Could anyone recommend an inexpensive Color, B&W printer (no photo
requirement) for occasional home use? I'm using a 7-year-old Dell desktop with
w98se, which has a USB port. Thank you.
"Sudy Nim" <pseudonym@noplace.com> wrote in message
news:ENLPi.669396$p47.157683@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Could anyone recommend an inexpensive Color, B&W printer (no photo
> requirement) for occasional home use? I'm using a 7-year-old Dell desktop
> with
> w98se, which has a USB port. Thank you.
>
>
An old HP Laserjet, better the 4P or 5 series than the L-series. HP 6L is
also good.
If you don't need color, get a low cost monochrome laser. If you do
need color, get an inkjet, but do some research on the cost of operation
first.
Sudy Nim wrote:
> Could anyone recommend an inexpensive Color, B&W printer (no photo
> requirement) for occasional home use? I'm using a 7-year-old Dell desktop with
> w98se, which has a USB port. Thank you.
>
>
If I were you, I would try to find someone discarding an older Epson
printer that uses the ganged ink cartridges and has no microchip. These
cartridges are VERY easy to refill, and easier to make cleaning
cartridges when they clog (and if your use is only occasional, they
will). Also, these still have some of the cheapest cartridges to buy
(3rd party). Models I would recommend include Epson 600 series (600,
640, 660, 800 series 700 series (740, 760), (800, 850, 880) or 900
series (SC900, 980) These are all 4 color printer (they use a separate
black cartridge and a three color, (Cyan magenta and yellow color).
You can pick these models up for free, or a few bucks in used stored.
The reason I suggest Epson is the head is permanent, and although it may
clog, it is clearable with a bit of time and under $1 in cleaning stuff
yo find in your grocery store.
Other models use 6 colors which you do not need for your use, and just
adds headaches.
Other models are the earlier 'i' series Canon again look for 4 color and
no chip. They have individual ink cartridges for each color, as I
recall, but are very easy to refill, but head do fail on these.
I can't suggest older HP product in the color inkjet printers because
the heads are part of the cartridge and can only be refilled by skilled
people and the head still fails after several fill ups. New cartridges
are darn costly and you won't typically find 3rd party product, as you
will with Epson.
I don't suggest a new printer, because they all have some type of chip
to prevent refilling, (both inkjet and B&W laser) they are still going
to clog over time from lack of use, and you will be wasting a LOT of
ink. Also, the cheaper the printer to buy, the more they get you on the
inks.
For B&W you are really better off with a laser printer if you will be
only printing on occasion
If you have the space, consider an older HP model (II, IIP, 3 series or
4 series). Again, many people are dumping these, and the toner
cartridges are available refilled, or you can refill them yourself, and
the cartridges handle many refills before wearing out.
The newer low end laser printers come with starter cartridges, have
chips to make them difficult ot impossible to refill, and quite honestly
are built like junk. They don't last.
The ones I mentioned, cost a thousand or more dollars when they were
new, and even thought they are "obsolete" they are build very well.
Art
Sudy Nim wrote:
> Could anyone recommend an inexpensive Color, B&W printer (no photo
> requirement) for occasional home use? I'm using a 7-year-old Dell desktop with
> w98se, which has a USB port. Thank you.
>
>
Thank you all for your replies and thank you Art for the very excellent
critique. I appreciate your taking the time to help me.
Sudy Nim.
"Arthur Entlich" <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:lL0Qi.35902$th2.313@pd7urf3no...
> If I were you, I would try to find someone discarding an older Epson
> printer that uses the ganged ink cartridges and has no microchip. These
> cartridges are VERY easy to refill, and easier to make cleaning
> cartridges when they clog (and if your use is only occasional, they
> will). Also, these still have some of the cheapest cartridges to buy
> (3rd party). Models I would recommend include Epson 600 series (600,
> 640, 660, 800 series 700 series (740, 760), (800, 850, 880) or 900
> series (SC900, 980) These are all 4 color printer (they use a separate
> black cartridge and a three color, (Cyan magenta and yellow color).
>
> You can pick these models up for free, or a few bucks in used stored.
