Which printer is best for using generic ink?

I mean, honestly, I just need someone to tell me how the hell I’m supposed to get that little smiley face to show up over there?

northernsurfer3 said:I really have to give props to the people on this forum who actually try to share what they know with those of us who aren't tech-savvy. Seriously, thank you guys.
So, question number one🙂I'm looking to pick up an all-in-one printer, scanner, and copier for my weekend cabin. It'll probably only get used once or twice a month. I was thinking about grabbing a Canon, but there are so many options I'm totally lost. Maybe a Pixma Dell Latitude or a Dell Latitude? Those two caught my eye, but I honestly don't know. I just want the best bang for my buck.
Question number two: Reading through old posts, I'm seeing this thing called an Ink Tank System—I don't know if you call them refills or tanks. In my apartment, I have a Canon Pixma 4200 where I’m swapping out cartridges every 20 days because my kids are printing entire novels for school. Is it even possible to install one of those tank systems on my current printer? And if so, what kind of gear would I need to pull that off?

It's possible, but on that specific model, it's basically a "fingers crossed and hope for the best" situation. Honestly, the smartest move is to just buy a pre-installed setup that's already been verified to work reliably for dozens of other users. Sure, everyone has to go through a bit of a learning curve, but once you've got it down, you won't be dealing with any more headaches.

Anyone got any solid recommendations for picking up a printer-scanner-copier combo?

Is there actually a single printer on this entire planet that rustysurfer79 won't absolutely tear apart? Seriously, I swear he thinks everything is junk—whether it's third-party ink, refilling cartridges, or even just buying genuine originals again.
No matter what anyone asks, his answer is always some variation of "the only thing that works is whatever we rigged up ourselves at our office." Apparently, the HP Envy is the one and only printer out of all the HP and Canon models that isn't total garbage.
I’m honestly surprised he hasn't taken over Bill Gates' job by now! 🙂))))

Anyway, I would really love to get some actual advice from someone who owns an all-in-one printer around the $167 mark and uses either cheap compatible ink or original cartridges.

Sophia Sanders89 said:Is there actually any printer on this planet that rustysurfer79 won't absolutely hate? Like, he'll claim they're all junk, third-party ink is trash, and even buying genuine cartridges is a waste.
No matter what anyone asks, his answer is basically that only whatever they set up at their own office actually works. (The HP Envy is apparently the only decent printer out of all the HP, Canon, or Epson models available.)
I wonder why he hasn't taken over Bill Gates' job yet 🙂))))

I’d really love to get some actual advice from someone who owns an all-in-one printer in the $167 range that can handle cheap generic ink or original cartridges without dying.

Just these

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Prod.../PIXMA_MG5550/

plus

this

or this

or maybe this

@ rustysurfer79
I’ve figured out one thing for sure: the less you pay for the printer, the more they bleed you dry on ink.
Can you recommend a decent budget printer—something for school, college, or just work—that actually uses cheap original ink?
From what I can see, third-party cartridges are out of the question. You lose the ink level indicators, then the print head dies and you're stuck.
But let's be honest, original ink runs out way too fast.
Should I just grab a basic printer and then buy some refillable cartridges to DIY the refills, or should I look for a model where the original cartridges aren't such a rip-off?
Thanks🙂🙂🙂

dustyridge7 said:@ rustysurfer79
I’ve finally realized that the cheaper you buy the printer, the more you end up getting ripped off on ink.
You looking for a budget printer for school, college, or work that won't bleed you dry on ink? I'd definitely suggest looking into an HP with an Ink Tank System. Those things are lifesavers when it comes to keeping costs down.
Honestly, looking at the situation, third-party ink just isn't an option. If you let those fake cartridges run dry and the ink levels hit zero, you're basically asking for a clogged printhead. Not worth the risk.
And again, the originals don't last long.
Should I just grab any random printer and set up an Ink Tank System to refill myself, or is it better to just get something where the official cartridges aren't such a rip-off?
Thanks!🙂🙂🙂

Looks like someone finally figured out how the game is played.
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Hey, at the end of the day, everyone's gotta earn their own keep.

By the time you realize you basically just paid for someone else's lunch by buying a new printer, it’s way too late to start regretting it.

If you go the used printer route, that initial savings is basically gone the second it hits the trash. You'll just end up sinking all your money into repair bills and the daily headache of buying ink.

Look, if that makes sense now, maybe you’ll see why we picked these specific models. We didn't just grab whatever was on sale; we chose the gear that actually holds up over time, whether it's through easy servicing or just being reliable enough to handle daily use. At the end of the day, we're trying to make sure everyone wins here.

Look, from where I'm standing, there are actually plenty of high-quality, budget-friendly options out there for the average user. But honestly? For this kind of analysis to actually mean something, you’d probably have to bundle everything together into some sort of package deal to make it worth the hassle.

Look, if these packages just aren't doing it for you, don't sweat it. Just go find someone else who offers similar options but with a different setup.

Look, just hunt around for something in the $300 to $600 range. $267 Sales tax on similar packages.

Look, you’re getting a device that works perfectly right out of the box. We're talking about setups with permanent or semi-permanent ink tank systems that are super easy to find. You can grab enough refill ink to cover anywhere from 30 to 150 cartridges—whether you go with the official stuff or just pick up some reliable third-party replacements for current or even slightly older models.

Honestly, it's tough to say. Hard to give any real recommendation here.

For instance.

Lately, I've been testing out some Desktop ink on my HP Envy paired with an Ink Tank System. Honestly? It works like a charm. I’ve been using the Plug and Play setup for about two months now and haven't had any issues. But, if you try to do the exact same thing without the Ink Tank System—say, just grabbing a standard kit with the same amount of that Desktop ink—well, you're basically asking for trouble.

