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Posts by rustysurfer79

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Which Epson printers have cheap compatible ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
Steven Perez13 said:I'm also on the hunt for a solid printer that won't break the bank on ink, so I've been doing a bit of homework lately.

I'm thinking about picking up a Canon MG5350. It looks like the price is around... $217.

Check out this Canon MG5350 setup. It's built for home use, so if you're looking to get some printing done without breaking the bank, this might be worth a look.

I'm thinking about getting refillable cartridges for it. I usually just grab the 100ml ink bottles—they have bigger ones too, but I haven't checked since I don't print enough to need that much. They go for about 50 bucks.$27 It really depends on the ink you go with. You could grab some universal stuff for your Canon, or try that German OCP ink—people swear it’s just as good as the official Canon brand, though honestly, I haven't tested that myself. If you go that route, you're looking at around $400...$167 Look, if you're grabbing five cartridges and 100ml of each of those five inks, you've gotta crunch the numbers to see if it's actually worth it.

Those third-party cartridges are a total joke. $8.25 Those four colors are only 9ml each, and that big black one you need for printing documents is 19ml. You're looking at the genuine ones. $30 Those 9ml ones are such a joke. $33 The one that's 19ml.

So, if you've got 100ml of ink, that’s basically like having eleven of those tiny 9ml cartridges, or five of the black ones that come with 19ml. Just do the math...

If you're planning on doing this yourself, you've got everything you need right here:

Also, Epson has those CISS printers now where you just pour the ink straight in from 70ml bottles, which go for about $8 or so. Might be worth checking out if you're interested: I can't believe I fell for it. I went to the store to pick up some ink for my printer, thinking I was getting a decent deal, but I ended up basically paying double what I should have. It’s such a rookie mistake. Honestly, I feel pretty silly about it now. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of pricing nonsense lately? It feels like every time I turn around, the cost of basic supplies just creeps up. I really need to be more careful next time.

I had an Epson once, and honestly? Never again. Those piezoelectric print heads are just too sensitive; I used third-party ink and the thing clogged up on me almost immediately. Plus, it seemed to gulp down way more ink than I ever wanted to spend. It was just one of those cheap budget models I picked up at Walmart (the SX125). If you stick strictly to the original cartridges, you might be fine, but I wouldn't risk it.
Those printers with the CISS system? Honestly, they're just... ugh. $367 Moving on, then.

So, to wrap this all up...

Printer $217
250 USD for 250 ml of ink. $83
Does anyone know if these cartridges actually last?
Does anyone know anything about resetters?

When your brain just completely quits on you.
You read the printer too?
Do you also go for refillable cartridges?
Just throwing away the ink too?
Because a new print head costs at least... $167
Here too.

Printer.
Plus 750 ml of ink (basically you get three times the ink and the printer is practically free).
No need for a reset.
You don't even need those permanent ink tanks.
== $100 Plus sales tax.
I checked out that link from rustysurfer79 about the Canon MG5350. Honestly, it’s worth a look if you’re trying to figure out if it's actually any good before dropping cash on it.
When things go south and your brain just stops working, you can always pick up a new one for around $70. $33The printer usually gives up the ghost after about 10 to 15k prints.

Look, you can take a hammer to your own head if that's what it takes to make it click: deciding between buying something brand new or going refurbished is pretty straightforward. One option is just obviously smarter than the other.
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Which Epson printers have cheap compatible ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
Edward James42 said:Hey everyone, I'm looking to pick up a printer that uses cheap third-party ink. I've been browsing online and it looks like Epson might be the cheapest route for replacements, but I don't really know my way around printers. I found this Epson HP OfficeJet Pro online, here are some pics image
it's usually priced around $177. Does anyone know if there are decent third-party inks for this one? Also, any recommendations for a solid printer?

Just a heads up for anyone looking at the latest models—third-party ink options basically don't exist yet. Or, if they do, they're 4 or 5 times more expensive than the budget stuff.

