Posts by Frank Barnes

Jesse Ortiz4 said:Check out the OKI MC332dn (around $667)

http://www.amazon.com/hp

The drum comes with a 60,000-page warranty.
It prints faster than the competition, plus you get two years of coverage.

And look, these printers actually support third-party toner.
Though, I suspect they might not want you using them while the warranty is still active.

Honestly, why would you even need Wi-Fi? Just plug it into the ethernet and call it a day.

Could you walk me through how that works? Specifically, the whole warranty situation on the belt if you start using generic toners.

Do you just burn through those first 60,000 pages using the official stuff, and once that warranty period hits its limit, then you switch over to the cheap alternatives? Or is there some other catch to how that plays out?

Come on, enlighten us a little here.

vividviper1 said:Alright, so which inkjet line are we talking about specifically?

Well, just take a look at what HP and Canon or Epson have in their inkjet lineup for this category $667. They all seem to have some similar model running these days. As for how they handle third-party ink? Honestly, I haven't a clue.

What we actually have in stock are the tried-and-true HP OfficeJet Pro L 7550 and 7850 series paired with a CISS system.

So, they aren't technically "line head" printers, but they're in that same class, using reliable ink you just pour into the CISS system. Plus, the print heads are user-replaceable.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/m...oduct=3198308&

As for these newer models, we don't know how they behave with that same ink yet. We haven't vetted any CISS setups for them either. To be honest, you'd probably have to tear the whole machine apart and mess around with the motherboard just to get it working.

And from what I can tell, those line head units aren't even designed to have the heads replaced.

In that same bracket, I also used to carry the Epson PX 730 + CISS. It’s a proven winner—cheap, and the photo prints are great.

Unfortunately, these new line head inkjets are just as fast as color lasers.

vividviper1 said:Which multifunction printer would you recommend if I need color laser, scanner, copier, Wi-Fi, and duplex, all within the $200-$$1000 range? It’s for an accounting office and a small online travel agency. I was looking at something like this:

Canon i-SENSYS MF8280CW
http://www.nabava.net/pisaci__110/ca...kolor__4024611

or maybe

HP LaserJet Pro M177FW
http://www.nabava.net/pisaci__110/hp...kolor__5588221

Thanks

Neither of them.

Why?

Because the tech has become too expensive. Even the manufacturers have pretty much moved on; for those exact same needs, they’re pushing high-end inkjet desktop printers now. See, these modern inkjets don't even use that old-school print head that slides back and forth left to right anymore. Instead, the print head is as wide as the paper itself. It makes for a much simpler machine. Which means a much cheaper machine. And honestly, the consumables end up being way more affordable, too.

So, looking at the long game, color lasers in this specific category are basically a dead end.

brisklynx13 said:I think it might be an issue with my accountant's setup. You think it's the printer itself?
I have a feeling I messed something up when I was trying to format an invoice to print vertically—I just clicked everything in those settings without thinking, haha... now it won't even give me the option to choose color or black and white when I go to print. 🤦
I've been wrestling with this printer all day. I actually called tech support, and the guy told me to try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers if nothing else works.
Haven't tried that yet, though, haha. I'm going to try calling a friend who definitely knows more about this stuff than I do.

Look, there's a basic rule here.

If you handed someone money, they should earn that money. How does he expect to take your cash, factor in after-sales support and profit, and then let someone else step in to fix your problems instead of him? You're wasting your own time and resources while your money stays sitting right in his pocket.

Basically, grab the printer and the cartridge, head over to whoever took your money, and drop them on the desk. Just say, "Look, I have a problem. I'd appreciate it if you could fix it. And if you can't, just give me my money back." Because I know exactly where I can go to settle this—either we solve the problem right here, right now, or I get a refund. Here's the receipt.

At least that's how things work around here. That's why we always tell users—if they aren't sure or don't want to deal with the headache—to bring the printer with them before they commit to an installation or buy any of those generic third-party or refilled inks. Honestly, with < Chinese persons >, every door is left wide open.

But if you went the "cheapest possible" route, well, that's on you. Nobody is going to provide decent after-sales support if you didn't pay for it. Next time, watch what you're buying and where you're buying it from. Ask if technical support is included in the price. These days, the people selling you ink and toner are the same ones who were advertising potatoes or refrigerators yesterday; they behave the exact same way, and hardware isn't nearly as simple as groceries.