>
> The reason I suggest Epson is the head is permanent, and although it may
> clog, it is clearable with a bit of time and under $1 in cleaning stuff
> yo find in your grocery store.
>
> Other models use 6 colors which you do not need for your use, and just
> adds headaches.
>
> Other models are the earlier 'i' series Canon again look for 4 color and
> no chip. They have individual ink cartridges for each color, as I
> recall, but are very easy to refill, but head do fail on these.
>
> I can't suggest older HP product in the color inkjet printers because
> the heads are part of the cartridge and can only be refilled by skilled
> people and the head still fails after several fill ups. New cartridges
> are darn costly and you won't typically find 3rd party product, as you
> will with Epson.
>
> I don't suggest a new printer, because they all have some type of chip
> to prevent refilling, (both inkjet and B&W laser) they are still going
> to clog over time from lack of use, and you will be wasting a LOT of
> ink. Also, the cheaper the printer to buy, the more they get you on the
> inks.
>
> For B&W you are really better off with a laser printer if you will be
> only printing on occasion
>
> If you have the space, consider an older HP model (II, IIP, 3 series or
> 4 series). Again, many people are dumping these, and the toner
> cartridges are available refilled, or you can refill them yourself, and
> the cartridges handle many refills before wearing out.
>
> The newer low end laser printers come with starter cartridges, have
> chips to make them difficult ot impossible to refill, and quite honestly
> are built like junk. They don't last.
>
> The ones I mentioned, cost a thousand or more dollars when they were
> new, and even thought they are "obsolete" they are build very well.
>
>
> Art
>
> Sudy Nim wrote:
>
> > Could anyone recommend an inexpensive Color, B&W printer (no photo
> > requirement) for occasional home use? I'm using a 7-year-old Dell desktop
with
> > w98se, which has a USB port. Thank you.
> >
> >
In addition to Aurthur's suggestion, I would recommend looking for an
older Canon printer that uses the BCI-6 cartridges. IMO, these printers
are some of the most economical to operate because of the availability
of good quality, inexpensive, compatible cartridges that are
non-chipped. We have Canon iP4000, MP780, i960 and i9100 printers and
buying cartridges for $1.59 shipped to our door makes them extremely
inexpensive to operate. Most Canon printers allow the user to easily
change the print head if, and when, it is needed.
Arthur Entlich wrote:
> If I were you, I would try to find someone discarding an older Epson
> printer that uses the ganged ink cartridges and has no microchip. These
> cartridges are VERY easy to refill, and easier to make cleaning
> cartridges when they clog (and if your use is only occasional, they
> will). Also, these still have some of the cheapest cartridges to buy
> (3rd party). Models I would recommend include Epson 600 series (600,
> 640, 660, 800 series 700 series (740, 760), (800, 850, 880) or 900
> series (SC900, 980) These are all 4 color printer (they use a separate
> black cartridge and a three color, (Cyan magenta and yellow color).
>
> You can pick these models up for free, or a few bucks in used stored.
>
> The reason I suggest Epson is the head is permanent, and although it may
> clog, it is clearable with a bit of time and under $1 in cleaning stuff
> yo find in your grocery store.
>
> Other models use 6 colors which you do not need for your use, and just
> adds headaches.
>
> Other models are the earlier 'i' series Canon again look for 4 color and
> no chip. They have individual ink cartridges for each color, as I
> recall, but are very easy to refill, but head do fail on these.
>
> I can't suggest older HP product in the color inkjet printers because
> the heads are part of the cartridge and can only be refilled by skilled
> people and the head still fails after several fill ups. New cartridges
> are darn costly and you won't typically find 3rd party product, as you
> will with Epson.
>
> I don't suggest a new printer, because they all have some type of chip
> to prevent refilling, (both inkjet and B&W laser) they are still going
> to clog over time from lack of use, and you will be wasting a LOT of
> ink. Also, the cheaper the printer to buy, the more they get you on the
> inks.
>
> For B&W you are really better off with a laser printer if you will be
> only printing on occasion
>
> If you have the space, consider an older HP model (II, IIP, 3 series or
> 4 series). Again, many people are dumping these, and the toner
> cartridges are available refilled, or you can refill them yourself, and
> the cartridges handle many refills before wearing out.