Take the HP DeskJet 1515, for example. It's about as cheap an all-in-one you can find right now. It uses HP 650 ink.

http://www.hp-store.com/index.php/mul...l57c-419-00-usd

Now, if you want something nearly identical but built a bit tougher, look at the HP DeskJet 1050. You can't really find them brand new anymore since it uses HP 301, but there are tons of third-party ink options out there.

http://rustysurfer79.com/A_HOT/A_adriatix_...Jet%201050.htm

So, what's actually smarter? Buying the newest tech where you're stuck with expensive ink and crying: "Man, this was such a cheap printer!"

Or grabbing something like the second option and just refilling the cartridges yourself? For the same amount of money, you could effectively end up with 30 to 50 cartridges.

Basically, you have two choices for almost the exact same machine. With the first one, you get 2 cartridges. With the second, you essentially get 30. The only perk of the first one is that you don't have to lift a finger.

Honestly, just check the prices. Compare how much a generic HP 301 costs versus an original HP 650. The difference is about 10 - $6.75

It's pretty obvious that HP designs things this way specifically to kill off the third-party cartridge market.

The only real way to go if you want cheap prints is to refill your own tanks. Even if it's a bit of a hassle.

And honestly, Epson isn't much different when you dig into it.
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Printer recommendations? in Computer Peripherals ·
Steven Hall10 said:I didn't get assigned some specific product to push or anything.

I was just asking for a Best Buy recommendation from you three. I never said everything had to be all-in-one.

But look, let's just cut to the chase: give me a solid recommendation for an all-in-one printer for under $600.$233

1. Option one: Get a scanner and a laser printer separately. You can find tons of software online that basically mimics an all-in-one setup.
2. Option two: Grab an Epson model that uses those T701 cartridges. There are plenty of third-party replacements out there, and they don't have that battery headache.
3. Option three: Look for a refurbished laser all-in-one that originally retailed for something like $2,000. Just stay away from HP or Canon. Why? Because their scanner head capacitors tend to dry out right above that "IC oven" near the 600W component, and then the whole thing loses its positioning.
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Printer recommendations? in Computer Peripherals ·
Kyle Davis6 said:Look, it really just comes down to whether you actually need the scanner and copier functions or if you can live without them, and how much you're actually using it.
You can't have everything for $200. You want a laser printer, a scanner, AND a copier, all while keeping the price low? It’s not happening.
It's either a laser or an all-in-one inkjet.

Personally, I've always been a laser guy.😁
900


That's not even the point though.

The real deal is usually that someone grabbed a flyer in a doctor's waiting room offering exactly this kind of thing, and now they're hunting for a recommendation for that specific brand.

Or maybe they were just assigned to go out and promote whatever was in that flyer.
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Printer recommendations? in Computer Peripherals ·
Steven Hall10 said:you don't have to get aggressive right away

look, I'm no tech expert here. I just asked a simple question because I wanted to hear what actual users think.

The printer is just for basic stuff—college work, school projects, you know the drill.

Mostly black and white, maybe some color here and there. If I need to make copies of small handouts, I'll just hit up a FedEx Office or something.


It might be better if you phrased it like this:

Which monochrome laser MFP can you buy that actually lasts more than 18 months$200 and keeps running even after the warranty expires?

I bet that's the kind of info you're actually looking for.
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Printer recommendations? in Computer Peripherals ·
Steven Hall10 said:So, I need some advice. Looking for printer recommendations at Best Buy under $200
.
1. A basic printer
2. Laser
3. All-in-one

Does it even make sense for an average user to bother with a laser printer?

Just grab a nice little 600W space heater and rest a scanner on top of it. You'll have the same all-in-one setup, and hey, at least it'll work 12 months out of the year.
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Anyone have spare ink for an HP Deskjet 3550? in Computer Peripherals ·
Dana Mendoza3 said:Could anyone please donate some extra ink for an HP Deskjet 3550? Or maybe even just a spare printer with the right ink? I’m begging you, please!

Honestly, this is a much better and cheaper way to go.

For $100 + tax, you get the printer, 750 ml of ink, and a brand new color printhead.

Just grab the same kind of HP 28 printhead. Split the ink 50/50 and ditch your old printer for $133.

