Info wanted on printers

[ahinton]

I came upon this site:

http://www.urefilltoner.co.uk/test-lab-printer-reviews.html

Which provides some guidance how to avoid the control exercised over our printers by manufacturers (by buying models where the facility isn't embedded in the machine, etc). Their main business,not surprisingly, is providing toner refills for toner cartridges in laser printers; lasers have fallen in price -although they are not the cheapest printers (which are inkjets, and only priced that way to recoup profits on the cartridges, I think).

I'm on the verge of giving up the fight to avoid the fantastically expensive (cost per millilitre) printer ink with an Epson machine we bought only 18 months ago. I'll spend another hour or three trying any strategies I may garner from a google search (block access to the internet, etc). Or pay the price for their refills. One problem is that the colours (not much used) dry up and most of the ink is used on cleaning and keeping the head free for use.

As a second machine I had bought a mono -B&W laser - a Samsung M283X and am glad to see it was previously one of the suggested models on the above site. I had a laser provided by my employer when I was a homeworker and once I'd got the paper loading right for the machine, it was trouble free. I'm thinking hard about whether I need a colour printer in the house, and whether I need to have a copier as well. I have a separate document scanner. If I do, and I want a laser it is more expensive and for a Laser, much bigger. So I'll probably soldier on with the Epson and see if I can get away with compatibles. (I gather that the compatible suppliers re-set the chips in the cartridges to counter the latest update on the control software from the manufacturer. So, if I can stop the Epson updates, I might be able to buy compatibles that work!

Choices, choices......

The best way is, I think, to purchase a machine on a service contract whose cost includes toner provision as well as service, although I can appreciate that this is mostly available only with multifunction machines.

[Ferretfancy]

I have an Epson XP-760 which does a reliable job. One word of warning, Epson make a printer which has a row of ink bottles instead of cartridges. When a colour runs out you simple open the appropriate ink reservoir to refill, and it looks tempting and should save money. However, I've heard several reports of both the printer and the user getting covered in ink, and the whole recharging business seems very messy to me.

[Anastasius]

I have to confess that my decision years ago to ditch the ink-jet printer and replace it with a laser-printer was one of the best decisions I've ever made re equipment. When I read of the tales of woe that people have with ink-jets, I wonder why anyone still buys them !

[Dave2002]

I assume (perhaps incorrectly) monochrome. Which is, 95% of the time what's wanted anyway.

Which make/model?

[Anastasius]

I assume (perhaps incorrectly) monochrome. Which is, 95% of the time what's wanted anyway.

Which make/model?

Assuming your question is aimed at me, Dave2002....

We have two, neither of which are still made. You are correct in that the first one - an HP Laserjet 1200 series - is monochrome and probably well over 10 years old. It's CPU struggles a little these days with some overly complex pages but, by and large, still performs admirably. It is coupled with an HP JetDirect network adapter that allows the printer to be accessed over the network.

The second one we bought a few years back is an all-singing, all-dancing HP Laserjet 100 color MFP M175nw. It even has a sheet feeder for copying!

Would I buy another HP laser printer? Without hesitation.

[Cockney Sparrow]

More info on printers from the replacement cartridge trade:

http://www.inkhub.com.au/ink/buying-a-printer-for-home-use-2015

(found as I search for advice on defeating the Epson software inhibiting non Epson cartridges. Oh dear ! - the advice on this page is not to buy any Epson inkjet printer....)

[Anastasius]

..... Oh dear ! - the advice on this page is not to buy any Epson inkjet printer....)

LOL....No s*** Sherlock, as they say

[Dave2002]

A little while back having anticipated the imminent need for a spare printer following the possible permanent demise of our HP b110a I bought an Epson printer while it seemed to be on offer. It's an XP-332. A few days ago our "other" printer - a Canon MP560, reinstalled because of a sudden need for printing - came up with what looked like a dire warning - a B200 error message, and a suggestion to contact Canon. Didn't look good, but I noticed that two of the cartridges were empty - that's a really good feature of the cartridges for that model - one can actually see whether there is any ink in them. Concerned that buying new cartridges might not be a good idea if this printer really was about to be bricked, I sent a message to Canon - but so far I've not had a reply.

