Buying a printer.

[akif]

After bieng unable to get my HP-670C fixed, now i m gonig to buy a new one.
What should I buy?

Here people say that Epson offers cheaper cartridges yet the same print quality. Does it consumes more ink than its HP counterparts?

What are other options?

I m not going for an "Excellent" print quality,nor i m interested in printed anything but B&W.

[ErnieK]

IMHO the best value for ink is with HP printers. Others will more than likely differ so wait on their replies for definate Consensus.

A lot of manufacturers do have cheaper ink cartridges but they can and do contain less ink.

[gwallen4]

The three best in my mind are Canon, HP, and Epson. All three have high quality print. HP inkcarts are more expensive but last longer. You can buy third party ink for any of them. For black and white printing, ink is not really an issue.

My last Epson kept having problems with clogged print heads, requiring multiple head cleaning cycles to fix. Eventually they couldn't be cleaned. This is a problem that requires returning Epson printers for service (changing print heads).

I'm not certain but I believe HP print heads are contained in the ink cartridge so everytime you change the cartridge you have a new print head. Canon print heads are replaceable by the customer.

Service by HP is good during the warranty period - I have had two printers replaced during the first year (makes you wonder about quality - but the service is good). Epson fixed my photo printer for free just after the warranty lapsed - print head. I have a new Canon now that is a really nice photoprinter (i950) so I haven't had a chance to check Canon's service.

If you don't have a lot of printing to do and speed is not a consideration, probably any cheap printer will do. If you do alot of printing, I would spend a little more and get something fast. I think Canon's may be a little faster for the money. That would be my choice.

[david eaton]

I would agree with the choice of HP. The print head is part of the cartridge, so while the cartridge is dearer, there is less chance of clogging/wear impairing quality.

Personally, I do not like Epson printers. The ink cartridges seem to have a very short life, and the printers themselves seem noisy and slow compared with HP.

On a negative note, don't go for Lexmark!! The printers are very cheap, the supplies expensive and print quality mediocre.

My personal opimions only, others may well disagree

[deddard]

THe HP printheads are contained within the cartridge, so you get new printheads every time you replace the cartridge. Epson are good quality, using different technology to others, but many people have problems with them.
Don't buy Lexmark
Don't buy Lexmark.
Lexmark - don't buy em! There is only one real printer company I have problems with, and that is Lexmark. Their cartridges are expensive, and their software sucks.

If you are really going to do just black & white, then I'd advise skipping inkjets completely, and going for a laser - they cost more to buy initially (you don't have to spend megabucks though) but their running cost is ridiculously cheap.

[Mark Miller]

I have to agree with David. I have had both HP and Epson, using an epson now. Epson cartridges use more ink then HP and I feel the quality is not as good.
Mark

[Jhorner1]

I have used HP, Canon, and Lexmark. Like the other comments - Don't buy Lexmark.

[pave_spectre]

I will agree with the dont buy Lexmark sentiment but add for home printing . They tend to become little more than paper weights quite quickly.

However I have used their Optra series of business laser printers and found those quite satisfactory.

I diasagree with Mark about the quality of Epson print cartridges but I am starting to believe that they do use more ink (or contain less).

My vote would be to go for a HP.

[classicsoftware]

If you are only looking for Black and white and DO NOT want color, get a laser printer. They are faster and the cost per page is less than the inkjet and the qulity is better. What is your budget. Also coinsider, a laser printer will usually last much longer rthan an inkjet.

[david eaton]

Originally posted by pave_spectre
I will agree with the dont buy Lexmark sentiment but add for home printing . They tend to become little more than paper weights quite quickly.

However I have used their Optra series of business laser printers and found those quite satisfactory.

Certainly! The optra series are good, but a bit OTT for the average home computer.

[pave_spectre]

The optra series are good, but a bit OTT for the average home computer.
I didnt mean to appear as though I was suggesting buying an Optra, (though I could certainly find a use for one at my house:D) just that I didnt fully agree with the blanket 'Dont buy Lexmark' and that they did make good printers.
Just not ones a home user should buy if the care about performance and cost.:eek:

[Flick]

HP, HP, HP, HP, HP, HP. Plug it in and NEVER turn it off. It will last a long time!