>
> The newer low end laser printers come with starter cartridges, have
> chips to make them difficult ot impossible to refill, and quite honestly
> are built like junk. They don't last.
>
> The ones I mentioned, cost a thousand or more dollars when they were
> new, and even thought they are "obsolete" they are build very well.
>
>
> Art
>
> Sudy Nim wrote:
>
>> Could anyone recommend an inexpensive Color, B&W printer (no photo
>> requirement) for occasional home use? I'm using a 7-year-old Dell
>> desktop with
>> w98se, which has a USB port. Thank you.
>>
>>
You are very welcome. I should mention one thing, some older
particularly inkjet printers may not have drivers from XP or Vista.
Most Epson models now still have some form of XP driver or one is in box
from MS. Many of these printers use parallel port connection rather than
USB. A few will have both.
However, since photographs weren't your perceived use, the drivers
supplied in box my MS will probably be all you need for text and
diagram/chart work.
The older HP laser printers were so common and last so long that I
imagine all of them are supported even in Vista (although I have not
checked).
Art
Sudy Nim wrote:
> Thank you all for your replies and thank you Art for the very excellent
> critique. I appreciate your taking the time to help me.
> Sudy Nim.
>
> "Arthur Entlich" <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:lL0Qi.35902$th2.313@pd7urf3no...
>
>>If I were you, I would try to find someone discarding an older Epson
>>printer that uses the ganged ink cartridges and has no microchip. These
>>cartridges are VERY easy to refill, and easier to make cleaning
>>cartridges when they clog (and if your use is only occasional, they
>>will). Also, these still have some of the cheapest cartridges to buy
>>(3rd party). Models I would recommend include Epson 600 series (600,
>>640, 660, 800 series 700 series (740, 760), (800, 850, 880) or 900
>>series (SC900, 980) These are all 4 color printer (they use a separate
>>black cartridge and a three color, (Cyan magenta and yellow color).
>>
>>You can pick these models up for free, or a few bucks in used stored.
>>
>>The reason I suggest Epson is the head is permanent, and although it may
>>clog, it is clearable with a bit of time and under $1 in cleaning stuff
>>yo find in your grocery store.
>>
>>Other models use 6 colors which you do not need for your use, and just
>>adds headaches.
>>
>>Other models are the earlier 'i' series Canon again look for 4 color and
>>no chip. They have individual ink cartridges for each color, as I
>>recall, but are very easy to refill, but head do fail on these.
>>
>>I can't suggest older HP product in the color inkjet printers because
>>the heads are part of the cartridge and can only be refilled by skilled
>>people and the head still fails after several fill ups. New cartridges
>>are darn costly and you won't typically find 3rd party product, as you
>>will with Epson.
>>
>>I don't suggest a new printer, because they all have some type of chip
>>to prevent refilling, (both inkjet and B&W laser) they are still going
>>to clog over time from lack of use, and you will be wasting a LOT of
>>ink. Also, the cheaper the printer to buy, the more they get you on the
>>inks.
>>
>>For B&W you are really better off with a laser printer if you will be
>>only printing on occasion
>>
>>If you have the space, consider an older HP model (II, IIP, 3 series or
>>4 series). Again, many people are dumping these, and the toner
>>cartridges are available refilled, or you can refill them yourself, and
>>the cartridges handle many refills before wearing out.
>>
>>The newer low end laser printers come with starter cartridges, have
>>chips to make them difficult ot impossible to refill, and quite honestly
>>are built like junk. They don't last.
>>
>>The ones I mentioned, cost a thousand or more dollars when they were
>>new, and even thought they are "obsolete" they are build very well.
>>
>>
>>Art
>>
>>Sudy Nim wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Could anyone recommend an inexpensive Color, B&W printer (no photo
>>>requirement) for occasional home use? I'm using a 7-year-old Dell desktop
>
> with
>
>>>w98se, which has a USB port. Thank you.
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>
Arthur Entlich wrote:
....
> The reason I suggest Epson is the head is permanent, and although it may
> clog, it is clearable with a bit of time and under $1 in cleaning stuff
> yo find in your grocery store.
....
