fast cheap printer for not-too-frequent use?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paul Rubin
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Paul Rubin

I'm interested in a printer capable of printing color photos (not just
"business graphics") that is fast and has low operating costs. The
output quality doesn't have to be great but it should be able to print
using low-cost supplies without looking like total crap. My usage
pattern is that the printer will likely sit idle for months at a time
between bursts of fairly heavy use. One annoying thing about inkjets
is the cartridges dry out if you let them sit too long.

I have the impression that "color laser printer" is a misnomer and the
low cost ones are really monochrome laser printers combined with color
thermal transfer printers. Are all of them like that? I don't like
thermal transfer printers due to security paranoia (the used-up ribbon
contains a record of what's been printed).

Any suggestions? Is there a way to rejuvenate inkjet cartridges that
have gotten clogged from disuse?

Thanks.
 
Paul said:
I don't like
thermal transfer printers due to security paranoia (the used-up ribbon
contains a record of what's been printed).
Click to expand...
Agent 86 found a solution for this - it's in the CONTROL rules and
regulations book.
 
Paul said:
I'm interested in a printer capable of printing color photos (not just
"business graphics") that is fast and has low operating costs. The
output quality doesn't have to be great but it should be able to print
using low-cost supplies without looking like total crap. My usage
pattern is that the printer will likely sit idle for months at a time
between bursts of fairly heavy use. One annoying thing about inkjets
is the cartridges dry out if you let them sit too long.

I have the impression that "color laser printer" is a misnomer and the
low cost ones are really monochrome laser printers combined with color
thermal transfer printers. Are all of them like that? I don't like
thermal transfer printers due to security paranoia (the used-up ribbon
contains a record of what's been printed).
Click to expand...

Muslim?? Printing Porn????

Neither? Than I suggest you cost out the per print cost of a printer +
inks + dried out heads versus getting prints form Costco or such.


Lou
 
Lou said:
Muslim?? Printing Porn????
Click to expand...

Nah, just general principle. Care to broadcast a copy of everything
you print on YOUR printer?
Neither? Than I suggest you cost out the per print cost of a printer +
inks + dried out heads versus getting prints form Costco or such.
Click to expand...

The hassle of driving to Costco, parking, waiting around the store,
etc. outweighs any possible savings from getting prints made there. I
do use Walgreens now and then (walking distance), but that is a PITA
as well.
 
Paul Rubin said:
I have the impression that "color laser printer" is a misnomer and the
low cost ones are really monochrome laser printers combined with color
thermal transfer printers. Are all of them like that? I don't like
thermal transfer printers due to security paranoia (the used-up ribbon
contains a record of what's been printed).
Click to expand...

Paul-

I don't doubt there are some such printers out there, but I haven't come
across one in recent years.

When you say "cheap" and "low cost supplies", you rule out most printers
on the market! Either a printer is cheap with high cost supplies, or the
reverse.

You might look at a mid-priced color laser printer that takes larger toner
cartridges. The cartridges will be more expensive than the smaller ones,
but will provide several times as many prints. Along that line, cost per
print is often much lower with a laser printer, in spite of the apparent
higher cost of toner compared to ink.

If your color photos need to be photographic quality glossy prints, that
rules out most laser printers. Inkjet printers with disposabe heads (some
Canon and HP) may be your best bet. Just replace the old clogged ones
when you need to make a run.

Fred
 
I don't doubt there are some such printers out there, but I haven't come
across one in recent years.
Click to expand...

Oh that's interesting, I thought they were all like that now. The
color "toner" cartridges don't actually contain ribbon?
When you say "cheap" and "low cost supplies", you rule out most printers
on the market! Either a printer is cheap with high cost supplies, or the
reverse.
Click to expand...

Well, I thought the saying was "cheap, fast, good -- pick any two".
I'm willing to accept fairly lousy output quality by the standards of
the high class photo printers that the endless ink wars on this ng
seem to revolve around.
You might look at a mid-priced color laser printer that takes larger toner
cartridges. The cartridges will be more expensive than the smaller ones,
but will provide several times as many prints. Along that line, cost per
print is often much lower with a laser printer, in spite of the apparent
higher cost of toner compared to ink.
Click to expand...

I'll look for these and also for toner refills.
If your color photos need to be photographic quality glossy prints, that
rules out most laser printers. Inkjet printers with disposabe heads (some
Canon and HP) may be your best bet. Just replace the old clogged ones
when you need to make a run.
Click to expand...

I guess that's feasible for large runs, though the cartridges are
pretty expensive. I'd want to use a CIS if possible. Anyway it gives
me an idea what to look for.
 
Paul said:
The hassle of driving to Costco, parking, waiting around the store,
etc. outweighs any possible savings from getting prints made there. I
do use Walgreens now and then (walking distance), but that is a PITA
as well.
Click to expand...

Much less hassle: you can go on line, prepare your photos, crop them,
etc., then transmit them to the store. So, send them in to Costco, pick
them up along with a nice big bag of California spinach. Yummie!

Richard
 
Oh that's interesting, I thought they were all like that now. The
color "toner" cartridges don't actually contain ribbon?


Well, I thought the saying was "cheap, fast, good -- pick any two".
I'm willing to accept fairly lousy output quality by the standards of
the high class photo printers that the endless ink wars on this ng
seem to revolve around.


