Printer issues?

Hey, I’m looking for some recommendations for an inkjet printer—honestly, I wouldn't even mind an older model if it gets the job done.

Here’s the deal:
-it needs to be small, won't take up my whole desk
-cheap replacement ink is a huge priority
-I'd prefer something with individual ink tanks

I’m not really looking for one of those all-in-one multifunction things, just a plain old printer. I used to have a Canon i250 and
man, was I happy with that thing. Nowadays, I feel totally lost on what to pick, because everywhere I turn,
all I hear is people complaining about how bad everything is (which is impossible, right? they can't ALL be junk), or the thing is way too expensive,
or you can't find any third-party ink at all, or even when you do, the refills cost more than the actual machine... So,
if anyone out there has a printer they actually swear by, please let me know. It could even be an
older model that I could hunt down on eBay or something. Print quality isn't
really my thing—even the absolute worst print job would be fine with me. I’m not printing high-res photos here; I just need it for
text, forms, charts, or maybe the occasional webpage.

Thanks!

Benjamin Diaz71 said:Looking for some ink-jet printer recommendations, even an older model is fine.

Here’s what matters to me:
- small footprint
- cheap third-party ink
- individual ink tanks

I don't need an all-in-one, just a printer. I used to have a Canon i250 and
was super happy with it. Honestly, I have no clue what to buy these days—all I hear
is bad things about every single one (which can't be right), or they're way too pricey,
or there's no cheap ink available, or the compatible stuff is still overpriced... So
if anyone has a good recommendation, please let me know. Even an
older model I could hunt down used would work. Print quality isn't
really a big deal; even "okay" is fine for me. I'm not printing photos, just
text, forms, charts, or maybe a webpage here and there.

Thanks!

Check out these two links and tell me what you think.

Or

Keep in mind Option I is noticeably faster for the same print quality.

But Option II is way cheaper if you skip the CISS and just go with standard cartridges. Unfortunately, current Canon and Epson models when it comes to ink costs and durability are definitely worse options than these two examples, so they aren't great candidates for a CISS setup either.

Just read up on them so you don't waste money or time.

Hey there,
I'm currently hunting for a new printer in the budget range of around $110 $33. I stopped by a local Target and they suggested checking out the HP 3525 or the Brother MFC-J220
. Looking at the specs, since I'm pretty much a novice here, the Brother seems like the better bet—it's got higher resolution and faster print speeds. But, unlike the HP, it doesn't have Wi-Fi, which is a huge deal for me because my apartment is pretty cramped.
I was wondering if you guys could give me your take on these two? I really care about print quality; I need to be able to print photos that look decent enough for official documentation.
If you know of anything else in this price range that actually has Wi-Fi, please feel free to throw some recommendations my way.

fadedskipper85 said:Hey there,
I'm hunting for a new printer in the $110 +/- $33 range. At Target, they suggested I look at the HP 3525 or the Brother MFC-J220.
Looking at the specs, as a total newbie, the Brother seems better—higher resolution and faster printing—but unlike the HP, it doesn't have Wi-Fi, which is a huge deal for me since my apartment is pretty cramped.
I'd love to get your take on these two, specifically regarding print quality. I need to print photos, though just decent enough for documentation purposes.
Feel free to suggest anything else in this budget range that has Wi-Fi.

You seriously want my opinion?

We actually have two of those Brother models in the shop right now. They were running OEM ink. Both have completely clogged Black nozzles. We've cleaned a mountain of Epson, Canon, and HP inkjet heads, but with these, the design is such that you can't even touch the head without smashing three-quarters of the printer. Honestly, in cases like this, they're headed straight for the trash.

And what about HP? HP basically set the rules so they always win and you're just supposed to deal with it. That said, they do print really nicely and really fast.

Hey everyone!
I'm looking to pick up a new printer/scanner combo soon. The big thing for me is scan quality—I find myself scanning documents constantly, so I need something reliable.
Any solid recommendations? Thanks!

Hey everyone! So, I've got this Canon Pixma MP250 series all-in-one, and—of course—it’s running low on ink. I did a little scouting around local shops, and the only place in San Diego that actually carries them is Links, but man, they want almost $100 just for both cartridges! Honestly, for that kind of cash, I feel like I could probably just go out and grab a brand-new printer instead. That said, I've heard whispers about these third-party replacement inks—you know, the non-original stuff that still works fine but costs way less. Does anyone know if those exist for my specific model? And if so, where should I look? I can hit up Links, Eurotrade, or Chipotle, or maybe just find something through an online retailer. Thanks a bunch!