>
> I can't suggest older HP product in the color inkjet printers because
> the heads are part of the cartridge and can only be refilled by skilled
> people and the head still fails after several fill ups. New cartridges
> are darn costly and you won't typically find 3rd party product, as you
> will with Epson.
>
Arthur, let me be not the first to thank you. You are a superb and
generous resource here, and when I get the gumption to attempt
un-clogging my Epson CX4600, I'm going to review-again your cleaning
procedures. I don't anticipate having much fun because of the
disemboweling of the all-in-one's layers to get to the print heads.
But I've been reviewing various posts on this NG for a while, as well as
gaining some experience with my own HPs, so I'd like to clarify your
words a little. Here goes:
1. Each brand of inkjet seems to have its strengths and weaknesses. I
don't sense that any one is "better" or "worse" than any other. I'm not
certain that this is true of Lexmark, however, but not too many people
have experience with this brand.
2. I need some reassurance that Epson's printers are reliable enough to
invest in one, since I've heard that Epson heads are difficult to
replace and that replacement heads cost a fortune.
3. I have already refilled a few HP cartridges, color and black,
successfully. I'm pretty new at this, so I've gone slowly. Even with
improper dye "universal" (Universal tm) ink, the black's actually been
OK for my use, but I won't buy anything like this again -- I just wanted
to see what would happen and it was staring me in the face in the store.
I've just done my refilling relying on my common sense and mechanical
knowledge and skill.
I've decided to concentrate on HP inkjets simply because I came into
four of them: three from a thrift shop for $5 each, and one as a gift.
An advantage, as pointed out by Bob Headrick, a generous former HP
employee, is that HP uses not only the usual pre-print costly
ink-dumping to clear the nozzles, but also has some sort of proprietary
print head wiping. The result is that the printer and its cartridges can
sit unused for quite a long time, a number of months, in fact, and then
perform flawlessly. It's been said by a few people here that Lexmark
printers, which use essentially the same technology as HP, must be used
once per week before the cartridges clog.
I can buy refilled HP cartridges easily because they're so common. And
people here have refilled HP cartridges quite a number of times without
having to replace them. I assume that this experience varies, however.
I'm going to scrap an older HP printer (an 850c) because it's got one or
two damaged parts, and I have the other reliable, newer machines
already. However, I actually liked this model. I believe that its ink is
identical to that used in my other machines. I especially like the fact
that it's a little slower, and I appreciate slowness in machinery, since
it's less likely to rip itself apart.
"Richard Steinfeld" <rgsteinBUTREMOVETHIS@sonicANDTHISTOO.net> wrote in
message news:13h3cb56vj43q03@corp.supernews.com...
[snip]
> I've decided to concentrate on HP inkjets simply because I came into four
> of them: three from a thrift shop for $5 each, and one as a gift. An
> advantage, as pointed out by Bob Headrick, a generous former HP employee,
> is that HP uses not only the usual pre-print costly ink-dumping to clear
> the nozzles, but also has some sort of proprietary print head wiping. The
> result is that the printer and its cartridges can sit unused for quite a
> long time, a number of months, in fact, and then perform flawlessly.
I believe you misunderstood what I wrote in the past. One of the advantages
of the HP printers with integrated printheads is that they do much less
pre-print servicing. Unlike printers with separate ink supplies and
printheads that may need to go through a rather extensive startup sequence,
the HP minimizes the ink (and time) used for this operation. See http://h10060.www1.hp.com/pageyield/...cyArticle.html
for a comparison of ink efficiency in different printer models. Some
printers may put 3X more ink into the service station then they actually put
on paper.
[HP recently introduced printers with permanent printheads recirculate the
ink used for servicing, giving efficiency that approaches that of the
integrated printhead HP systems. [Unfortunately I do not have the link
readily at hand - if anyone really wants to see the reference I can probably
dig it up.]
I will agree that people have differing experiences with refilling, and
even reliability based upon the ink used and the environmental conditions.
I'm not sure that HP's cleaning system is necessarily superior to
others, although I will agree that should the head clog beyond repair,
one can simply replace the cartridge and start over, which cannot be
accomplished easily with the Epson models.
