Printer issues?

It’s honestly wild how easy it is to get overwhelmed when you're trying to pick out a new printer.
I haven't even decided if I should go with a laser or an inkjet yet. There are just so many different things to weigh up! My budget is around $233.

When looking at laser options, I've got these on my radar:
EPSON AL-M200dn $133
Samsung SL-M2022 $177
XEROX Phaser 3020BI $150
plus maybe some other similar models with the same price point and resolution.

The Epson actually has duplex printing, unlike the other two, but I'm a bit stuck on the toner situation. Are there decent third-party toners available? Is it possible to use refill kits?

That's a big one for me. Since I haven't really used laser printers before, I was wondering— would a 1200dpi resolution be sufficient for printing standard documents (maybe with a tiny little logo thrown in)? I'd hate to feel embarrassed by the quality if I end up choosing a laser... 🤔

As for inkjets, I'm considering
EPSON XP 225 all-in-one $167
Canon ip7250 $217

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I have a feeling the Canon ip7250 might be the top performer here, but I'll be printing quite a lot of paperwork soon (things like ownership deeds, legal filings, property records, etc.). I'd likely need to rely on compatible third-party ink, and I really don't want to risk breaking the printer or sacrificing print quality. Since a printer with this kind of resolution would probably end up being my go-to for printing photos too, does using non-brand ink actually mess with the performance or the final look?
Because of that, the Epson XP 225 is my backup inkjet plan. It's a bit more affordable (though still not exactly cheap), it's an all-in-one, and the replacement ink seems pretty budget-friendly.

Up until now, I've been struggling with an old HP 3325 that has been a total nightmare. I barely ever use it, and even when I do, it never works quite right... I know you're supposed to print something occasionally to keep the nozzles from clogging, but one day it just gave up on me entirely and wouldn't start back up. Basically, a disaster! So yeah, I'm being pretty picky about this one...

In terms of what I'll be doing with it—mostly printing various documents and some light graphics. Having a scanner would be nice, but I'd be willing to skip that feature if it means getting better print quality.
If I go the laser route now, I'll likely need to buy a color printer down the road anyway.
So, any recommendations?

Oh, and I'm running Windows 10. Should I expect any issues there?

Matthew Collins20 said:Unbelievable...

Just grab an Epson on eBay that uses those EPSON T0711-714 cartridges.

With newer printers, those third-party chips are totally flaky—you never know when you're just throwing money down the drain.

The T0711 - 714 models have already worked out all those annoying little bugs.

Great advice... Just grab a cheap inkjet off eBay. Honestly, you might as well just go out and spend that money on drinks instead; at least then you won't be stressed out. Seriously, cheap inkjets cause nothing but headaches, and buying used is a gamble since you have zero clue how much they’ve actually printed or what kind of abuse they've seen.

Look, it’s simple with printers: you can’t have your cake and eat it too. They are basically designed to die quickly and force you into buying overpriced ink or toner. It all comes down to luck. If you’ve owned a printer before, you already know how this game works.

I don't see why you're even questioning the resolution of laser printers. They’ve always had better resolution and print quality than those cheap inkjets—why would you even think that's an issue?

With inkjets, everyone has a different opinion based on whatever junk they have sitting on their desk and how they treat it. But the golden rule is: don't let the print heads clog up, which I'm sure you already know. As for whether you need a scanner or not, that's your call; nobody can decide that for you. And if you've lived in the real world long enough, you probably know that "cheap" rarely means high quality or durable.

If you go the inkjet route, dealing with ink is going to be a nightmare. Those famous EPSON T0711-714 cartridges are tiny, and Epson is notorious for swallowing them up during cleaning cycles. There are decent third-party options, and Epson Orink stuff is cheap, but those can leak easily too. If you're getting an inkjet and planning to print a lot, a CISS is pretty much your only sane option. You can find them here in the US, but check eBay for reasonable prices—you can find installation guides on YouTube for almost every model out there. All that's left is to decide if you need the scanner. And for heaven's sake, don't forget to print something once a week just to keep those heads from clogging.