However, today I discovered that I'd already got two replacement cartridges, so on the grounds that I probably wouldn't be able to use them anyway if the printer is broken, I fitted those - and - abracadabra - the printer has now come back to life, and I hope the error messages have gone.

Success with the Canon now makes me wonder if it is going to be worth buying some genuine HP cartidges and trying to resurrect the HP b110a - or whether that really is now a hopelessly lost cause.

A project for the future, perhaps.

[Anastasius]

Oh FFS...just go and buy a damn laser printer. Inkjets are junk.

[Dave2002]

I just don't like to see what on the face of it should be perfectly good pieces of kit having to go to landfill because of a stupid issue about ink cartridges.

Throwaway society and commercialism gone mad!

[Cockney Sparrow]

Each to their own.

For me it depends how much I value my time and want to tolerate frustration/rage - there are enough unavoidable causes as it is. As it happens my Epson Inkjet is on probation - I found some advice on how to get the machine to tolerate non-branded cartridges mainly involving leaving the machine for 30 minutes to sort itself out and it seems to work. (Note: I repeat the commendation in my posts #15 & #21 and the site linked there. And I'll never buy an Epson printer again, there is a lot of pain out there from many owners). However for me in the future its a B&W mono laser with no software control on refills (as recommended on that site) and if we really need colour I'll bite the bullet and buy a colour laser. But top quality printing in either is not the essential criteria - we get photos printed commercially.

[Anastasius]

I just don't like to see what on the face of it should be perfectly good pieces of kit having to go to landfill because of a stupid issue about ink cartridges.

Throwaway society and commercialism gone mad!

Very true but by continuing to buy their printers and cartridges you are supporting the same.

[Dave2002]

Very true but by continuing to buy their printers and cartridges you are supporting the same.

Maybe - though I note that you supported the same company which made the ink jet which has a 50/50 chance of going to landfill.

Re msg 20 - would this be a reasonable current approximation to your model of colour printer? - http://www.ebuyer.com/614929-hp-m176...FdU_Gwody6AFdg

The new Epson printer which I installed recently has some advantages over other printers we have/have had, in that it seems to work almost immediately with iPad, and to my surprise even asked if we wanted a secure connection - I think over Bluetooth, or Airplay (which is similar). It also seems to work somewhat faster than other printers, though the current concern is more with "does it work" than anything else.

Re the lasers - do they store a larger amount of paper than domestic ink jets, which can be a pain when printing large or multiple documents? Also, do they have the characteristic smell which we noted in offices in a working environment, or is that manageable?

You are probably right - our next printer may be a laser - though depends on how much space they take up.

[Anastasius]

Yes, looks as if it's the next model in the line. Just looked at eBay and see a lot of our model as seller refurbished at the same price as your link or even more expensive! Does your model come with a network cable connection ?

Paper storage depends on the model TBH. Never an issue for us. Smell? Never noticed it at all.

The remote printing function is 'interesting' and works although I doubt I'll ever use it. I can print on the printer from anywhere else on the internet. I've disabled it. Fewer Smart things !

[Dave2002]

Oh FFS...just go and buy a damn laser printer. Inkjets are junk.

Explodes ....

The "new" Epson printer I bought from Tesco around Christmas now seems to have a permanent failure. It thinks there's a paper jam.

I can't see any paper, and there's no way I can get inside the wretched thing. I've now tried a few "engineers 'methods" - so the next step is to go to the top of a tall building and drop it onto a concrete floor. [only joking ...]

This fault doesn't clear.

I just rememembered I ordered it "collect in store", so hopefully there's a trail. I found the order details on my computer, so I guess it can go back to Tesco - but now I'll have to try to get one of the other printers lurking around to print the most urgent documents.

The model - in case anyone else wants to avoid this one is - Epson Expression XP332, Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Colour Printer, A4 Black.

Re buying a laser printer, that may be the next step - and preferably one which take at least a half pack of paper. Loading up ink jets with a few pages at a time is a real pain.