I'll look for these and also for toner refills.


I guess that's feasible for large runs, though the cartridges are
pretty expensive. I'd want to use a CIS if possible. Anyway it gives
me an idea what to look for.
Click to expand...

Fast ...... Cheap ...... Reliable ..... Choose any two.
 
Your information regarding color laser printers is not accurate.

In fact, I have yet to see one of the type you mention. Today you can
pick up a 4 color (toner) laser printer for under $300 US. And, it will
provide you with all the basic features you were looking for, however,
it will not be cheap to run, except if you can find a refilling service
for the toner cartridges.

Just like inkjet business model, the laser printer companies have now
gone to the "free printer with purchase of ink/toner" business model.
Basically, the cost of replacing the toner in a color printer will cost
about the same or more than the original printer. The printers mainly
come with starter cartridges which contain 1/3rd to 1/2 the toner the
replacement cartridges will contain. Sometimes moving up one or two
models can provide you with a heavier duty machine with a few more
features and full toner cartridges, for a minimal increase in original
purchase cost. Worth researching.

Art
 
Arthur Entlich said:
Your information regarding color laser printers is not accurate.

In fact, I have yet to see one of the type you mention. Today you can
pick up a 4 color (toner) laser printer for under $300 US. And, it
will provide you with all the basic features you were looking for,
however, it will not be cheap to run, except if you can find a
refilling service for the toner cartridges.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm glad to hear this. Under a loose enough definition of
"tolerable", can that setup print tolerable photos on plain paper?
Let's say "tolerable" means at the standard of color photos that you
see printed in the newspaper.
 
Paul Rubin said:
Thanks, I'm glad to hear this. Under a loose enough definition of
"tolerable", can that setup print tolerable photos on plain paper?
Let's say "tolerable" means at the standard of color photos that you
see printed in the newspaper.
Click to expand...

Paul-

Under that definition, I believe most color laser printers will do what
you want. Using plain uncoated paper, they may be better than inkjet
photos, depending on which inkjet you compare it with.

If you should want duplex (double-sided) photo prints, the laser will be
superior since it doesn't bleed through like ink does.

Fred
 
Richard said:
Much less hassle: you can go on line, prepare your photos, crop them,
etc., then transmit them to the store. So, send them in to Costco, pick
them up along with a nice big bag of California spinach. Yummie!

Richard
Click to expand...

Good points on transmitting and picking up.
Pick up a cooked chicken or other prepared stuff:-))

Lou
 
Paul said:
Thanks, I'm glad to hear this. Under a loose enough definition of
"tolerable", can that setup print tolerable photos on plain paper?
Let's say "tolerable" means at the standard of color photos that you
see printed in the newspaper.
Click to expand...

Art usually comes around once every day or two so it may take a while.
Meanwhile perhaps a visit to a Staples or other big store with a good
printer selection would allow you to get sample outputs.

Lou
 
Hi!
I have the impression that "color laser printer" is a misnomer and the
low cost ones are really monochrome laser printers combined with color
thermal transfer printers. Are all of them like that?
Click to expand...

No. From cheap to expensive, the color laser printers I've seen are true
laser printers throughout. They have colored toner and many work on a
multi-pass principle of operation...that is to say that one color is laid
down, followed by the others until the page is completely printed. That's
why so many are much slower when printing color images.

There also exist a few color laser printers that seemingly lay down all
colors in one shot and maintain the same printing rate in B&W as they do
color.

Unfortunately, the toner for just about all of these color laser printers is
*not* going to be cheap.

William
 
William R. Walsh said:
No. From cheap to expensive, the color laser printers I've seen are true
laser printers throughout. They have colored toner and many work on a
multi-pass principle of operation...that is to say that one color is laid
down, followed by the others until the page is completely printed. That's
why so many are much slower when printing color images.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this helps.
Unfortunately, the toner for just about all of these color laser printers is
*not* going to be cheap.
Click to expand...

I wonder what the deal with that is. I guess it's similar to the
situation with inkjet ink. Oh well.
 
Paul Rubin said:
I wonder what the deal with that is. I guess it's similar to the
situation with inkjet ink. Oh well.
Click to expand...

Paul-

The deal is that you should get many more prints from a toner cartridge
than from an inkjet cartridge. Cost per print is in favor of laser.

Some will say you can save money by refilling your inkjet cartridges, but
that is also a possibility with laser cartridges if you have the time to
mess with it!

Fred
 
Some will say you can save money by refilling your inkjet cartridges, but
that is also a possibility with laser cartridges if you have the time to
mess with it!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I probably don't want to mess with DIY laser cartridge
refilling, but if there's a place I can send them for recharging I
might go with that.

Thanks!
 
Paul Rubin said:
Yeah, I probably don't want to mess with DIY laser cartridge
refilling, but if there's a place I can send them for recharging I
might go with that.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

There are many places to send them, or you can buy re-filled ones from the
office supply store. We've been using them in our HP lasers for about 10
years no with no problems.
 
Yes, in fact, better. Almost up to quality magazine pictures.

You can get sample images form most of the color laser printer companies
if you contact them and ask for a sample.

Pretty much the quality is equal to a digital color photocopy. If you
have had a color photocopy made in recent times, the quality these color
laser printers produce should be similar.

Art
 
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