Then you end up with a working printer, three 100 ml bottles, and a fresh head. Basically everything for free.

http://rustysurfer79.com/A_HOT/A_rustysurfer79_...Jet%203320.htm
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Which Epson printers have cheap compatible ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
Edward James42 said:Hey everyone, I'm looking to pick up a printer that uses cheap third-party ink. I've been browsing online and it looks like Epson might be the cheapest way to go, but I don't really know my way around printers. I found this Epson HP OfficeJet Pro online, here's a photo image
it usually goes for about $177. Does anyone know if there are cheap replacement inks for this one, or can someone just recommend a good printer?


Why don't you try asking it like this:

Why does Epson release a whole new series of inkjet cartridges with every single new model they drop?

If you asked that, you definitely wouldn't be asking your first question.

Look, if you want a printer specifically for cheap replacement ink, you have to look at models that aren't being phased out by those proprietary cartridge updates mentioned above.

It’s pretty simple.

Check out these two links.

http://www.epson.com/viewcon/co...sumables/11995

http://www.printink.com/ink-set-bkcmy-original

Basically, $77 for 13 ml of ink, that means this printer is basically worth $100. You might as well $77 it in the trash the second you pop those cartridges into a brand new machine.

People like you feel like you need the absolute latest gadget sitting on your desk. But when someone tells you they can get 400 ml of ink or 40 times more prints for the exact same money, you realize the "new" stuff is junk.
It's just because it isn't the newest model on the shelf.

No wonder marketing has your brain totally scrambled.
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Which printer is best for using generic ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
silentfalcon422 said:Anyone know where I can actually pick this up?

http://rustysurfer79.com/Work/Map.htm
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Which printer is best for using generic ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
silentfalcon422 said:I've got a question if anyone can help me out. I'm dealing with a Canon PIXMA IP1000 that's about 8 or 9 years old now. Most of the time, I've just been using generic ink cartridges.

It was working perfectly fine until a few days ago. I ran out of color, popped in some new cartridges, and as soon as I tried to print, the thing just died. It won't turn back on at all. Just a quick flash of the light and then nothing.

I played around with it a bit and managed to get it to power up only when I lift the little latch that holds the cartridges in place. But even then, two things happen: sometimes it shuts off right when it tries to print—just like before—and other times it looks like it's printing normally, but it just spits out blank pages.

Anyone have any idea what might be going on?

Sounds like the power supply finally gave up the ghost.

== $33
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Which printer is best for using generic ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
swiftbear86 said:I'm having issues with my Lexmark color printer, an Impact S305.

I don't even use it that much.
Everything comes out pinkish (it's a PDF document).
I swapped out the black ink, ran a test page (black text looks fine), tried a deep cleaning, but there's clearly no magenta or cyan showing up on the paper.
The ink levels say I've got plenty left.

I pulled the cartridges, cleaned the print head myself, and put everything back in.

Then I ran the cartridge alignment, and now it just prints in gray—the colored parts of the page are totally missing.

If I just make a copy of the same document, it actually turns out okay, just normal black text.

Is there anything else I can try on my own?

You probably need to take it to a repair shop to see if the print head is clogged or if the thermal elements for the colors have burned out.
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Which printer is best for using generic ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
Noah Thompson said:I'd try to fix it if I could, but if not, I'd just grab a new cartridge or an Intel chip off eBay. 🙂

Nice

How long does that usually take and what's the damage?

I mean the total cost—shipping, fees, everything just to get one Intel chip sent over.
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Which printer is best for using generic ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
Noah Thompson said:I've been running an Epson Stylus for about two years now using refillable cartridges from day one. I just grab my ink and tanks on eBay and everything works perfectly. I’d say I’ve refilled each tank at least 15 times by now. The only hiccup was when the chip on the black cartridge died, but I just swapped it out since otherwise the printer won't even recognize it.

That's true, but what would you do if it wasn't just a battery issue, but the actual CHIP? Believe me. Out of 20 chips, at least one is bound to be a dud.
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Which printer is best for using generic ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
Raymond Kim said:Can you give me a specific printer recommendation? Also, where exactly is this Hotspot located? If you have a link, send it over because I can't find anything. Thanks.

Here’s the specifics:

Canon PIXMA + refill kit + iP Tool.exe

It’s cheap and actually works reliably.

