Need printer recommendation

[ru4liberty]

I have an ink hog Canon MG5220. Not only do I get dull colors and muddy resolution when I print, the cartridges don't last worth squat. I don't use that much color in my printing, yet it seems like I'm always running out of one color or another. The replacement package of ink tanks is about $60, so I have decided to look for a printer that doesn't drink the ink.

I would prefer to spend less than the cost 2 packages of replacement cartridges (>$120). I want color integrity so that what I'm seeing on my computer screen is what prints out.

What I print:

- Recipes for sharing that I usually format with a small graphic of the completed dish or a main ingredient
- Flyers that I occasionally develop for local businesses
- Calendar pages for friends' fridges with a pic of their pets or kids (about 2 or 3 each Christmas)

I don't or haven't printed pics as actual pics (something to be framed), but I would like to have that option in case I ever want to.

Can anyone recommend a good printer for me? If possible, I'd prefer not to order it, rather find one in-store that I can buy and bring home. I'm not locked into that; it's just a preference. What I really want is a reliable printer that doesn't gobble the ink.

[rigelkentaurus]

I go to FedEx Kinko, Office Despot, Staples where copies and printing are very cheap. Cheaper than I can justify for paper, toner, machine.

[Kommodor]

I was going to say, if you don’t need to print very often ... Kinko’s.

Much like a boat, sometimes the best printer is the one someone else has paid for.

Then again, I typically only print things once or twice a year.

[PGR88]

Get an HP laser. I have a black/white version that’s 8 years old. Has lasted beyond 2 computer changes and laser cartridges get me far more than the 3000 pages listed.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Buy what they have at work. ;)

[Don Corleone]

I use a B/W Laser printer. More than satisfactory, fast and inexpensive. Dell 1130

[Autonomous User]

Another vote for epson. Miserly ink usage compared to the bloated and expensive HP ink.

[TomGuy]

I had a Cannon inkjet that bit the dirt after about 3 years. Even new cartridges would not work/be recognized.

I bought a Lexmark inkjet locally. I didn’t notice, but the warranty was only 60 days. It died on day 61. The mechanical parts jammed and would not unjam.

Next, I went with a Minolta desktop laser (B/W). It cost $200. When I upgraded to Win7, I could not find any 64-bit drivers for it. It was still printing on the first cartridge.

Next, about 7 years ago, I got a Xerox color laser on a CyberMonday sale. It still works great and is on the original cartridges.

GO LASER.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Every printer mentioned here will do the job. Best bet is third party ink vendors. That’s where the savings will be.

[texas booster]

Color integrity (or fidelity) depends greatly on the paper used, the printing method and regular calibration, if you are serious about color.

The best color printers are dye sublimation printers. Look them up.

I print several thousand pages annually, mostly spot color but some full color. Getting good paper means more than buying an expensive printer.

Almost all modern ink jet printers will serve you well if you use the proper paper for the job.

[tallyhoe]

You could try a New Printer and then buy ink online from maybe..

http://www.ldproducts.com/HP/Ink-Cartridge/PhotoSmart/8250/2338-Printer.html

[tallyhoe]

oops here!!!

http://www.ldproducts.com/coupon?coupon=LDSAVE&mkwid=sXw62y6lI_dc&pcrid=79545836714&pkw=%2Bprinter%20ink%20cartridges%20cheap&pmt=b&plc=&kid=ppc:google:HV+Generic_Printer+Cartridges&gclid=CKW3_fjr4MgCFQVsfgodPXYNVw

[rstrahan]

We use a HP 7100 Series color printer. Prints excellent color prints. Use a HP 1600 color laser jet for everyday printing (business quality printer - cheaper than inkjet).

[USMCPOP]

I print out recipes using a black & white laser printer. The food I cook looks just like the picture but a little darker.

[tallyhoe]

they have your ink 12 Cartridges for $45.00!!!

[SkyDancer]

In our house with several laptop and notebook computers we gave up on trying walk to the printer and plug it in. We bought an EPSON WiFi printer and never had a problem with congestion.

[yobid]

I had a HP970CSE that lasted 16 years. Ink was $$$ though. It finally broke down and we replaced it with the Brother MFC J870DW. Decent printer.

[HamiltonJay]

Stop wasting time on InkJets and just bite the bullet and buy a laser printer.

Yes, they are more expensive to buy, but well worth the investment.

[kingu]

My advice is to just get a cheap B&W laser printer and just toss whatever you want printed in color on a thumb drive and take it to your local office store. It will be far cheaper in the long run.

I've never been able to keep an ink jet working right without running a test sheet each week. And I found that by using high quality inkjet paper, I get sharp images, whereas cheap paper gives me muddy images and colors.

I went the color laserjet for a while, worked marvelously for a few years until I had to move then the printer refused to work right again. Found that I could print pictures and sheets at my local target for less than a buck, well worth the time to just do it that way.

[TroutStalker]

HP Officejet Pro 8620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
$160 at Amazon
Got one a year ago and love it.

[amorphous]

I've had excellent results with a Brother MFC-6490CW wifi printer I've owned now for about 4 years. I can send print jobs to it from any wifi device, including my cell phone.

Good photos and single cartridges, so you only have to replace a single color when it's empty. I also found aftermarket ink cartridges from Amazon much cheaper and last about 3 - 4 times longer and you can get 4 complete sets of cartridges for the price of a single Brother replacement cartridge.

I've owned a number of HP printers in the past. Switched to Brother and doubt I ever go back to HP - when/if the Brother ever wears out.