The lifespan one gets from an HP inkjet cartridge seems variable, from
one or two to a dozen or so, but it is variable. The heads aren't
designed for refilling, although people do so. Some models had
airfilled bladders, or require popping out a ballbearing/check valves,
and other processes. HP has been very rigorous in pursuing 3rd party
cartridge production, and due to this head design which is part of the
cartridge, many 3rd party companies won't try to copy it. Refills are
out there but tend to be more costly, and, of course, since HP is the
only source for empty units, as older printers get even older, there
will be less and less used cartridges out there to be refilled.
Certain vintages of Canon printer have easy to refill cartridge which do
not contain the head. However, the heads do eventually fail on these
models and that can get costly. The vintage of Epson printers I referred
to in my reply to the OP are all without chips, and the cartridges can
be refilled many times since the head is permanently in the machine.
The cartridge is just an ink container. The refill process is very
simple, and low cost, and many of these printers are still being
provided with cheap new cartridges from China which I personally haven't
had problems with. They are all dye ink printers, making the cleaning
process should they clog, relatively easy.
My concern is just that the HP used cartridge supply will dry up (not
the ink in them ;-)) after time. Since the head in part of those
cartridges, no cartridge means no printer.
Art
Richard Steinfeld wrote:
> Arthur Entlich wrote:
> ...
>
>> The reason I suggest Epson is the head is permanent, and although it
>> may clog, it is clearable with a bit of time and under $1 in cleaning
>> stuff yo find in your grocery store.
>
> ...
>
>>
>> I can't suggest older HP product in the color inkjet printers because
>> the heads are part of the cartridge and can only be refilled by
>> skilled people and the head still fails after several fill ups. New
>> cartridges are darn costly and you won't typically find 3rd party
>> product, as you will with Epson.
>>
>
> Arthur, let me be not the first to thank you. You are a superb and
> generous resource here, and when I get the gumption to attempt
> un-clogging my Epson CX4600, I'm going to review-again your cleaning
> procedures. I don't anticipate having much fun because of the
> disemboweling of the all-in-one's layers to get to the print heads.
>
> But I've been reviewing various posts on this NG for a while, as well as
> gaining some experience with my own HPs, so I'd like to clarify your
> words a little. Here goes:
>
> 1. Each brand of inkjet seems to have its strengths and weaknesses. I
> don't sense that any one is "better" or "worse" than any other. I'm not
> certain that this is true of Lexmark, however, but not too many people
> have experience with this brand.
>
> 2. I need some reassurance that Epson's printers are reliable enough to
> invest in one, since I've heard that Epson heads are difficult to
> replace and that replacement heads cost a fortune.
>
> 3. I have already refilled a few HP cartridges, color and black,
> successfully. I'm pretty new at this, so I've gone slowly. Even with
> improper dye "universal" (Universal tm) ink, the black's actually been
> OK for my use, but I won't buy anything like this again -- I just wanted
> to see what would happen and it was staring me in the face in the store.
> I've just done my refilling relying on my common sense and mechanical
> knowledge and skill.
>
> I've decided to concentrate on HP inkjets simply because I came into
> four of them: three from a thrift shop for $5 each, and one as a gift.
> An advantage, as pointed out by Bob Headrick, a generous former HP
> employee, is that HP uses not only the usual pre-print costly
> ink-dumping to clear the nozzles, but also has some sort of proprietary
> print head wiping. The result is that the printer and its cartridges can
> sit unused for quite a long time, a number of months, in fact, and then
> perform flawlessly. It's been said by a few people here that Lexmark
> printers, which use essentially the same technology as HP, must be used
> once per week before the cartridges clog.
>
> I can buy refilled HP cartridges easily because they're so common. And
> people here have refilled HP cartridges quite a number of times without
> having to replace them. I assume that this experience varies, however.
>
> I'm going to scrap an older HP printer (an 850c) because it's got one or
> two damaged parts, and I have the other reliable, newer machines
> already. However, I actually liked this model. I believe that its ink is
> identical to that used in my other machines. I especially like the fact
> that it's a little slower, and I appreciate slowness in machinery, since
> it's less likely to rip itself apart.
>
> Richard
Least expensive printer 
Linear Mode
