All-in-one laser printer recommendations?

I’ve been crunching the numbers on different printers lately—looking at everything from the initial hardware costs to the ongoing price of ink—and I’ve pretty much decided that a laser all-in-one is going to be my best bet.

I’ve narrowed my search down to a few specific models (mostly because San Francisco Microelectronics is really the only reliable tech shop in town for me):

(The toner $107)

And the toner runs anywhere from $323 up to $172

with the toner being $245

Does anyone have any smart advice or insights to share?

darkowl12 said:I'm looking to pick up a printer. After crunching the numbers on printer costs versus ink prices—and realizing how cheap some inkjets can be—I've decided a laser all-in-one is probably my best bet.

I'm leaning towards these models (since the only decent tech shop in San Francisco Microelectronics is:

(toner $107)

toner FROM $172 TO

toner $245

Anyone got any solid advice?

Just grab a cheap MF inkjet plus an HP LaserJet 1300 along with 3 extra toners.

For about $500, you get basically the same utility, plus 14,000 pages, color printing, and two separate machines.

With what they're asking here, for roughly $500, you're just getting a starter toner for maybe 500 pages and then another 1,000 to 1,500 pages per extra toner.

If you're actually loaded enough that you can't tell the difference between a good deal and a total rip-off, maybe donate some of that cash to people who actually need it.

How many copies can you actually squeeze out of those cheap all-in-one inkjets before they give up the ghost? From what I’ve been reading on various forums, the feedback doesn't look particularly promising. Or is it more of your personal take that an inkjet is strictly meant for scanning and color stuff, while a laser is the way to go for any "real" printing?
Are there any newer models hitting the market that could actually compete with that old HP LaserJet 1300 in terms of both price and print quality?

Look, I'm not made of money, and I'm certainly not blind—that's exactly why I'm digging for info here. I have zero interest in being taken for a ride when it comes to these things.

Look, that LaserJet 1300 is basically a ten-year-old relic—it was half-junk even when it was brand new, and honestly, "quality" isn't a word you'd ever want to use in the same sentence as that thing. And whatever you do, don't go buying anything from that overpriced Silicon Valley shop; their prices are an absolute disaster, so just grab it from an online retailer instead. This one is actually a solid all-in-one (it’s practically a $567 over at Microchip Technology):

A toner that handles about 1,600 pages will run you roughly $150.

Anyway, if you look below $333, you'll have a hard time finding anything decent—either the print quality is mediocre or the scanner is total garbage... and seriously, stay far away from that Lexmark, it's painfully slow and the print quality is bottom-tier.

Do you actually need an all-in-one, or are you just looking for a basic printer?

I mean, I could totally get by with just a basic printer, but the real headache is that the nearest print shop is about a quarter-mile away from my place—not exactly something I want to trek to every time I need a quick copy.
So, what’s the actual deal with the difference between the HP 1132 and that HP 1212 you mentioned? From what I can tell, they use the exact same toner, and the 1212 comes with a fax feature that I honestly have zero use for.
Is there any significant difference when it comes to the print quality or the scanner performance?

darkowl12 said:How many copies can you actually get out of those cheap MF inkjet printers before they die? From what I've read online, the feedback isn't great. Or is it just your theory that they're ONLY meant for scanning and color stuff, while you need a laser for actual printing?
Are there any newer printers out there that hit that same sweet spot of quality and price as that HP LaserJet 1300?

Look, I'm not loaded, and I'm not blind either. That's why I'm asking around. I don't want anyone pulling the wool over my eyes.

Listen, manufacturers are sneaky. They act all sweet to win you over, circling you like a hungry cat at the door. They give you exactly what you ask for—all that love and attention. But once they've had their fill, you can basically tell them where to go until they come back with a new offer.

Just think about it.

What do you really want? All that "attention," or a ton of prints for your buck?

That inkjet is basically just a scanner, because that’s pretty much what you’re paying for. You just install some software that PRETENDS to be a copier and let the laser handle the heavy lifting.

Picture this: 3,000 - 4,000 prints == $200 - $77 vs. 1,000 - 1,500 == $350 - $150

That means you're paying 3x more for the same amount of work. == $1,050 - $450. If you spend that kind of cash, you could get 14,000 prints and a free HP LaserJet 1300 thrown in. Just go nuts with it.

So it's no wonder that little cat is rubbing against your legs every single morning.

Makes sense?

darkowl12 said:I could probably get by with a basic printer, but the catch is my nearest print shop is about a 12-mile trek away—not exactly convenient—so I’ll definitely need some copying capabilities every now and then.
What's the actual deal between the HP 1132 and that HP 1212 you mentioned? From what I can see, the toner is identical, and the HP 1212 just adds a fax function which I don't even need.
Is there any significant difference in print quality or the scanner?

The main thing is that it's slower when printing or scanning because it's got way less memory (we're talking 8MB versus 64MB)—plus, you lose out on connectivity options like LAN, WiFi, or Bluetooth and all that. That said, the actual print and scan quality isn't any worse. If you truly only care about the bare essentials, the cheaper one works fine. You might want to check the prices over at Best Buy; you can grab a printer there, and honestly, they are dirt cheap compared to what you'd find at Silicon Valley.

darkowl12 said:I could probably get by with just a basic printer, but the catch is my nearest print shop is about a block away and it's not really on my way, so I'll definitely need some copying capability now and then.
What's the actual difference between the HP 1132 and that HP 1212 you suggested? Looks like they use the same toner, and the HP 1212 just has a fax feature which I don't even need.
Is there any real difference in print quality or the scanner?

Look, let's be real here—be honest with yourself and put it down on paper.

1. Scanning & copying == ??%
2. Printing === ?? %

Now, if your answer for number one is less than 10%...

Grab a hammer and give yourself a little tap on the head until that number hits at least 30 or 40%.

Got it?

rustysurfer79 said:Look, let's be real here. Stop kidding yourself and just crunch the numbers.

1. Scanning & copying == ??%
2. Printing === ?? %

If your answer for number one is under 10%...

Go grab a hammer and whack yourself on the head until that number hits at least 30 or 40%.

Got it?

Either you grab this software and pair it with an HP Canon or an HP printer with a busted print head == 10 - $6.75
+ HP LaserJet 1200 or 1300 and just copy stuff until you're blue in the face.

http://download.cnet.com/iCopy/3000-...-10731352.html

It's literally a one-button job.