Basically, you get a solid printer, some ink for refilling, and software to reset the cartridges. Just a heads-up though—don't forget to reset the cartridge on time. If you miss it, the printer locks up, you lose the ink levels, and before you know it, you've fried the print head.

Works just as well as the Canon PIXMA + CISS setup, but the whole thing is about 50% cheaper.

Total investment is around $300—$133 depending on what ink comes in the bundle.
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Which printer is best for using generic ink? in Computer Peripherals ·
Raymond Kim said:I'm looking for a "student-style" printer. Basically, something cheap but capable of handling a decent workload. I used to have a Canon PIXMA, and man, was I happy with it. It handled third-party ink like a champ, but after about four years, I finally had to put it out of its misery. If I could find something similar, I'd be thrilled. It doesn't need to scan, print on CDs, do photo printing, cook me dinner, or perform any miracles... I just need the basics. Any advice is appreciated.

You can find a few similar models over on Hotspot that hold up pretty well. Those Canon PIXMA models were total bombs. After about four years, the power supplies start quitting on you, almost like they have a built-in timer to just shut down forever.
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Best A3 printer under $250? in Computer Peripherals ·
wiredcanyon18 said:What do you think about this https://www.google.com/search?q=Canon...F4yc0wWipoHgCg? Why am I asking? Because I actually have one sitting at home. It's an old unit I swapped out for a newer A4 model, so I'm just wondering if this thing is actually any good.

It's solid, provided you swap that BCi 21 head for a BC 20 black one.

The BCi 21 head is basically ancient history. If you find one that actually works, it’ll cost you an arm and a leg. Honestly, by today's standards, it's just too slow.

But paired with two BC 20 heads? Now you're talking.

One cool trick for blueprints is using a single BC 20 head but swapping the black ink for something else—like blue or red. That way, you can run two passes and get those colored elements to pop on your prints.

Basically, you've got an A2 printer but you aren't really using its full potential yet.
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Best A3 printer under $250? in Computer Peripherals ·
wiredcanyon18 said:how long does it actually take these printers to print an A3 sheet


Honestly, no clue.

http://reviews.cnet.com/inkjet-print...7-1963719.html

It all depends on the resolution you're aiming for.

Plus, with black and white, you don't run into those slowdowns caused by narrow color nozzles—those things are usually just a quarter of the size of the B&W ones.
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Best A3 printer under $250? in Computer Peripherals ·
wiredcanyon18 said:what do you think is the best printer for that price range

It’s all just disposable junk. None of them are "the best" because after two years, they’ll all be paperweights.

Basically, you want the one that’s still running just as well in three years as it is today.

That would be the HP DeskJet 1220 series or something like the Canon BJC 4550 BJC 5100.

Why?

Because the print heads are built right into the cartridges. You swap the cartridge, and boom—you basically have a brand-new printer again.

Sure, some newer HP models or A3 printers have replaceable heads, but I haven't seen anyone actually get ahead by choosing those.

If you're a college student, the smart move is a Canon BJC 4450 or an HP DeskJet 12xx in black and white.
== 1000 - $400

The ink ends up costing about the same in the long run anyway. $33.

Why? Because those B&W cartridges hold about 40ml, which gets you roughly 900 pages.

Meanwhile, all these new models waste more ink on cleaning cycles than they do on actual printing.
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Printer recommendations? in Computer Peripherals ·
Bryan Ramos3 said:Just grab some Epson ink. It’s way more $5.00 affordable since they actually make third-party options. I used an HP before and their ink costs an absolute fortune, plus you can't even find decent replacements.

Oh, please. What about those tiny batteries inside the replacement cartridges that die after a year? Trying to swap out the battery itself ends up costing you about $5.00 if you can even track one down.
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Best A3 printer under $250? in Computer Peripherals ·
wiredcanyon18 said:it would be awesome if this came in color

Going color just makes your cartridge costs jump by like 10x.

Why?

Because if you go with a 4-color setup, you're looking at maybe 5ml per tank. But here’s the kicker: when you swap out all four colors, the status readout for that very first ink tank will show it dropped by 50% already. That's just from the printer running its cleaning cycle every single time you change a cartridge.
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