Why?
The issue isn't actually the ink itself. It’s about how that ink acts as a coolant for the printhead heaters. Since you don't have an ink level indicator anymore—which you *did* have on your old HP OfficeJet—it’s easy to run dry without realizing it. Those cartridges only hold about 3-5 ml per color, so they can empty out in a heartbeat. Once that happens, the heaters overheat, and while it might not happen immediately, you'll eventually fry a connection on the multiplexer and lose a color for good. If you're using an Ink Tank System and you're careful not to let any air get into the lines, those heaters stay constantly cooled by the ink, making life easy for the HP hardware. Sure, the printhead is going to wear out eventually regardless, but you can just grab a new one for $100 or $150 and keep moving. You'll still have your extra ink and your tank system ready to go. Just a heads up though: HP didn't make it easy; on their newer MP series, installing an Ink Tank System isn't exactly Plug and Play anymore. It's definitely doable, but expect to do a little tinkering and trial and error to get it right.

Second example.
If you’re mainly looking to print in black and white, you might just want to grab an HP with those HP 45 cartridges. You get about 40 ml of Black in there. Just for context, that Ink Tank System mentioned above holds 60 ml of Black, so honestly, the difference isn't a huge deal. But there is one catch: that HP won't even run without HP 78 ink. And a fresh set of HP 78 costs around... $83 Third-party stuff can be pretty hit or miss. Right now, the whole setup feels a little shaky. But look, if you figure out how to refill the HP 78 using bulk desktop ink—and we can put together a deal with the HP 78 cartridges plus three 100ml bottles of desktop ink for $67—things start looking different. Sure, we can't give a guarantee on those Chinese replacement cartridges, but having both color and Black options with huge capacity for cheap? That changes the game. We've actually seen people get over 40,000 color prints this way on that platform.

Still, it’s not for everyone, and it definitely isn't Plug and Play.

That first method was more or less Plug and Play.

HP is a whole other story; we've talked about this before. Basically, Plug and Play works with permanent cartridges, but setting up an Ink Tank System just doesn't pay off the way it does with a Canon.

There aren't any hard rules here. You can't generalize an entire brand. Everything varies from one model to the next. That's why we always say NEW MODELS ARE A TOTAL WILDCARD.

Only time will tell who ends up paying the premium in the long run.

I've got a question similar to this thread, though it’s not strictly on topic.

Has anyone picked up a recent issue of PCMag, Time, or maybe Newsweek since last month? I was at the library recently and saw an article about mid-range business inkjets and laser printers... I just need the model names. That's it. I won't be back at the library anytime soon.

I'm looking for those printers where the original toner or ink is way cheaper because you pay more upfront for the machine itself. They usually have larger tanks too, so you aren't constantly swapping them out or refilling them.

Hey there!

I’m looking for some advice on picking out a new printer—specifically one where I won't go broke buying replacement ink. It feels completely ridiculous to drop $300-$133 on a machine just to find out a fresh set of original cartridges costs the exact same amount... it's a total racket. Up until now, I’ve been using an Epson SX215 and honestly, it worked like a charm; the colors were always $3.25, but now the thing has decided to stop recognizing everything except the black cartridge. It won't see the other three—red, yellow, blue—so the whole thing is basically a paperweight at this point. I mostly just need it for faxing, printing out study guides, various handouts and stuff like that...

It looks like those old-school Epson models aren't really around anymore, so I guess I'm looking at a budget of maybe $600-$233 at most, unless someone happens to have a miracle fix for this pathetic Epson 😁...

feralcyclist97 said:Hey there!

I need some advice on picking out a new printer where I can actually find cheap generic ink. It feels totally stupid to drop $300-$133 on a printer just to spend another $300 on original cartridges. My old Epson SX215 worked perfectly fine and the colors were $3.25, but now it’s acting up—it only recognizes the black cartridge, while the other three (red, yellow, blue) aren't being detected at all, so I'm stuck. I mostly just need it for faxing, printing study guides, and general stuff...

They don't really make newer Epsons like that anymore, so I'm looking at anything up to maybe $600-$233, unless someone knows a fix for this unlucky Epson 😁

Real smart move right there.

You're looking for a new printer just because your current one won't accept third-party cartridges.
Who's to say the next one won't pull the exact same stunt with the generic ink?!!!!!

Instead of hunting for a new one, you should find a printer known for actually working with off-brand ink.

The issue isn't the hardware, it's those cartridges costing $3.25
.
I have no idea how you think things will cost $3.25. Companies aren't running charities here; they've got massive profit margins to protect.

and expect everything to run smoothly too.

Looking for a new printer...

I used to have an HP All in One 5610, and honestly, I wasn't exactly thrilled with how things turned out... Whenever I tried to print photos in a document, they’d come out super washed out, which was pretty annoying. Plus, the ink was pricey, even the generic stuff—don't even get me started on the official cartridges.
Does anyone have recommendations for a solid printer where the original ink won't break the bank?
Any advice helps!
Thanks

Hello there!
I am looking for some input regarding which printer/scanner combo offers the best value within my budget $200. It doesn't necessarily need to be high-end $200 , I just want to ensure I'm getting the best bang for my buck in terms of quality versus cost. Additionally, regarding ink costs, I am debating whether a laser printer or an inkjet is more practical for home use. If I go the inkjet route, I would prefer one where the ink isn't prohibitively expensive—I certainly don't want to end up paying something like a third of the machine's price just for refills. The specific brand is irrelevant to me; I simply value your expertise on which model would be a wise purchase.
Thanks in advance!

You can pick up budget-friendly toner and ink at: replacement ink cartridges