Printer Help needed

[Drunkonjack]

Hey guys I have a question . I have a HP printer 932c and it needs new ink . it uses 78 & 45 cart. But I have found that I could buy just a printer for cheaper than what they cost.

Is the ink replacement because the age of my printer and I would be better off buying a new printer and wouldn't get hit so hard when I need new cart down the line ?

Thanks

[etcarroll]

You've just discoved the scam in homeowner printers, the vendor makes their profit in ink sales, not the printer sale.

They practically give you the printer in order to make you their customer - then you buy ink for the lifetime of unit.

[nwboater]

Hey guys I have a question . I have a HP printer 932c and it needs new ink . it uses 78 & 45 cart. But I have found that I could buy just a printer for cheaper than what they cost.

Is the ink replacement because the age of my printer and I would be better off buying a new printer and wouldn't get hit so hard when I need new cart down the line ?

Thanks

We are considering one of the newer Kodak printers for this reason. We do mostly black & white printing and although we use the large HP black cartridge it sure does add up.

Does anyone here have experience or knowledge if the claimed 50% savings on ink for the new Kodak printers is real?

Thanks,
Rod

[dane]

We ended up getting a Brother B&W laser printer that was on sale for $40 after mail-in-rebate.. We actually don't print very often, and our ink would dry up before we'd use it all, so this laser option was a wonderful solution for us.. Even a "starter" toner pack of 1,000 pages will probably last us 3-5 years before we need new toner...

And no more smearing of the printed page when, not if, it gets wet... it will inevitably get wet at SOME point...

..dane

[Ray3]

+1 for dane's point.

If only B&W, a laser makes more sense in the long run. I bought a Brother and it has been wonderful for several years. However, when the current toner cartridge runs out, I ALSO need to replace the drum. For the toner + drum price, I can get a pretty nice Brother laser replacement that can be networked.

Also, if replacing an inkjet, new printer w/ink can be cheaper (and more functional).

I have a Canon i960 color inkjet. All up/all in, it's usually a tossup for me to take pics to Target on a CD and print what I need there vs. using the inkjet.

[dvenardos]

Even a "starter" toner pack of 1,000 pages will probably last us 3-5 years before we need new toner...

When the starter cartridge says it is out, it really isn't. Put electrical tape over the sensors on the cartridge and you are good for another round, still on my starter cartridge :D

I read the they somehow set the sensor so that it runs out faster on the starter cartridges. Apparently that is cheaper than making separate starter cartridges.

[dane]

When the starter cartridge says it is out, it really isn't. Put electrical tape over the sensors on the cartridge and you are good for another round, still on my starter cartridge :D

I read the they somehow set the sensor so that it runs out faster on the starter cartridges. Apparently that is cheaper than making separate starter cartridges.

ha! That's awesome.. thanks! Now I just have to remember that in 3yrs time when it says we're finally low... :)

..dane

[nwboater]

Dane, Ray, WTE & Dvenardos,

Thanks a lot for the tips on laser printers. Years ago in my business I owned a HP laser printer. It was fast and made great copies, but was very expensive to buy and maintain.

I just got back from Staples in our little town of Powell River BC where I bought a new HP P1005 laser printer on special for $70 Cdn. Just got it home and hooked up. Wonderful - fast and great prints. But now the cartridges will cost a lot less than I used to pay.

I'll keep the Ink Jet for photo printing and use this for all the B & W.

Thanks again,
Rod

[dweekie]

Color laser printers are the way to go. I have a Konica Minolta color last year for 200, and my sister got a Samsung color laser just recently for $100 after rebate. As long as you don't do photo printing, it will save you money in the long run. I haven't even replaced the ink yet in my year old printer using the starter cartridges, whereas I would go through about 2 packs (1 color, 1 black) every 2-3 months before. Considering ink cartridges cost 30ish, it was a definite savings and a huge increase in print quality outside of photo printing, which is more economically handled at photo kiosks in stores anyway. I know I'm going to really feel it in my wallet once the cartridges run out, but at 3x the capacity over the starter cartridges, I can't even imagine how long it'll last me at my current use.

[shadowlight]

I have a HP LaserJet 5MP which is about 10 years old and have change the cartridge on it every 3 years or so. One suggestion is to get OEM cartridge for the printer. I have purchased Xerox and V7. The last time that I purchased was V7 which cost me around 25 bucks about 2/3's less than HP.

[dane]

Dane, Ray, WTE & Dvenardos,

Thanks a lot for the tips on laser printers. Years ago in my business I owned a HP laser printer. It was fast and made great copies, but was very expensive to buy and maintain.

I just got back from Staples in our little town of Powell River BC where I bought a new HP P1005 laser printer on special for $70 Cdn. Just got it home and hooked up. Wonderful - fast and great prints. But now the cartridges will cost a lot less than I used to pay.

I'll keep the Ink Jet for photo printing and use this for all the B & W.

Thanks again,
Rod

They have come SUCH a long way in just a few years (affordable laser printers) ... Good luck Rod! Looks like a good plan to me.. Just hope your color ink doesn't dry up before you need to use it next.. :)

Color laser printers are the way to go. I have a Konica Minolta color last year for 200, and my sister got a Samsung color laser just recently for $100 after rebate. As long as you don't do photo printing, it will save you money in the long run. I haven't even replaced the ink yet in my year old printer using the starter cartridges, whereas I would go through about 2 packs (1 color, 1 black) every 2-3 months before. Considering ink cartridges cost 30ish, it was a definite savings and a huge increase in print quality outside of photo printing, which is more economically handled at photo kiosks in stores anyway. I know I'm going to really feel it in my wallet once the cartridges run out, but at 3x the capacity over the starter cartridges, I can't even imagine how long it'll last me at my current use.

Given that our last printer stayed with me for about 10 years ... when THIS printer has seen its last printed page, we'll be going color laser also. That is -- if SMALL, home color laser printers come as far in that time as B&W lasers have ...

..dane

[Uncle Paul]

Problem with most inexpensive printers is that they come with just a tiny bit of ink in their starter cartridges.

If you print a lot, an inkjet printer will cost you a bundle for the ink

If you print a little, the ink cartridge will dry up on you.

Using the cleaning command can easily use up a couple dollars worth of ink.

If you have a laser printer you can often take the cartridge out of the printer when toner low shows up, rock the cartridge gently from side to side, and get some extra prints out before it goes out.

Some of the starter cartridges can be refilled at the local recycling shop, but sometimes they are built to not hold much toner, even with a refill.

A personal printer from H-P should be able to crank out excellent quality prints for under 1¢ per page with reman cartridges.:yes: