Printer Buying Guide (Summer 2016)

👍

Once again, you've proven you're technically sound when it comes to printers—probably the most competent person on this board. Based on your horoscope, you're probably a Virgo, or at least have 😬 rising, because your drive for perfectionism is absolute and relentless. It's fine and actually commendable, it's just that not everyone operates that way...

My Canon has been working great for over two years now. So far, I’ve burned through about 150 ml of color ink and roughly 250 ml of black, plus a few cartridges before I set up the CISS. I just hope I don't kill it. As someone who uses it slightly more than your average user, I’m perfectly happy with both the printer and the CISS. My wife is a teacher so she prints a lot, and my son occasionally messes around with color printing too. I think CISS is a solid solution since it keeps me satisfied and I can grab ink dirt cheap on eBay. I've cycled through a ridiculous amount of printers in my time. The last two were HP models where finding compatible ink was a nightmare, so I ended up dropping a ton of cash on originals. Then there was the Epson 205, which handled Epson ink pretty well for a while at $3.25, but eventually, it just clogged up hopelessly.

From that perspective, the Canon is good for me because I haven't had issues in over two years. Even though I'd love for it to last longer, I'm realistic—today's tech quality isn't even close to what it used to be. Everything is made of plastic designed to fail the second the warranty expires.

Alongside those inkjet headaches, I also ran a Brother laser printer. It was an excellent machine, ridiculously cheap, bought at Walmart, and the toner was practically free (refilling $13 is easy, and one cartridge lasts almost ten refills). And then what happens? Right after that generous three-year warranty expired, the plastic gears just stripped and started spinning uselessly, and the springs that lift the paper weakened so much they couldn't even hold the tray up... It worked while the warranty lasted, and that was it. Back in the day, lasers and copiers had metal gears and could run for 20 years straight...

So, I get it: there is no perfect solution and nothing lasts forever. That's just how it is. Once my Canon finishes its service life and hits the scrap heap, I won't be messing around with print heads, nozzles, Dampere, or sponges—it's just not worth my time. 😬 Still, I respect your knowledge and experience, which is why I always try to dig through your posts for info, even if you tend to ramble on with technical details that the average user couldn't care less about. Not trying to offend anyone, but it seems like your glass is always half empty because you chase perfection; you always find something wrong with every solution, which ends up confusing people who just came here for a simple answer to: "Which printer should I buy?"

And regarding the colors, I can confirm that too—I noticed after about ten prints that things start getting messy.

darkowl72 said:👍

Once again, you've proven you're technically savvy when it comes to printers—probably the most competent person on this forum. Based on your horoscope, you’re probably a Virgo, or at least have 😬 rising, because you chase perfection unconditionally and constantly. It’s fine, really, and actually commendable, it's just that not everyone works that way...

My Canon has been serving me great for over two years now. In that time, I’ve burned through roughly 150 ml of color ink and about 250 ml of black, plus some cartridges before I set up the CISS. I’m hoping I don't kill it too early. For an above-average user like me, it’s been perfectly fine; I'm happy with both the printer and the CISS setup. My wife is a teacher, so she prints a fair amount, and my son tends to mess around with color prints every now and then. The CISS is a solid move for me since I can grab cheap ink on eBay without a second thought. I've cycled through a lifetime of printers. My last two were HP models where finding replacement ink was a nightmare, so I ended up dropping a small fortune on originals. Then there was the Epson 205, which swallowed Epson super ink quite happily for a while at $3.25, but eventually, it just choked out on me.

From that perspective, the Canon is decent. I haven't had issues for over two years, and even though I’d love for it to last forever, I know modern tech isn't what it used to be. Everything is made of plastic these days, designed to fail the moment the warranty expires.

While dealing with all those complaints, I also ran a Brother laser printer. That thing was great—ridiculously cheap, picked up at Walmart, and the toner cost almost nothing (refilling $13 is easy, and one cartridge lasts nearly ten refills). And then what happened? As soon as that generous three-year warranty expired, the plastic gears just stripped and started spinning uselessly, and the springs meant to lift the paper weakened so much they couldn't even hold the tray up. It worked perfectly while under warranty, and then that was it. Back in the day, lasers and copiers had metal gears; you could use them for twenty years if you wanted...

So, I get it: there is no perfect solution, and stuff doesn't last. That's just reality. Once my Canon finishes its duty and heads to the scrap heap, I'm not going to waste my time messing around with print heads, nozzles, dampers, or sponges... I'm just not interested. 😬 That said, I respect your expertise, which is why I always try to pull info from your posts, even if you tend to ramble on with technicalities and details that the average user couldn't care less about. Not trying to be rude, but for you, the glass is always half empty because you're chasing perfection, so you always find something wrong with every solution. It ends up confusing people who just came here looking for simple advice like, "Which printer should I buy?"

And regarding the colors, I can confirm that observation—after about ten units, things start getting messy.

Cheer up, it won't be long. You might want to start thinking about a new head and new dampers.

Or, just to be lazy, try this:

Take the black cartridge out of the CISS inside the printer. Disconnect the tube from the CISS for the black ink. This means the air intake is open. Grab a stopwatch and count how many seconds pass before the first drop starts leaking from the old nozzle. Specifically, how many drops leak out within 10 seconds after that.
.

Let me know what you find so we can compare it to similar results.

If nothing drips? It's an INKJET STROKE, except it hasn't happened yet. Change the damper immediately.

If you’re looking at all those shiny new printer models, just ask yourself one thing: Who actually needs to be an absolute moron to go out and buy the latest tech just because it exists? I spend my time testing them to see if they offer any actual value to the user, or if it's just more overpriced junk.

Look, when you ask questions like that, don't be surprised when you get answers that match the quality of the inquiry.

Nothing in this world is free.

When this Canon finally gives up the ghost, don't think for a second that Canon isn't already planning how to squeeze more profit out of you with their next big release instead of actually fixing anything.

Basically, you're stuck in the middle of it.

If you want proof, just take a look at what Epson does with their L series.

They bundle in just enough ink to cover exactly what you've used up to that point. The whole package is designed for single-use. Once you run through that initial supply, you're forced back to Epson to buy a fresh set. It's a way to kill off the competition so they can become the only game in town while everyone else goes bust.

So yeah, based on how things work, your Canon isn't exactly living a long or happy life.

Am I really the only one here who doesn't expect hardware costing $167 to last longer than two years? Back in the day, printers were actual beasts. I had a Xerox back in the late 90s that probably printed enough paper to fuel several presidential elections, and I once had a Lexmark C510 that I refilled using toner straight from a bottle.
But nowadays? That’s a rarity. When you're looking at a budget under $100, you can't expect much—not that you ever could.

For a casual user, it makes sense to grab a printer in the $500-$200 range that has the cheapest ink possible and just run it into the ground for 24 months. That works out to about $8.25/month. If you aren't printing at least 100 pages a month, there's no point in buying a printer anyway; if you do buy one, you just use it until it dies. These things aren't old-school VW Golfs built to last generations.

wiredotter14 said:Am I the only one here who doesn't expect tech gear costing $167 to actually last more than two years? Seriously. Back in the day, printers were basically tanks. I had a Xerox from the late 90s that probably printed enough paper to fuel an entire presidential election cycle, and a Lexmark C510 that I practically refilled by hand using toner powder from a bottle.
But nowadays? That's a rarity. When you're looking at a budget under $100, you really can't expect much—not that anyone ever could.

For a casual user, it makes sense to grab a printer in the $500-$200 range that has cheap ink and just survives for about 24 months. That works out to roughly $8.25/month. If you aren't printing at least 100 pages a month, you shouldn't even bother owning a printer, but if you do get one, it’s the same story... you just use it until it dies. Printers aren't like those old Volkswagens people kept for generations.

Yeah, because proven technology that cost $167 yesterday is being sold for
today.
5 - $10000

A lot of these devices end up using the exact same inkjet cartridges anyway. It's just the ink formula that differs slightly.

http://www.sinletai.com.tw/EN/product-detail.php?p=18

I’m looking for some solid recommendations for a new printer.

Laser-based
WiFi
It needs to be compatible with third-party toner that isn't a nightmare to track down.

Ideally, I’d prefer an HP, but I’m not married to the idea if there's a more efficient or cost-effective alternative out there.

Thanks.

What kind of joke is this? Red the size of a stuffed animal?

http://www.nabava.net/pisaci__110?se=1698,169447

I was scrolling through this list on Consumer Reports, but honestly, I’m stuck—should I go with HP or Canon? I wouldn't even consider anything else at this point. I need a setup with a printer, scanner, and copier for about $600—$233 basically what I shelled out for my last one before it completely died on me after just two years. I’m printing at least one 500-sheet ream a month, so it needs to actually hold up. And yeah, I don't mind using third-party ink; I can always just grab that stuff on eBay.

If nobody has a better suggestion, I think this one’s fine. Just check the availability and pricing for some third-party ink here:

http://moj-toner.com/printeri-shop/p...mg5751--bijeli

I'm not sure how it goes with third-party ink for HP. For Canon (and Epson), I've had decent luck using Epson super.

darkowl72 said:If nobody has a better idea, I think this one is fine. Just check if the third-party ink is actually in stock and what it costs:

http://www.amazon.com/ink-cartridges-printer-model-wifi-dplx
http://staples.com/printer-ink-refills-mg5751-white

Not sure how things stand with third-party ink for HP. For Canon (and Epson), my experience has been pretty good with Epson super.

So, these replacement cartridges are $25 for 10 ml

Right?

5 cartridges would be 5 * 75 = $125 for 60 ml of ink
Right?

And before, for that same amount of ink, she was paying 5 * $6.75 == $33

And if she was refilling the cartridges, that would have been 60 ml == $10

So we're looking at $125 for a new printer on one hand, and $10 on the other

Right?

And just because you can't find an old printer on eBay doesn't mean there isn't one on Craigslist bundled with 4 * 100 ml bottles of ink + a RESETTER + permanent cartridges. Basically, 4 * 100 ml is the same as 40 replacement cartridges or $267. A resetter is usually $67 anyway. Therefore, a refurbished printer ends up being $0.00

Anyway, draw your own conclusions.

But hollowmarlin27, you said everything except the HP can only handle a few hundred pages before dying, so buying a used printer for $0.00 isn't exactly a steal.

wiredotter14 said:But hollowmarlin27, you mentioned that anything other than an HP can only handle a few hundred pages before dying, so buying a used printer for $0.00 isn't really much of a deal

It all comes down to how many miles someone put on those used tires.

One person drives 3,000 miles and swaps in the latest model, while the old ones easily last another 30,000.

The thing is, buying a Canon is basically playing the lottery. And the biggest gamble is when someone tries to score a print head on eBay. They get excited about the low price, completely missing the fine print stating the head is refurbished.

That’s why, honestly, a refurbished Epson is usually the smarter move. You see these refurbished Epsons being used for pro-level work all the time without any issues.

With HP, it used to be that you could grab a new print head relatively cheap and swap out the old one yourself. Not so much anymore. I don't recall ever meeting an HP user whose dead print head didn't take the whole motherboard down with it. With Canon, that kind of failure happens about 50% of the time once the head gives out.

But that math from earlier still holds up. If someone actually went out and grabbed a high-end Canon MF, this is an opportunity you don't pass up. It’s basically a machine where someone tried using third-party cartridges instead of the originals, realized they hated it, and just gave the thing away because they wanted something else. Plus, it sat idle for 12 months, so the ink probably dried up a bit.

Basically, there are no rules when it comes to these Canon builds. And of course, Canon constantly tweaks their hardware and cartridges just to keep a stranglehold on the third-party market. They want customers to feel satisfied at first glance so they'll just buy a whole new printer instead of dealing with a new print head.

What you should actually do? Buy the newest Canon model today. Use it for two years, then flip it for 50% more when those specific models aren't available anymore. And you can find compatible cartridges for peanuts.

It's the exact same situation with this MG 5150 I found on Craigslist.

That’s how I scored my Brother MFC-J5910DW. You just don't see printers built like that on the market anymore. 😉

Seriously, Rembrandt, here we go again...

You’re acting like one of those old, grumpy mechanics... Someone walks into his shop, he just sits there in silence, refusing to say a word until someone pushes him first—mostly because he’s just looking for an excuse to yell at them...

Look, good for you, you clearly know everything there is to know about printers, no argument there, but can you please, just once... pleeeeeeease... give a simple answer to the question of which printer she should buy based on what she actually needs?

Please, just this once...

Without all the extra fluff calculating how many miles a Michelin tire gets versus a Pirelli, or how much gas they'll burn and how loud they'll be...

or:

Dammit, which printer should she buy? Give me an unambiguous answer, ideally with a link to a store.

darkowl72 said:For crying out loud, Rembrandt, you're doing it again...

You’re basically that old, cranky mechanic... The kind who just sits there in silence when someone walks into his shop, refusing to say a word until they speak first—just because he's got plenty of reasons to complain about everything else...

Good 4U that you’re an expert on printers; nobody’s disputing that. But can you please, just once... plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ... give a simple answer to what printer this girl should buy based on what she actually needs??????

Plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, just one time....

Without the whole elaborate breakdown calculating how many miles a Michelin will get versus a Pirelli, how much fuel they'll burn, and how noisy they'll be...

or:

Dammit, which printer should she buy? Give me an unambiguous answer, ideally with a link to a store.

Tell me, what's actually in this young lady's best interest?

And tell me, what's in the interest of the printer manufacturers?

And tell me, what's in the interest of the government?

Basically, does the manufacturer and the government share the same goal here?

Try looking at it from that angle for a second.

Otherwise, the CONCLUSION is that both the state and the manufacturers are in cahoots to fleece a > girl< like her as much as possible, doing everything they can to pretend they're these big-hearted humanists or socially conscious types acting purely in her interest.

So how is anyone supposed to suggest or provide a decent alternative that doesn't line those specific pockets without getting chewed out for it?

Think about it from that perspective.
OK?

God, I'm losing my mind here 😱

darkowl72 said:God, I’m losing my mind here. 😱

Don't go killing yourself just yet.

Just look at how much sympathy people were throwing around because they lost their jobs. The whole game is rigged to phase out all those third-party service niches and outsource everything to China through new product lines.

Basically, we don't "need" printer repair services anymore. Seriously, check any major importer—how many actually keep more than one technician on the payroll? Compare that to ten years ago. It’s a different world.

The game is set up this way. Everyone has to dance to the exact same beat. If you don't follow the rhythm, you get slapped.

So now you want me to suggest something that isn't just following that same sheet music?

Your best bet is to read between the lines, wrap your head around it, and figure out what works best for your specific situation.

As for anyone who finds this too complicated—well, they're probably already a pro dancer who can find a cheap workaround at the local mall. Besides, after a month, who’s even going to care about the saga of buying a printer when they're busy dancing to a new tune just to afford the latest smartphone?

But hey, if you don't want the grim reality, do you want me to tell you some fairy tale about HP ink cartridges and printheads instead?

hollowmarlin27 said:Look, it’s not all doom and gloom—if you really want to hear me ramble about HP ink cartridges and printheads, I can certainly spin a yarn for you.

By all means, go ahead.

btw, have you ever thought about changing your handle from hollowmarlin27 to something like Don Quixote? It seems like fighting windmills is basically your full-time job at this point.

Mark Hill90 said:Yeah, sure. Go ahead.

Btw, have you thought about changing your name from hollowmarlin27 to something like Don Quixote? Seems like fighting windmills is basically your full-time job.

Fine.

If this actually interests you, there'll be more follow-ups. There's also a connection to back in 2016.

So, let's hop in a time machine and head back 10 or 15 years. Back when HP was either leading the pack or practically the only serious player in the inkjet game. Back then, just like now, every manufacturer had both consumer inkjets and professional ones in their lineup. Basically, the consumer stuff was the Deskjet 500 and the professional side was the Deskjet 800 series. And honestly, the gap between the Deskjet 500 and the 800 was exactly what it is today. Night and day. Or rather $167 vs $667. You were getting a much more robust machine for $167 than what you get for the same money today. On the flip side, you couldn't really compare those old machines to today's $167 in terms of actual performance. But then again, you can't compare today's $167 to the old models regarding ink tank capacity and cost per page. These days, everyone's asking which device offers the cheapest printing. We're talking a difference of 5–10 ml vs 40 ml. And as for the cartridge price... those 40 ml ones were maybe 20% more expensive than the 10 ml ones we see now. It was the same deal with the $667 series regarding capacity. Back then, 40 ml cost about the same as 40 ml in the budget class.

Then fast forward five years. Technology basically steamrolled the old Deskjet 500 build quality, and HP decided to move its professional Deskjet 800 series into the same category as the $167. So, what used to cost $667 now costs somewhere between 500 and $267. The kicker is, there isn't much real difference between the old professional line and today's consumer grade. They're more or less the same—and I won't get too nitpicky or veer off track here—they both use 40 ml. Same number of prints. Same cartridge price. Same cartridge shape. Same contacts. same performance. Plus, you get a brand new print head every single time, following the HP concept.

Should I keep going?

Give me some drama, some action...

Back in the day, a VCR would set you back something like $150—a serious chunk of change—whereas nowadays you can pick up a DVD player for maybe $30. Honestly, who even bothers buying VHS tapes anymore? I mean, who actually looks at a grainy tape and tries to argue it has better picture quality or performance than a DVD? It just doesn't fly.