Inkjets - love 'em or hate 'em? Advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter Boulton
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Peter Boulton

Hi,

As the family's resident 'computer expert' I've been asked to source a
computer for the mother in law. She's 78 and not sure exactly what she
wants to do on the computer, but I'd guess it will be web, email, a bit of
Skype and written correspondence.

My experience of inkjets which are only used occasionally is bad - i.e. the
carts dry up before you get decent use from them, the nozzles get blocked
and you get lines across your printouts, etc.

I recommended that she gets a low-end black and white laser, which will have
none of these problems, but obviously won't give her colour.

Of course, then everyone chips in and says they have no probem with their
inkjets (and then you probe and find they are feeding it new carts all the
time etc.!) and winds her up about how she might like to do colour posters
for the Womens Institute and other fanciful stuff.

So, without wishing to provoke a flame war, what do you think? Am I too
down on inkjets, or should I stick to my guns?

Thanks!

Pete
 
Peter Boulton said:
So, without wishing to provoke a flame war, what do you think? Am I too
down on inkjets, or should I stick to my guns?
Click to expand...

Comes down to what Granny will want to do. Given the low price of an
inkjet, I'd give it a try. Color may be a big incentive for her to do some
printing.

Your points are valid. but I go a few weeks between print jobs on one of my
HP printers with no problem. Perhaps you can point out that she should try
to use it once a week.
 
If priinting coloured photographs is not a main issue, why not an El
Cheapo laser printer

I have a El' Cheapo Samsung ML1510 it's been refilled two or thre
times to date, they are a lot less hassle than a ink jet and a lo
less cheaper

Do make sure they are refillable the toner assy for mine is about £6
UK, the printer was only £54 and that included delivery. If you wan
to take this route have a look at -
http://www.refill-toner.co.uk/index.htm it may give you some ideas o
the models that are easily refillable

And they don't clog..

Dav
 
Neither. Your concerns are justified, but there is a solution. For her
needs consider suggesting a Canon 4 color printer. It will probably
give her good service with little need for maintenance, due to the
design and dye inks. The cartridges can be refilled by a refiller
easily and inexpensively or she can possible buy generics. The inks are
a bit fugitive (they fade) but for the things she is indicating she
wants to do, the materials don't need to be archival. If she is mainly
doing poster and such she doesn't need a printer with extra colors,
which just cost more in dilute inks and means more cartridges to fill.

Also, the inks are less likely to fade as quickly. Although Canon heads
do eventually burn out, they have a good 2 years in them with moderate
to high use. In her case they could last her for years. It will cost
more in ink than a laser will in toner, in most cases, but if she wants
color its the cheaper way to go without headaches.

Art
 
or
(e-mail address removed)12.pa.us
Arthur Entlich said:
Neither. Your concerns are justified, but there is a solution. For her
needs consider suggesting a Canon 4 color printer. It will probably give
her good service with little need for maintenance, due to the design and
dye inks. The cartridges can be refilled by a refiller easily and
inexpensively or she can possible buy generics. The inks are a bit
fugitive (they fade) but for the things she is indicating she wants to do,
the materials don't need to be archival. If she is mainly doing poster
and such she doesn't need a printer with extra colors, which just cost
more in dilute inks and means more cartridges to fill.

Also, the inks are less likely to fade as quickly. Although Canon heads
do eventually burn out, they have a good 2 years in them with moderate to
high use. In her case they could last her for years. It will cost more
in ink than a laser will in toner, in most cases, but if she wants color
its the cheaper way to go without headaches.

Art
Click to expand...
--

My first thoughts are to ask your mother in law what she hopes to do with
her computer and what she'd be interesting in learning to do. If she's vague
then get the inkjet printer rather than the laser. Color simply has so many
enjoyments for a first time user compared to black and white laser variety
that it's worth bringing that beauty and opportunity to a person. I'm in
agreement with Art that a Canon printer is most likely going to give the
least headache of available inkjets these days. Ink jet printers are cheap
enough initially to justify this way of starting. If she really starts
printing a lot then maybe she'll get interested in refilling if money
becomes an issue.


Jan Alter
(e-mail address removed)
 
THE FOLLOWING ADVICE IS REALLY STUPID FOR A 78 YEAR OLD WOMAN.

Arthur said:
Neither. Your concerns are justified, but there is a solution. For
her needs consider suggesting a Canon 4 color printer.
Click to expand...

WHILE CANON MAKES THE BEST INKJET, IN THIS CASE, ONE SHOULD RECOMMEND AN
HP THAT HAS AN INTEGRATED PRINTHEAD. EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE INK CARTS
YOU GET A NEW PRINTHEAD. WHILE SOMEWHAT MORE EXPENSIVE IT REALLY WILL
NOT COST MUCH MORE SINCE THE PRINT LOAD EXPECTED WILL NOT BE HIGH. YOU
MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER AN HP MULTI FUNCTION (USUALLY DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM)
SINCE IT IS AN ALL IN ONE AND WILL EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE A COPY MACHINE
AND SCANNER IN ADDITION TO A PRINTER. THE HP ALSO USED DYE INKS.
It will probably give her good service with little need for
maintenance, due to the design and dye inks. The cartridges can be
refilled by a refiller
Click to expand...

THIS IS REALLY STUPID. LOW PRINTLOAD THEREFORE THE COST OF GENUINE OEM
CARTS WILL BE LOW.
easily and inexpensively or she can possible buy generics.
Click to expand...

MORE STUPID ADVICE FOR A CLOGGED HEAD.
 
Edwin said:
Comes down to what Granny will want to do. Given the low price of an
inkjet, I'd give it a try. Color may be a big incentive for her to do some
printing.

Your points are valid. but I go a few weeks between print jobs on one of my
HP printers with no problem. Perhaps you can point out that she should try
to use it once a week.
Click to expand...
I HAVE EASILY GONE 3 WEEKS WITH MY HP990 USING OEM CARTS AND HAVE NEVER
HAD A PROBLEM.
 
Peter Boulton said:
Hi,

As the family's resident 'computer expert' I've been asked to source a
computer for the mother in law. She's 78 and not sure exactly what she
wants to do on the computer, but I'd guess it will be web, email, a bit of
Skype and written correspondence.

My experience of inkjets which are only used occasionally is bad - i.e. the
carts dry up before you get decent use from them, the nozzles get blocked
and you get lines across your printouts, etc.
Click to expand...

My mother has an HP895cxi thats only used very infrequently. No problems.

I you really want to be careful get a low spec inkjet that has large jets
built into the cart. Avoid 2pico litre photo printers with the heads built
into the printer.
 
while canon makes the best inkjet, in this case, on eshould recommend an hp that
has an integrated printhead.
Click to expand...

Actually the new canon series offers cartridges with integrated
printheads as well. While a printhead is spendy, about 1/2 to 2/3s the
cost of the printer, it still is less than a printer and doesn't work
out to be very costly at all if you change each cartridge 10 times,
which is about it's documented life span. Reality typicaly is higher.
This is a little more than a buck a cartridge, still a decent deal, but
not so decent one shouldn't consider a new printer when the head
reaches the end of it's life. HP also now offers inktanks as well. It
would be nice measekite if your info was up to date.

Canon does make a spiffy inkjet but I have had a few issues with the
drivers, specificly when I try to define a custom paper size,
boarderless, something not offically supported, it tends to crash.
This might be improved in the new series, but I don't honestly know.
 
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