Take this for example: some time ago, we ordered five Canon PG 40 cartridges from a big-name manufacturer of third-party inks. Since you can't exactly run out to buy a single unit every time you need one, we grabbed a pack of five. It's not like these inks sell like hotcakes; they're more of a niche item. So, they sat in our warehouse for three or four months. Then, a customer comes in needing that specific cartridge for his CISS system. We installed a PG 40 into his printer. It was brand new, unopened, Chinese-made, and it didn't work. We pulled a second one from the same batch. Didn't work. We tried a third. Nothing.

Finally, we took all five cartridges back to the importer. This guy acts like a total idiot. He told us we had to test all five within a three-month window. After three months, he said the warranty was void. He even threatened to put the whole story online. Our guy just looked at him and said, "Go ahead, post it."

So, that’s likely exactly what happened with your ink.

brisklynx13 said:Help me!!!!
I just swapped out the black toner for the first time. Followed all the instructions to a T, but that status page won't print in color, and now whenever I try to print or even just make a copy, I get a nearly blank white sheet 🙄 where you can barely make out any text
I have no clue what went wrong... It's an HP 1515 printer and it’s been working perfectly until now since it's pretty much brand new
The estimated ink levels show that the black is at 100% and has the checkmark next to it...
What should I do? I even tried following this video 🙂

Do you have the receipt?

Peter Young5 said:So, the P1102 uses that A85 toner, which basically implies the printer itself isn't exactly top-tier. Is that really how we're judging quality these days? Just because of the cartridge? It makes you wonder.

Looking at this HP LaserJet Pro M201n page on the official HP site... anyone else find the layout a bit sparse? It’s pretty straightforward, I guess. You get the basics—specs, features, the usual marketing fluff about speed and reliability. But does it actually tell you what you need to know before pulling the trigger? Sometimes it feels like they just want you to click "Add to Cart" without really digging into the grit of how it handles a heavy workload. Is it truly built for a small home office, or is it just a glorified desktop printer that'll struggle once the paper tray gets full? Just some food for thought while browsing. So, I’ve got an A85, which is basically identical to this previous one, yet the price tag is double. What gives? Where's the catch?

So, I was looking at this HP LaserJet Pro 400 M401dne listing on the official HP site. It’s one of those machines you see everywhere in office settings across the country. Is it actually worth the investment? You have to wonder. On paper, it looks solid—reliable enough for a standard American small business or a busy home office that needs to churn through documents without breaking a sweat. But when you start digging into the specs and the actual cost of keeping it running, things get interesting. It’s a workhorse, sure. But does it hold up once you factor in the long-term supply costs? Sometimes these "reliable" models end up being more expensive in the long run than the cheaper alternatives. Just something to chew on if you're planning to add this to your setup. This is honestly the cheapest one I’ve managed to track down that actually comes with the A80 toner included.

Is swapping out the toner on an A85 just as effortless as it is on the P1102?

Just more marketing gimmicks. They basically take the exact same machine and shove it into a bigger box just to trick you into thinking you've stepped up to a higher class of hardware.

It’s the exact same story with you and that Pro 400. You see this massive box and convince yourself you’ve actually upgraded to a Class 200. But let’s be real—once you open it up, you're just looking at the guts of a Class 130.

Both toner cartridges share the exact same build. You swap them out the same way.
It really comes down to capacity, doesn't it? It’s like comparing a single-cylinder engine to a four-cylinder one. One just has the muscle that the other simply lacks.

So, let's look at the math on this. You've got the 45g toner cartridge versus the 130g version. If you compare the prices of these two original cartridges and run the numbers, how much are you actually paying per single gram of toner? It's worth doing the breakdown.

Peter Young5 said:Thanks for the thorough breakdown...

I’ll probably just go with an HP printer...

But if the P1102 is basically the budget option from HP, which model would be considered a step up in terms of actual quality and performance?

Take a look at any HP model that uses the HP 80A toner. Honestly, if you look at the toner itself, you can figure out exactly which internal laser engine is actually driving the machine.

