In my limited printer experience, you can't go wrong with HP.
Decently priced cartridges that are usually easily available everywhere. Their printers are good quality and last a while.
My HP MFP prints OK pictures, but it's 2 years old, so you'll need something more up to date. And smaller, probably.
One of these maybe?
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho/WF02d/18972-18972-3328063.html
Originally posted by YEAH BOYWell I have several printers, HP's are ok but my photosmart seems to lose it's driver somehow several times now and it is not small, some 200+ megs. The problem with HP and most other cartridges is there is a lot of ink left after the cart is indicating empty. I found at a local computer fair however, refillable cartridges with little plugs that you can pull and fill with ink from a bottle using syringes. It works ok, the inks are supposed to be as long lasting as Vivera inks, it makes a mess though, you need to use a wad of paper towel under and around the cart or you will find ink all over your desk!
Ask sonhouse.
I saw Canon has nice printers and when I was looking, the carts were cheaper than HP. The thing I don't like about printers in general is the rate of 'advancement' virtually guarantees your printer will be out of date in a few months, each new one touted as the greatest printer in history of course. Just make sure you have a line to the latest drivers when your driver takes a dump and get refillable cartridges and you will be ok. I have an Epson which I like because it can print directly onto a specially prepared (white ink covered) CD's which I plan to use for my own home production of my music CD's. But HP's are workhorses for sure. I just don't like new ones coming out every two months supposedly making my old one obsolete or so they wish you to believe.
Originally posted by sonhouseI have had my HP printer for about 6 years now and it still works great. I would definitely recomment HP.
Well I have several printers, HP's are ok but my photosmart seems to lose it's driver somehow several times now and it is not small, some 200+ megs. The problem with HP and most other cartridges is there is a lot of ink left after the cart is indicating empty. I found at a local computer fair however, refillable cartridges with little plugs that you can pul ...[text shortened]... every two months supposedly making my old one obsolete or so they wish you to believe.
If I am going to print pictures, I just use a photo cartridge and photo paper, set the quality to high and it looks really great.
I tried the refilling the ink cartridges a while back also. The only problem, you have to buy a lot of ink, 200 ml or so at a time and it does go bad after about a year if you don't use it. I guess I was purchasing it online from a bulk source, maybe there are other sources out there that you can get smaller amounts. Also, after you refill the cartridge 3 or 4 times, it starts to plug up and print funny.
Originally posted by mlpriorI have an HP deskjet F380 all in one printer. It's about 7 yrs. old. Had to use tech support to the tune of 50 dollars for the year twice in about 5 months. The printer says that there is a paper jam when there isn't. The tech support says it's time to buy a new one. The machine has hardly ben used over the 7 year period.
I have had my HP printer for about 6 years now and it still works great. I would definitely recomment HP.
If I am going to print pictures, I just use a photo cartridge and photo paper, set the quality to high and it looks really great.
I tried the refilling the ink cartridges a while back also. The only problem, you have to buy a lot of ink, 200 ml or s ...[text shortened]... unts. Also, after you refill the cartridge 3 or 4 times, it starts to plug up and print funny.
Originally posted by YEAH BOYYou've probably got a tiny piece of paper stuck in it someplace.
I have an HP deskjet F380 all in one printer. It's about 7 yrs. old. Had to use tech support to the tune of 50 dollars for the year twice in about 5 months. The printer says that there is a paper jam when there isn't. The tech support says it's time to buy a new one. The machine has hardly ben used over the 7 year period.
Grab a screwdriver and take it apart!
😵
Originally posted by sonhouseNEVER EVER use these refills, especially whilst still in the warranty period of the printer.
Well I have several printers, HP's are ok but my photosmart seems to lose it's driver somehow several times now and it is not small, some 200+ megs. The problem with HP and most other cartridges is there is a lot of ink left after the cart is indicating empty. I found at a local computer fair however, refillable cartridges with little plugs that you can pul ...[text shortened]... every two months supposedly making my old one obsolete or so they wish you to believe.
Some people swear by them, but I've seen quite expensive printers ruined by them. They make a mess, there is no quality control and I've heard (unconfirmed) reports of all kinds of horrible and harmful chemicals used in these 'refill kits'.
This 'advancement' is a headache, but they can't make money off cartridges alone.
Thanks. I will look at HPs first with Canon/Epsom as back up. I agree about avoiding the refill cartridges, my mum (who is well up with stuff despite being in her 70's!) tells me they are rubbish.
I really want good quality photo printing so I'll need and ink-jet with photo paper rather than a laser jet I guess. The paper is expensive too!
Originally posted by sonhousebought my HP Laserjet 4 in 1993 (17 yrs ago). worked fine til a few months ago. going to disassemble it soon. hope it's just a fuse. it stopped when i was powering it off and on.
Well I have several printers, HP's are ok but my photosmart seems to lose it's driver somehow several times now and it is not small, some 200+ megs. The problem with HP and most other cartridges is there is a lot of ink left after the cart is indicating empty. I found at a local computer fair however, refillable cartridges with little plugs that you can pul ...[text shortened]... every two months supposedly making my old one obsolete or so they wish you to believe.
nice big toner cartridge, not a teeny inkjet cart.
thread on cost of ownership of inkjets, with spreadsheet:
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/inkjet-printer-tco.php
(same?) guy talking about refilling toner cartridges for his Laserjet 4:
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/laser-toner-cartridge-refill.php
Update: 6/2/07:
I ended up printing 10,468 pages with my Cartridge World cartridge. Toward the last 300 pages I started to get light prints and so I played the “shake the cartridge” game to the point where I knew it was time to refill. I used some toner from, you won’t believe this, a few bottles of toner I had purchase back in 10/2004! I was almost reluctant to use the toner since it was about 3 years old, but I had kept it in a dark moderate temp place so I thought I’d give it a try. Well, I’ve printed 1,200 prints with it and so far so good!