Lasers are obviously the better move because the toner lasts longer, and the drum and other consumables generally have a much longer lifespan than anything in an inkjet. Don't bother asking about replacement toner or ink here; just check your local shops or wherever you usually buy your supplies. A "cheap" toner isn't actually cheap if you're paying a fortune in shipping just to get it to your door.

It's hard to find a laser printer nowadays that doesn't have a compatible third-party toner available. Even if there isn't a direct replacement, you can usually find cartridges that can be refilled. The cost-effectiveness depends entirely on where you shop, so ask your local vendor or talk to a specialist who handles refills. Sure, you can buy toner powder on eBay and do it yourself, but that can be a messy, complicated job that requires specific tools. It's probably better to leave it to the pros; last time, I paid to have a Brother cartridge refilled $27, and you can usually get 3 or 4 uses out of a cartridge before it's done.

I used to have an Epson multi-function SX model with those T07xx inks, and I used Epson Orink replacements without any issues until I let the heads clog. Now I'm using a Canon and I installed a CISS. So far, so good. I don't print massive amounts, but I make sure to print a page every week and run a cleaning cycle just to be safe.

Looking at the lasers you linked, pay attention to the duty cycle. The Samsung is rated for 10k pages a month, the Xerox is 15k, and the Epson hits 30k. Not only does the Epson feature duplex printing (that 'd' in the name), but it also has network capabilities (the 'n'), meaning it has an RJ45 port so you can hook it up to your network and print from multiple computers. Check the prices for both original and third-party toner so you can actually calculate which one is the best deal.

And no, it shouldn't be an issue with Windows 10...

darkowl72 said:Great advice...

A lot of talk, zero substance.
Like, you grab a CISS off eBay and one single chip doesn't work. What then? You think they're just gonna ship you a new one for free? Nope. You basically just flushed $100 down the toilet while you're busy complaining.

If you don't believe me, I'll give you the address. Grab one of these chips for the newest Epson printers and take a selfie with it.

Whether my post was actually smart or helpful is really up to the person who asked the question, not you...

Shit happens, I get that... But IMHO, you have way less chance of getting screwed over on eBay. First off, you only deal with sellers holding at least a 98% positive feedback rating, and second, those sellers are terrified of negative feedback. There’s plenty of buyer protection and money-back guarantees too. It sounds like you haven't spent much time on eBay lately; on local classified sites, you don't have any protection, and scammers are everywhere...

And if the chip was faulty, you should've filed a complaint. On eBay, you can't just sign up as a seller without consequences like you can on some random local site; they can track down a seller easily, no problem...

darkowl72 said:Is my...

Wrong idea.
Everything you're looking at is worth the price of being brand new and officially labeled in the listing. Nobody guarantees some random chip won't die during the warranty period. And by the time you realize it, a week or two later, your return window is already closed. You can just go ahead and use your CISS if a single chip gives up on you. Same goes for the guy on eBay—he's just as much of a headache as your favorite Epson if you don't burn through those cartridges within three months of buying them.

If you don't believe me, go do some digging. Basically, you buy a set of Epson cartridges to have on hand, you don't use them within three months, and then one chip dies.

BIG BRAIN MOVE. You can deal with that just as easily as anything you find on eBay.

Look, I don't usually get involved in these petty arguments—I hate bickering—but I have to say something here...

How exactly is this three-month rule determined? Is it three months from the purchase date? What if the ink sat on a shelf unsold for three months before anyone bought it—how does that count? And how does the math work for different batches? If one was made in March and another in July, how do you calculate that? Also, what if you aren't buying a full set and just need one specific cartridge? You don't exactly buy a new one every fourth time you run out.

And where on earth does it actually say that???? 🤦 I mean, even milk has a longer shelf life than this...

You’ve got it all wrong. People buy stuff everywhere, including eBay, with the intention of actually using it, and there's supposed to be some kind of guarantee for usage, not just for sitting there unopened. When a product reaches you, that's only the beginning of the story. By your logic, if you buy a phone, it arrives undamaged, and that's it? You unbox it, it dies immediately, and you're just out of luck? This is the first time I've ever heard someone argue that.

edit:

Anyway, by the way, what do you suggest we do then? Should we just hunt down a used Epson on eBay and stick strictly to original ink? eBay isn't good enough for you, Epson isn't good enough, CISS isn't good enough... nothing works for you. So go ahead, make a suggestion. Or better yet, drop a link to that Epson you're trying to sell on eBay...