Basically, the way the toner cartridge is built tells you everything you need to know about how rugged the laser mechanism inside is.

The exterior design or whatever they put on the spec sheet? That’s mostly just marketing fluff.

If you follow that logic, it becomes pretty obvious that the HP 80A is essentially the successor to the HP Cartridges like the HP53, HP49, HP13, and HP 12. Or what we call Class 130. If you compare those cartridges, they all look nearly identical. The only real differences are the chip and some minor plastic notches to prevent them from being compatible with other models.

On the flip side, if you check the construction of the toner for the P1102, you’ll see it’s using the same tech found in the HP Cartridges like the HP 35, HP 36, HP 78, HP 83, and HP 85. Or Class 50.

In reality, there is a massive, night-and-day difference between Class 50 and Class 130.

Why is that?
Because we’ve seen documented cases where users with a Class 130 printer have clocked 280,000 pages and the thing still runs like a dream.

Meanwhile, that Class 50 stuff? You’ll likely hit 10,000 to 20,000 pages and call it a day. You get exactly what you paid for, really. No use complaining, and there’s no point even taking it in for repairs.

The only catch is this: for the same amount of money, you could buy a brand-new Class 50 laser or a refurbished Class 130 unit that’s already put in maybe 10,000 to 20,000 pages.

So, it's up to you. Think about it.

Peter Young5 said:So, you're thinking about refilling your own toner cartridges? Honestly, how much of a headache is it going to be? I mean, can you actually pull this off on your own without making a massive mess? I could probably give you a few pointers, but it really depends on what you're working with. Is it just a simple matter of topping things off, or are we talking about a full-on teardown? It’s one of those things that sounds straightforward enough on paper—just pour some powder in, right?—but then you realize there are chips involved, seals to worry about, and the sheer risk of getting black dust all over your carpet. If you're looking to DIY, you'll need to figure out if your specific model allows for it. Some cartridges are pretty user-friendly, while others are practically designed to prevent anyone but the manufacturer from touching them. Are you prepared to deal with the cleanup if a seal fails? And what about the chip? If the printer doesn't recognize the refilled cartridge, you might find yourself staring at an error message instead of a printed page. It's a bit of a balancing act between saving a few bucks and the potential frustration of a failed print job. So, do you want to dive into the weeds of it, or are you just weighing your options?

So, let me get this straight. Am I supposed to just buy the ink and then top it off myself? Is that really how this works?

Look, here’s the reality of how things are playing out right now. If you go out and buy a printer today, just realize that in maybe 24 months, you won't be able to find any compatible toner for it anymore. It's just how the industry works.

I know, I know—most people aren't going to buy this. But look, the wind is definitely blowing in that direction. I’ve put together a list of third-party toner manufacturers that have been called out for infringing on manufacturing patents. Sure, the legal proceedings are happening here in the States, but once that avalanche starts, you can bet your life some aggressive corporate lawyer with a massive lawsuit ready to go will be knocking on our customers' doors too.
It’s all just Chinese companies at this point.

>>>>>>>

Nano Digital Tech

Nano Tech Corp.

National Imaging Products

Huebon Co.

Chancen Co. Ltd.

Rich Imaging Tech

Orink Infotech

Orink Infotech International Co.

Zinyaw LLC

Group Corp.

Nano Tech Corp.

Ourway Image

Kingway Image

Chinamate Tech

InkPro2day, LLC

Ocbestjet Printer Supplies

Ocbestjet Printer Supplies (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd.

Aomya Printer Supplies (Zhuhai) Tech Corp.

Richeng Development

>>>>>>>>>

So, look at it this way: if you pick up a printer today where refilling the toner is actually a breeze, you've basically already won. You're essentially future-proofing yourself for those "what if" scenarios down the road. Isn't that just good planning?

Look, you’re the customer here. You own the printer, you own the toner—it's your gear. At the end of the day, you can do whatever you want with it. You aren't the one facing any kind of crackdown or pressure.

So, looking at those two printers above, they both come with their own specific headaches. If you ask me, sticking with HP is probably the smarter move here. You can refill a cartridge without much trouble, sure, but trying to empty that waste toner tank? That’s a different story. It isn't exactly rocket science, but if you've never messed around with this kind of thing before, it might feel like a bit of a mess. Honestly, it's probably best to have two of those toners on hand—that way, you can learn the ropes by taking one apart while you're still working on the other. In theory, we're talking maybe five to ten minutes of work. Not a huge deal, really.

With Xerox, you really have to perform a firmware update that bypasses the chip entirely. Once you do that, the whole toner level indication system just disappears. It’s not a huge deal with HP machines, but when you're dealing with Xerox, it’s everything. Of course, you could always just grab a kit with spare chips, though you'll likely be stepping right into the crosshairs of those corporate lawyers. I mean, if you look at the chip itself, it doesn't explicitly state which specific toner it's meant for—it's basically the Wild West out there. But then again, you can't exactly sell third-party toners with the specific printer model clearly labeled on them. It's an interesting game they play, isn't it?

So, honestly? It pretty much doesn't matter which of those two you go with. Either way, you're fine.

Peter Young5 said:Hey there,

I was looking at the HP LaserJet Pro, but let's face it—that printer has been on the market for 4 or 5 years now...
Is there anything more modern or better out there? Any suggestions based on what you guys have actually bought or received?

Basically, I'm looking at roughly 200 pages a month, black and white...

If you're planning on refilling the toner yourself, you won't find a better bang for your buck than the Xerox WorkCentre.
After that, you can look at the HP LaserJet Pro.

Joshua Garcia3 said:What’s your take on an old toner cartridge? I'm talking about one that's been sitting there for 2, 5, or even 10 years. It’s an original, still in its factory packaging—you know, tucked inside that black anti-static bag and kept in a sealed cardboard box. If it’s been stored properly in a dry spot, what could actually go wrong with it?
Just to be clear, I started noticing the prints looking all gray and washed out with this old toner before I finally swapped it for a new one, so I suspect the drum might be the culprit, but... anyway, I ended up picking up a different printer. If anyone happens to need a relatively fresh toner already installed in the aforementioned machine, just shoot me a DM.
This Canon LaserJet served me incredibly well for years, honestly. Nothing but praise for it.

Ever used surgical gloves?
One pair is brand new, while the other has passed its expiration date by a mile.
And both were stored in the exact same dry cabinet.

One pair works fine, but the other? You’re basically asking for an infection if you touch them.

It’s the same deal with toners. Especially if they were scavenged from some corporate office after a crooked procurement officer overstocked the warehouse just to pad their own commission. Or maybe to grease the palms of some political campaign.

Bottom line? Swap in a verified, fresh cartridge and your problems will vanish.

Joshua Garcia3 said:A few months back, my printer started acting up—the output was looking incredibly washed out and gray, and you could barely make out any of the text.
I figured a fresh toner cartridge would be the silver bullet, but boy, was I wrong. Even with a brand-new one installed, the pages were still coming out looking like they were printed through a fog.
Since I’ve decided it’s finally time to let this thing retire to an e-waste recycling center, I feel a bit bad about tossing the relatively new, lightly used HP's toner cartridge. It would probably be pretty useful to someone who actually owns a "Canon LaserJet." So, if anyone is in need of that specific cartridge, shoot me a DM. You can just come pick up the whole printer from me here in New York City.

Just buy a new toner. Honestly, sounds like someone sold you an expired cartridge.

Otherwise, hang onto that printer. Those newer Class 130 capacity toners are going for about $833
these days.

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:It really comes down to how many pages you're actually printing. Your average home user isn't going to hit several thousand prints over a few years, so at that point, they won't care if they grabbed that Xerox or a used HP. And honestly? It’s hard to convince someone to buy second-hand, so I usually don't even bring it up if there's a decent alternative available. In this specific scenario, though, it's still better—better, even if not perfect—to go with that Xerox than some HP Inkjet in that price bracket. You know the type: where the original ink costs more than the damn machine itself, third-party options are non-existent, and even if they did exist, the thing would probably die before you even hit the four-digit mark on the page count. Now, for an office burning through thousands of pages a month, they obviously aren't picking up a $133 Xerox, but for a few recipes? It'll do just fine.

