Home printer suggestions

[William the Third]

I see some edge cases coming up. Laser/LED printers are great for most office type uses, but there are a few edge cases they don't work so well for.

If you want to print photo quality pictures, laser/LED aren't so great for this. Inkjet is better, but if you want the best photo prints, go dye sublimation (aka: dye sub).

If you want to print labels, a dedicated thermal label printer is your best option.

If you want to print directly to envelopes, the heat from the laser/LED fuser can cause the toad mucus... err... I mean glue to seal the envelope shut. Probably not a problem for self-sealing type envelopes.

[Hooptie]

I’ve been using a $120 Brother laser printer available at Staples, Office Depot and BestBuy. I enjoy the WiFi mobile phone printing ability. It’s easier to print out amazon return labels or shipping labels over the mobile phones versus having to use a laptop at a stationary desk.

I didn’t have a good experience with a multi function scanner, copier printer inkjet color Epson. The software didn’t always work and the on machine setup screen is just not easy to use.

[latches109]

epson 1430 for photos - drinks ink like a 7-11 big gulp but does a great job for photos, especially with the specialty papers.
20yr old HP laser jet 1022 that I still have 15,000 print high-capacity drums - I will continue to use this tank until I am out of toner.


imo all the consumer printers are "budget friendly," then crush your wallet on ink and toner supplies. My next one will be a commercial printer, maybe look at brands like Ricoh P C311W were you get 6k+ prints per color toner, vs HP / epson that give you 1k prints for the same price.

[jokers]

Would this be the place to discuss HP and others, and their ink scam where the all in ones do not work without ink. Also with HP if you sign up for their ink program they send a firmware update to the printer that makes it unusable with any other inks?

[latches109]

The chip on the cartage has a counter and they fry it after a certain count, so to speak. Someone who makes a Continuous ink supply system(CISS) for your printer and the would have a chip resetter key. Before you are out of ink, reset the counter and the cart tells the computer it's full again. https://youtu.be/J54QfNFoVvo?si=GIRUhdWHTlrXwor0&t=88

[SignOfZeta]

I’ve had amazing luck with Epson. I got almost a decade out of my last all-in-one from them and the current one is five years old, I think.

People can have very unrealistic views on printers…if you don’t use them they will clog up. Carts are super expensive because printers are super cheap. You’re going to pay one way or another. If you’re using a cart a week upgrade to something designed for a higher duty cycle like laser or pro level ink jet with larger carts.

Also, depending on your needs, just having Staples print your stuff can be better than owning any printer.

Final word: if your printer is effing up don’t be afraid to recycle the sucker and get something else. They all come with carts after all…

[Levi]

Another vote for laser printer here. Got tired of the ink cartridge game and bought an HP color laser printer 6 years ago. Toner is expensive... but I only have to replace it every two years.. and it doesn't dry out and go away while the printer sits un-used.

[jokers]

[chrislognshot]

oaky for someone that own few printer over time. only go with HP printer if your going instant ink program. also for ink cartridges here some thing to think about basic cartridges have foam in them so what they say they have for ink on the inside is not what they say. so if you go no cartridge like one shaq promotes you have these issue. one you have to print ever 3 days or will clog the printer up and cause other issue. the one printer i want for photo only like shaq printer but has holding tank. if do not print photo every 3 days the holding tank needs to take out and exchange. do to fact hold my ink in till more need to go into holding tank. they are great since you get true amount of ink but down side is printing all time.