Hey Adriatix, why don't you just go ahead and recommend buying used cartridges with cheap knockoff ink from you too? Let's just wrap this whole thread up right now.

Don't you ever get tired of spinning up new accounts just to shill your garbage? At least build a decent website or pay for actual advertising... Any sane person sees your site and the way you try to hawk your stuff and runs the other direction.

No way, is it really him? 😱

darkowl72 said:Look, I don't usually do this—I hate pointless bickering—but I've gotta say something...

How does this "3-month rule" even work? Is it three months from when you buy it? What if the ink sat on a shelf unsold for three months before you got it? And how do you handle different batches? Say one was made in March and another in July—how's that calculated? Also, what if you aren't buying full sets and just grab what you need? You can't exactly buy every fourth cartridge.

And where on earth is that even written???? 🤦 I mean, even milk lasts longer than that...

You've got it all wrong. People buy stuff everywhere, even on eBay, with the intention of actually using it, and there’s supposed to be some kind of usage guarantee, not just a rule about keeping things unopened. Once the gear hits your doorstep, that’s just the beginning. By your logic, you buy a phone, it arrives in perfect shape, you unbox it, it dies immediately, and you're just out of luck? That's the first time I've ever heard that nonsense...

edit:

Anyway, BTW, what's your solution then? Should we all just hunt down some used HP printer and original ink? eBay is bad, Epson is bad, Ink Tank Systems are bad... nothing works for you. So come on, give us an alternative. Or just drop a link to that HP you're trying to sell on Craigslist...

It's three months from the invoice date.
If you don't believe me, just call Epson and ask them yourself.

Picture this: you stock up on 10 cartridges for resale, fail to move them within three months, and they all end up having those same faulty chips.

PAPA LOva

Go ahead, call them and let us all know what they tell you.

And if you don't report back every single time you try to push these cartridges on people, it's pretty obvious you're in on the scam. Which means we should probably ignore every complaint regarding this topic.

darkowl72 said:Look, SPo—you buy a phone, it arrives in perfect shape, and that's it. You unbox it, it dies instantly, and you're just stuck? Nothing? Fine, then give me an alternative. Or better yet, drop a link to that Epson you've got listed on Craigslist...

As for phones, here's the deal. You buy one today.
Tomorrow you're walking down the street.
It starts pouring rain.
You pop open an umbrella.
Someone calls you.
You pick up.
The day after tomorrow, your screen goes black.
And suddenly, you can't even use your warranty because you were talking under an umbrella.

That’s exactly how you end up getting screwed over.

The phone has a SAMSUNG logo on it.
Doesn't matter if it's from a different importer; it's the same game.

darkowl72 said:Man, you hate my Ink Tank System, you hate everything... fine, then give me a suggestion. Or just drop a link to that HP Envy you're peddling on Craigslist...

As for the Ink Tank Systems, I see everyone here pushing the HP Envy and stuff like that.

http://www.epson.com.sg/epson_singap...ame=Epson_L350

But nobody’s talking about the Brother HL Series + Ink Tank System.
http://uk-office-systems.co.uk/pdf/c...h-Brochure.pdf

Both have built-in Ink Tank Systems and external tanks.
One comes with 4 * 60 ml dye ink.
The other has 4 * 100 ml gel dye ink.
Both are brand new in the box.
One has an 180 nozzle print head for B&W text and
4 * 59 nozzles for color printing.

The other has a print head with 4 * 202 nozzles for both color and text.

One weighs 10 lbs. It's all plastic—you try to take it apart and the casing snaps. You can basically bend the metal frame with your bare hands.
The other is 23 lbs.
And they both cost roughly the same. Neither is meant to be serviced easily.
Down the road, refilling them costs about the same too.

Probably because one's made in America and the other isn't.
The second one is already being produced in the Philippines as a CISS integration from a Canon Pixma. Honestly, it's a way better option than the first one. Either way, that's the version worth backing.