Correction:

A slip of the pen.
This isn't actually a laser printer; it's a derivative
of this OKI model
http://sishardware.com/unt/18960-oki...t_to_last.html

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:The real question is whether it’s actually worth the hassle. These toners are chipped, right? They're hard-coded for a specific page count. Sure, you could swap out the chip, but by the time you buy a fresh Orink cartridge with a new chip rated for 2,200 pages, you're looking at maybe $15 or $20. For all that tinkering to make sense, you'd need a printer capable of churning through tens of thousands of pages—and honestly, I doubt this one can handle that.

So, are we agreeing that for a smart user, it makes sense to spend maybe $500—$267 plus tax—to grab a refurbished Volkswagen model that runs on HP LaserJet Pro 400 Class toners? Or just stick to Class 130 compatibles.

Why? Because this tier of printer features a Pro Class > Laser Engine
Look, a LaserJet 1010 is different from a 1020. It lacks that Pro Class > Laser Engine
Alternatively, someone could opt for a newer HP model. It costs a bit more, sure, but its Laser Mechanics put it in Class 50. Just like with a Xerox, you can pick up replacement toners for about $33 plus tax.

Or even better, you could always find someone to refill a Class 130 cartridge following Class 50 standards. Then you're looking at a single cartridge costing roughly $33 plus tax. You end up with a laser printer that is practically unstoppable compared to something like a Xerox 3010.

Ultimately, it all boils down to one question: Do you actually need a new laser printer, or is this just consumerist psychotherapy disguised as cheap Holiday Shopping?

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:I’ve always felt those Apple printers were pretty unreliable. We have a few running around here, and honestly, they’re basically on life support—constantly needing to be hauled off to the repair shop just to stay functional. Meanwhile, our HP LaserJet 1020s? They haven't even seen the inside of a service center yet.

So, I have to wonder... were you actually trying to pull the wool over our eyes?

Who’s actually moving these Xerox 3010s at the best wholesale rates right now?

Why?

So, what if we put together a CTSS for that Xerox using the same logic? I’m thinking it might actually be worth looking into. From what I can gather, there’s some real potential there. Of course, if nobody is actually interested, then why bother wasting my time on a lost cause? If we aren't doing this, you just keep pouring toner into it until the thing finally gives up the ghost. And let's face it, the cost of toner per gram is... $0.33 Plus sales tax. I’m not about to let us get that sorted just so some self-proclaimed geniuses have something new to make fun of us for.

Personally, I think the smartest move is to just grab a reliable Ford for your printer setup.

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:It seems like a decent enough offer. But how many pages am I actually getting out of that overstuffed thing, and what's the damage on the price tag? I highly doubt you can get all that for less than $133. What kind of gear is it supposed to pair with? Still, a printer like that one in the photo isn't exactly breaking the bank when it comes to third-party toner, though finding anything like it these days—even used and in decent shape—is becoming a bit of a scavenger hunt.

That was relevant about three years ago. Sure, the tech works, but if you're looking at it from a user perspective, it’s just smarter to grab an HP. You'll get a cartridge with the same amount of toner for the same money right out of the gate. At the end of the day, it's the same math, and let's be honest, an HP is a much more reliable laser machine than an Apple.

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:So, you just talked in circles without actually saying anything useful. No real advice, no solid recommendations... just the usual. Classic.

We put this together about three years ago.
Looking at the specs for the S_Sam2010P... does anyone actually find these types of technical breakdowns helpful, or are we all just scrolling past the fine print? I was digging through the details on the S_Sam2010P over at Adriatix.hr Ps, trying to get a better sense of what this machine actually brings to the table. It’s one of those deep dives where you start looking at the hardware capabilities and wonder if the real-world performance actually matches the brochure. Is it really worth the investment for a standard office setup, or is it overkill? Sometimes these product pages feel like they're written for engineers rather than the people who actually have to deal with the paper jams and toner levels every Tuesday morning. Just my two cents.
So, it looks like Samsung went with the exact same concept. They basically just shortened the tubes and integrated an external tank right into the chassis. Functionally speaking? It’s pretty much identical to everything else.

Last July, the sales team was laughing their heads off at this whole concept. They treated it like a joke. Now? Suddenly, they’re acting like it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s pretty obvious why, though. They finally found themselves a real thoroughbred to run with.

