laserwriter IINT for years. A while back I upgraded the motherboard on it to a IIf, so I could get postscript 2. I also found a localtalk <-> ethernet bridge for $15 at a pc recycle place. I've got it integrated into my domain controller so if people search for a network printer it comes up :cool:

Parts for it are abundant as well.
I love it.
 
Originally posted by mobiux
Color lasers are going to be big, i think the smallest one is about 18x18x24 or so. (WxDxH)

But b&w lasers are pretty small, mine is about 12x12x12. and they have one that i think are about 12x15x8 or so.
Click to expand...
woah, that's tiny...I guess I haven't seen too many modern lasers...
because the old HP deskjets I've seen range from a good 24"x18"x8" to a whopping 36"x30"x30"
 
Also look into the Xerox Phaser 8400. It uses solid toner blocks but the base model is $999. Nice printer but if you need a 100% perfect bright red (255) it will only print it as a little bit darker red.
 
Originally posted by LeftSide
If its just black and white I recommend the Hp 1012 it very low profile and prints the first sheet in less than 10 sec. Its only $200 I have it and I love it...
Click to expand...
I've got one too and I love it. It's fuckin fast! and I got it for $130 AR
 
I still have a laserJet 4 sitting in the basement of my parents place. Got it second hand. My buddy has a laserJet IIIsi and it works great, just hard to find the toner.

I will be getting this one for the new apt.
Cool!

Cheers,
 
Originally posted by jagec
woah, that's tiny...I guess I haven't seen too many modern lasers...
because the old HP deskjets I've seen range from a good 24"x18"x8" to a whopping 36"x30"x30"
Click to expand...

It sits up like a little tower PC,
kxp1.jpg


kxp2.jpg
 
Holy crap that's the weirdest printer I've ever seen. And what the hell is up with having the parallel port at the front and the switch way at the back?
 
I would definatly say for b/w go laser, but for color if you are wanting it for pics, and the like then go with a inkjet. Inkjet still excell in picture printing over lasers. I have a color laser, b/w laser and a HP inkjet. the inkjet does a whole lot better for the pics than the laser does. the laser's are good for text and chart type things only

R.F.
 
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