Lawrence Reed3 said:Hey guys, I've got a Canon Pixma MP250 series all-in-one, and I'm running low on ink. I checked out some local shops, and the only place in San Diego that carries them is Links, but they want almost $100 for both cartridges. Honestly, for that much cash, I could probably just grab a whole new printer. I heard there are third-party inks that aren't official brands but still work and are way cheaper. Does anyone know if that's an option for my model and where I can find them? (I've got Links, Eurotrade, and Chipotle nearby, plus whatever I can find online). Thanks.

Honestly, the only smart move here is grabbing a refill kit.

Made in America by KMP German ink

Why?

Because most "replacement" cartridges are just old, used ones refilled with cheap ink from China. You're basically just recycling the exact same stuff already sitting in your printer before you toss it.

This might sound like a total newbie question since I’m definitely not exactly a tech wizard! 😁
What’s actually the deal with the difference between buying a compatible replacement toner versus just getting my current one refilled?
I've got this black-and-white HP laser printer (a LaserJet P1102), and I noticed that getting the cartridge refilled is about $2.00, while a brand-new replacement is only $1.00! It just doesn't seem to add up, so I'm feeling a little lost on why there's such a price gap.
What would you guys suggest I do?
P.S. I found that replacement option over at this site:

Emily Barnes6 said:Maybe this is a dumb question, but honestly? I’m totally clueless when it comes to tech stuff. 😁
So, what’s actually the deal with generic replacement toners versus just getting your current one refilled? It’s a fair question.
So, I’ve got this black-and-white HP LaserJet P1102, right? I noticed that a genuine refill costs me like $220, but these off-brand ones are only about $120. Honestly, I’m a little lost—what's actually the difference?
So, what do you guys think I should go with?
P.S. I tracked down this replacement right here: I’ve been looking everywhere for decent toner replacements for my old printer, and honestly, I just found this page. It’s all about swapping out cartridges for those older models like the LaserJet P1102. If you're tired of overpaying at big-box stores like Staples or Best Buy just to get your home office running again, this might be worth a look. It seems pretty straightforward, but I'm still weighing whether going with a refill is actually worth the hassle compared to just grabbing a new OEM one. What do you guys think? Is it a smart move or am I just being cheap?

The difference is pretty simple: in one scenario, that money stays right here in the American economy, whereas in the other, most of it ends up flowing straight into the China Economic Review's backyard. Obviously, it's not every single cent, but we're talking about the vast majority of it.

Look, it really just comes down to you and your own gut feeling. You have to decide what’s actually smarter for society in the long run, and more importantly, what makes the most sense for your specific career path and your paycheck.

rustysurfer79 said:The real difference boils down to where that money actually ends up. In one scenario, the capital stays right here within the American economy, whereas in the other, most of it flows straight into the China Economic Review landscape. Of course, it’s not every single cent, but the vast majority of it stays put.

Honestly, it all comes down to you and how you weigh things out. You’ve got to decide what actually makes sense for our society and which path looks better for your own career trajectory and long-term income. It's really just about your own perspective on where you want to be.

I just really need to make sure there aren't any unintended consequences for my printer! 😁

Emily Barnes6 said:The main thing is that it doesn't mess with my printer! 😁

Doesn't matter.

Why?

Because the value of this printer is $17

Hey,

Has anyone here actually spent some time working with the Xerox c2128 multifunction unit?

I’ve been digging around online, but honestly—it’s all just dry technical specs and zero real-world feedback. Any insights would be huge. Thanks!

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows whether those "printers" used in coffee shops can handle double-sided printing? I assume this depends on the specific model, much like home printers do, but does anyone have a link where I could read up on this? Also, if there is an existing thread covering similar topics—like the hardware and software needed for a cafe and tax compliance—please share the link.