Customers? They’re just sheep, plain and simple. Yesterday they had the exact same issue and just poured more toner in like nothing happened. But today? Today they’re all flocking to some guy from CHIPiran, acting like he’s the only one who can keep them fed.

They’re practically wagging their tails with joy, aren't they? I mean, can you blame them? They get to charge four times the actual cost for every single printout.

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:Look, Adriatix is just a charity organization that’s basically broke, yet they still insist on spending money on fancy forms and running a website that looks like it was coded back in 1996. Why do they bother? It's all just a way to shield people from being preyed upon by aggressive salespeople. They aren't out to make a profit; there's no money in it for them.

What would you recommend for... $133 All things considered—including everything else on the table—is it actually worth it?

Look at you, acting like you own the place.

First you go around insulting people, and then you actually expect someone to give you professional advice? Really?

That says a lot more about you than it ever could about the person you're looking down on.

A decent psychoanalyst would probably tell you he’s just reacting to that salesperson—it's basically an unconscious defense mechanism at this point. But honestly, what else is a salesperson supposed to do here? He’s just hiding behind an anonymous profile to push the exact same stuff he gets paid to promote in his day job.

Hey there.

Adriatix.hr Ps

P.S. You know how it is—Adriatix never touches those cheap inkjets.

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:We're talking about a user who isn't going to print 4,000 to 6,000 pages in ten lifetimes. I have no idea why you even brought up an HP; I assume you just have some used model you're trying to offload.

And seriously, get a decent website built. I'm sure your deals are fine, but looking at that site makes me want to gag.

Both HP and this "Samsung" setup utilize a toner transfer unit made of essentially the same components. And the durability of those parts? Roughly the same design specs.

With an HP, when you swap out the toner, you're basically replacing the entire toner mechanism. Here, I haven't checked specifically, but there's likely some drum unit that costs more than a whole new laser printer, which is why no sane person even imports them.

So, what happens? You buy this chassis and pop in some third-party toner—because, let's face it, to the end user, all toners look identical—and suddenly the printer starts streaking or showing spots. In that case, this Xerox (Samsung) goes straight into the trash, and it probably hasn't even hit the 2,000-page mark.

But with an HP? You just return the third-party toner and demand your money back.

Do you see now how Adriatix differs from a typical salesperson? Why does a salesperson have to obsess over polishing their image (and their webpage) every other day while Adriatix doesn't bother? Because we have smarter things to do. And people figure it out—those who understand the value stay, and those who don't just end up filling landfills every eighteen months.

Clear enough?

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:That’s just the price of doing business. It’ll handle a few thousand pages before it pays for itself. Honestly, it’s still better than burning through hundreds of pages on an inkjet at those prices, dear Adriatix.

It’s basically the same logic as buying one genuine HP LaserJet toner rated for 4,000 pages for the exact same amount of cash.

Except in this case, you have to factor in four extra cartridges, which means for the same number of prints, the whole thing ends up costing you 400% more.

Of course, the customer doesn't realize that because they only see what you showed them today.

Why is that?

Because the OPC unit here—just like in high-end HP or Samsung toners—is designed for roughly 4,000 to 6,000 pages. So, just like someone might toss out an old HP toner, you're tossing out something that includes all that plastic mechanics and electronics too.

So, if the customer actually understands that, then there isn't a problem.

The issue is that we have to explain all this via some banned user from Adriatix instead of a salesperson of your caliber.

And that’s about it for "forum ethics."

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:The real question here is: what’s your actual budget? Honestly, if you go out and grab some dirt-cheap inkjet, you're going to regret it no matter which model you pick. A set of genuine ink cartridges usually ends up costing more than the printer itself, and finding decent third-party replacements is often a nightmare. This Epson does have cheap compatible ink available, though I'm not sure how the quality holds up. Generally speaking, those bottom-tier inkjets just aren't reliable machines.
I'd suggest looking at a color laser instead (like that Xerox mentioned above). Printing costs are much lower and the hardware is way more dependable. You can pretty much survive without color printing.

That Epson isn't even in production anymore.

And this Xerox? It's an investment that lasts maybe 18 months.

How so?

Because does anyone actually remember a Xerox lasting longer than 24 months?

WHAT?

Nobody remembers.
The Xerox 3116 was definitely 100% more rugged than this latest model.