Look, you aren't Adriatic. Adriatic was annoying, sure, but he actually made sense about 5% of the time when he wasn't busy preaching or pushing products... You’re just talking nonsense. A phone dies if you use it under an umbrella and suddenly the warranty is void? Seriously? 🤣 😂 🤦 😱

How on earth is a technician supposed to know if you were standing under an umbrella, for crying out loud? That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. 😵

darkowl72 said:Look, you aren't Adriatic. Adriatic was a pain, sure, but he actually said smart stuff in that 5% of his posts where he wasn't just rambling or pitching products... You’re talking pure nonsense here... A phone dies because you talked under an umbrella and now you can't claim the warranty...???? 🤣 😂 🤦 😱

How the hell is a repair tech supposed to know if you were talking under an umbrella, seriously????? That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. 😵

They know because Samsung slapped two stickers on it. One on the battery and one on the phone itself. Now, if you talk under an umbrella, all it takes is for one sticker to turn red and boom—warranty void. Doesn't matter if the other one looks perfect.

Maybe they intentionally soak them in water at the service center just so they don't have to replace the phone under warranty.

And good luck proving you weren't out there in the rain. Of course, "rain" and "umbrella" are just metaphors. The phone never even saw a drop of water.

It's the exact same logic with these inkjet cartridges. There's zero difference.

Who actually has a chance of keeping inkjet cartridges in stock and moving them within three months? And remember, that three-month window includes the consumer's usage period.

So, a customer buys a cartridge from you, waits 59 days, tries it at home, and then comes back with a claim. What do you tell them then? "Sorry, you were using your phone in the rain"? Or, "You should've bought the cartridge two days earlier so we could swap it." At least you didn't have to hunt for it on eBay since we kept it in stock specifically for you.

Thanks, darkowl72. I don't know much about laser printers—I don't think I've ever really had to deal with them (if I have, I definitely wasn't paying attention), unless you count those massive, pricey machines you see at local print shops.
So, I’ll probably just go with one of those, but first I'm going to swing by a local refill shop and see what they've got.
I don't think I actually need a scanner, either. I've got my phone, a camera, and I know my way around Photoshop if I ever need to scan something, like a driver's license 😁...
This printer is mostly just a temporary fix anyway, unless it ends up being even better than I'm expecting.

Oh, and one more thing! Adriatic, you are something else. I get that you're trying to pitch your product (even if it goes against the forum rules), but I think your strategy is a little off.
You show up in every single printer thread on every tech forum out there...

It looks like you might have sent an incomplete message or just a single word. Was there something specific on your mind that you wanted to discuss? I'm here if you want to dive into a topic or ask a question. kaže:
Hey everyone!

My dear friend. Does anyone have experience with the Canon PIXMA iP4000? I'm looking into it and wondering if it's still a reliable choice. It finally gave up on me after what feels like ten great years together, and honestly, I haven't even had to take it in for service once. Given how old it is now, I’m starting to wonder if it's even worth trying to fix it at this stage. Is it just not worth the investment anymore?

I'm still looking for some clarity on this. Does anyone have any insight? kaže:
I made the jump from an IP4000 to an IP7250, and honestly, I’m really happy with the change. If you check my previous post in this thread from July 28th, you'll see I was saying pretty much the same thing you are. 😁
I’ve attached a photo of this massive printer just so you can get a sense of the dimensions. Does it look like it'll actually fit where you need it?

Did you end up going with the original ink, or did you switch to some third-party replacements?

on my old ip4000 replacement cartridges, but now that I've upgraded, I'm stuck using nothing but the originals.

So, are you still running on those first original cartridges? Are you planning on sticking with third-party replacements for the 7250 too?
If you're running into any glitches or things just don't seem right with the printer, now would be the time to let me know. 😁

I just bought this thing, so there's no way I'm burning through ink already 😁
The print quality is solid; my only gripe is how loud it is. It’s definitely noisier than my old Canon Pixma iP4000 series. That might just be because my new setup is right by my ear—it wouldn't fit on the bottom shelf of my desk where the old one lived, so now it's sitting right on top of the desk.
Wireless printing works flawlessly (I tested it using Readdle's Printer Pro for iOS), and honestly, based on our limited use so far, I'm pretty happy with it.

Well, look. Based on your post, you've probably had it for about three months now, so you should have gone through 🙂
by this point. Thanks 👍