Thank you 🙂

Just wanted to let you know I ended up picking the HP OfficeJet Pro K8600 as my A3 printer. It’s pretty hard to find since they don't make them anymore, but I finally tracked one down. I like it so far, especially the ink capacity. This is a bit off-topic though, so please don't kill me. Quick question for rustysurfer79, is there any way to reduce the margins on the A3 format? Like, back to the "Default" setting. Those cheaper HP models usually have 0.3cm margins right out of the box, or a "minimize margins" option. I'd love to do that too if it's possible. Thanks, and sorry again for the off-topic post.

quietowl39 said:Just wanted to drop a quick note and say I finally picked up an HP OfficeJet Pro K8600 for my A3 printing needs. Since they don't make them anymore, it was a total hunt just to track one down. I'm loving it so far—those ink tanks are huge. Also, sorry if this is a bit off-topic, please don't kill me. Quick question for rustysurfer79: is there any way to shrink the margins on A3 format? Like, get them closer to the "Default" setting. These cheaper HP models usually have 0.3cm margins right out of the box (or under "minimize margins"). I'd love to do the same here if it's even possible. Thanks, and sorry again for drifting off-topic.

Basically, if you head into printer & Faxes and tweak something there—like Print Quality, for example—that becomes your new Default for all your programs moving forward. As for the margins, you'll have to dig into the driver itself to see if it's even an option. Check it yourself.

quietowl39 said:Just wanted to drop a quick note to say I finally settled on the HP OfficeJet Pro K8600 as my go-to A3 printer. Since they aren't really making them anymore, it was a bit of a scavenger hunt to track one down—but I managed. I’m pretty happy with it so far; those ink tanks are substantial. And look, before anyone comes for me, please don't beat me up for going a bit off-topic here. Quick question for rustysurfer79: is there any way to shrink the margins on the A3 format? Ideally back to a "Default" level. Those cheaper HP models usually come with 0.3cm margins right out of the box—or at least a "minimize margins" option. That’s what I’m aiming for if it’s even possible. Thanks, and sorry again for the tangent.

For the K8600 on A3, the left and right margins are 5mm, while the top and bottom sit at 20mm. That's what the user manual specifies.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a decent all-in-one printer/scanner/copier? Looking to spend somewhere around 400-$167. Ideally, I'd want something with cheap third-party ink options and Wi-Fi built-in.

Bradley Lopez69 said:Anyone got a solid recommendation for an all-in-one printer/scan/copy machine? Looking to spend around $400.$167As long as it's got Wi-Fi and cheap replacement ink, I'm happy.

EPSON Dx 4450

Why though?

It’s because those old ones take 5.5 and 7.5 ml cartridges, whereas the newer Epsons only use 3.5 and 5.5 ml. And honestly? They cost just about the same.

So, with the DX 4450, you’ve got these cartridges that don't even need resetting. You either toss the newest ones or just hack them back to life with a paperclip. The aftermarket ones actually come with their own built-in battery, so if some importer tries to sell them to you with a measly 12-month warranty, you might as well just throw them straight in the trash.

Canon or HP? Honestly, neither of them can touch this. $167.

I saw this deal on Hot Spot for the DX 4450 + Colibri ink—you get four 100 ml bottles, which works out to about 88 cartridges for that price. $167It’s basically the same deal—take the Sx 130 + Colibri, for example, plus that Colibri ink.

Roughly 400 + 150 +... $50Plus sales tax.

It’s basically the same printer since they use the exact same print head. The only real difference is that the scanner is built right into the unit. You won't even see the print job until it actually spits out of the machine. And you mentioned you can't swap them out any other way than one at a time? Yeah, that sounds about right.

Honestly, if you can't get your hands on a Dx 4450 or something similar, this isn't a bad backup plan. Just a heads-up though—stay far away from the Sx115. Seriously, avoid it at all costs.

It's true, Canon also has those MP 210 -240 models out there, but honestly, the scanner acts up just as much as it does on the SX 115.

I see this is a pretty old printer, doesn't even have Wi-Fi, which is really what I'm looking for.

What do you guys think about either of these two?

Bradley Lopez69 said:Looks like a pretty old printer. It doesn't even have Wi-Fi, which is a dealbreaker for me.

What do you guys think about these two? https://www.epson.com/viewcon/c...on/11504,11101

With the newer models, we just don't see those continuous ink tank systems around here. Or if we do, nobody really knows how they hold up. There's zero track record, and we have no clue what kind of headaches or clogged nozzles Epson might throw at us.

Actually, we’re currently going head-to-head with a manufacturer of some Chinese ink over one of these brand-new continuous tank setups. One of the colors is just uncontrollably leaking from these unverified, latest-gen refill cartridges. The Chinese company is totally lost because the other three colors are working perfectly. No issues there at all.

So, it really comes down to what you want: do you want something reliable and proven, or are you just looking for the cheapest print job possible?