Printer recommendations???

[djf]

OK I have an HP V40XI and it all a sudden like decided to stop feeding the paper. When it works, this is a great printer, it also has built in scanner, fax, and copier. But over the couple years I've had it, it has been pretty much nothing but a major pain everytime I go to use it.

Picture quality is excellent. But it constantly complains about the color cartridge. And it gives almost NO indication what it doesn't like, just repeatedly saying "remove and check "color cartidge"...

So I think it's time to bite the bullet and get a new printer.

What I would like: Same capabilities, printing, scanning, copying. I can live without fax.

GOOD DIAGNOSTICS AND SUPPORT!

Something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg for cartridges. (Yes, I've gone the re-fill route, it can work, but it is not particularly reliable)

Windows XP support

Either USB or standard D25 connection

Most of all, rock solid dependability.

I am sure there are FReepers out there who have had a wide variety with good (Rare!) and BAD, CRAPPOLA printers(much, much too common).

Thanks in advance!

[Fresh Wind]

My current HP tends to have trouble with cheap, thin paper.

[Uncle Miltie]

Use anything other than HP. Their business model is to screw their customers with the price of ink.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I love my Lexmark, although it has quirks sometimes. Lexmark is much cheaper on ink and does a fine job.

My other priners are HP and are quirky, at best.

My big shock is finding out that you cannot have a printer repaired any more. People treat them as disposable.

[djf]

Like I said, re-fill works. But ya gotta be careful, or you’ll have one hell of a mess!

[Jeff Chandler]

We liked this one so much we bought one for our daughter:

Brother® MFC-J430w Inkjet All-in-One

$99.99 at Staples

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[djf]

I’ve taken the HP apart before for general cleaning and put it back together. It’s probably just some kind of spring mechanism that’s gummed up. The paper at the rear of the feeder is not getting lifted up to the rollers.

I’d fix it if I could, but without any tech docs, I’m not sure I’m ambitious enough...

[cymbeline]

Laser vs. inkjet

The laser ink is a powder and will last forever in its reservoir. The inkjet ink is a liquid and will evaporate over time and gunk the orfices up.

Definitely go laser.

[FlJoePa]

Agree - HP for ink jet, definitely Brother for Laser.

[bboop]

We just got an Epson WF-3540. It scans, copies, does beautiful photos. Does not ask for new ink all the time. We print a lot of flyers for my music group, lots of photos - my husband is a terrific photog. We love it.

[PGR88]

If you print a LOT, I would recommend laser over inkjet as a general principle.

I second that recommendation. Even if you do not print a lot (like in a home-office setting) laser is so much more cost-effective vs. buying those damn cartridges.

I have a small lexmark fax/printer which is just god-awful. I use it only for faxes, but it nonetheless seems to need a new cartridge every month. I hate it!

[Vigilanteman]

Yep! #1 rule on printer replacement is how much you are going to use it. Some very nice inkjet printers sell at what is probably near to or even less than manufacturing costs because they expect to make it back on the ink cartridges.

This works for me at home because I do little printing, mostly CDs for gifts. I've had the Epson XP-600 since November and have only replaced the ink cartridges once.

If I have a lot of standard printing to do, I do it on the laser at the office for a penny per copy (actual cost from our supplier is 0.7 cents, but I figure the company is entitled to a little profit for buying the machinery).

[US_MilitaryRules]

I have bought 2 epsons, Artisan 810 and an 845. The 810 has a plastic paper tray that jams and sticks and is now broken. The 845 won’t stay hooked up wireless to the computer. Someone mentioned Brother so that might be my next choice. I will also check out HP. My other HP’s lasted a long time. As far as I am concerned I will not purchase another Epson.

Good luck

[ican'tbelieveit]

Going to ditto responsibility2nd’s recommendation. I had a Brother B/W for years, and never went through the toner that came with it. We have upgraded to a Scanner, Fax, Copier, Printer model. Love it.

[djf]

Thanks!

Just did some price checking, they seem cheaper than I would have thought.

But I don’t want to get eaten alive by the cartridge costs...

Lots of times with the cartridges, you can get a way better deal on Amazon than one of the big-box stores.

[Vigilanteman]

My big shock is finding out that you cannot have a printer repaired any more. People treat them as disposable.

Our office has an older HP LaserJet DN 8100.

We paid a pretty penny for it back in the mid-1990's when we moved into this building.

Nobody will sell us a service contract on it, but we've called HP in once in the last 10 years to make a $100 repair. I don't know how they make these machines, but somebody needs to reverse engineer and duplicate it.

Higher end laser jet machines (we have mostly newer Xerox in the office) are all sold with a repair contract option. They supply toner and repairs for generally less than a penny per copy. See my previous post.

Low end machines, especially ink jets, are, as you say, a disposable item. I've taken many of them to Goodwill simply because newer, better models constantly come out for less than what the ink jet cartridge replacement would be.

[oh8eleven]

if I need 2 or 3 hundred pages of a manual or whatever
If you need to print large jobs like this frequently, I would suggest you move to a laser printer.
This review is from 2012, but the good news is that the prices should be much lower.
Based on my experiences, I'd go with a Brother.

[Dan(9698)]

The main thing with refilling is don’t wait until it is empty.

It is harder to get the ink flowing properly if it runs out.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Your “but most of all” comment SHOULD be “The ink doesn’t cost more than the printer!” LOL Research ink costs prior to purchasing printer!

[Vigilanteman]

Brother makes a superb simple machine. We use them on our manufacturing line which is not a printer friendly environment-- lots of dust, vibration and temperature changes. They last and last, probably over three years per unit in an awful environment for printers. They are easy on the toner and fairly inexpensive to replace, generally in the $70-$100 range.

I would guess they last way more than three years in a decent environment.

[djf]

XLENT Point!