Thread: Printers

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Originally Posted by pseudolus

Originally Posted by Gravesend Dave

So what do you choose laser or inkjet ?,what's better wallet wise ?

Inkjet.

Laser toner is horrifically expensive so only worth if you need that type of quality.

Depends what you call horrifically expensive - per page, based on quantity, obviously.

Ink Versus Laser Cost per Page

In the past, inkjet printers were designed primarily for consumers and home use; they had very low purchase price, but cost per page was high. Today though, we’re seeing a new class of inkjet printers for business use with higher purchase price but much more affordable cost per page, such as Epson’s WorkForce series, Hewlett-Packard’s Officejet series and Lexmark’s OfficeEdge All-in-Ones. In fact, cost per page can be considerably lower with these business-class inkjets versus color laser printers/All-in-Ones – for instance, 9 cents for inkjet color cost per page versus up to 26 cents for a comparable color laser printer/All-in-One. Another advantage of inkjet printing is that it’s much more simpler in design than more complicated laser technology – there are fewer moving parts with inkjet printers, which translates into the fact that inkjet printing is a more reliable technology than laser, with less chances of malfunctioning occurring, and thus less chance of service required. Another advantage of inkjet printing is that much less power is required – well over 50 percent less – versus a comparable laser unit, so you’ll be paying much less in power consumption (as much as $30 per month at 3,000 pages per month in one of our inkjet vs./laser comparative studies).

What else can you do to minimize ink and toner cartridges’ cost?

1) Because the cost of color printing is always higher than the cost of black-and-white printing, minimize color printing. For instance, avoid using it when not required, such as when printing drafts, Web pages and in-house documents. Some office-level printers and All-in-Ones also provide controls that enable administrators to disable color printing for some users, automatically shut the printer down after work hours, and disable color printing from USB flash memory drives. You can also make black-only printing (the least-expensive and longest-lasting toner or ink cartridge) the default in the print driver.

2) When considering a color inkjet printer or All-in-One, opt for ones with four separate color cartridges, not for printers that use a black ink cartridge and a single color cartridge that contains all of three cyan, magenta and yellow inks. With these all-in-one color ink cartridges, once color ink is depleted, the entire cartridge should be replaced, even though the other two colors may still be good, wasting ink.

3) Purchase the highest-yield ink or toner cartridges available. They cost more out of pocket, but cost per page will be lower than that of standard yield cartridges, saving you money in the long run. You’ll also minimize emergency trips to the office-supply store, saving you time and money.

I run 4 printers in my office. 2 inject, 2 laser. The costs for running these is about 50% lower for the inkjet than the laser, not including power. So, unless what is being printed is client destined, ink jet all the way.

They seem to run the ink / toner scam in the same way that razor companies scam you with the blades. Have you seen the cost of a dot matrix printer in Thailand? cheapest on at office mate just under 5k, but for one with some speed and a longer life, 10-20k. The ribbons are cheap as chips though, 120 baht each.

Gravy is in the UK - cost peanuts to go and get pictures printed there. Why spend a bundle on a laser colour printer for this when his kids will print reams and reams of pictures out every day playing with the new toy.

Inkjet all the way, lock it on economy.

Originally Posted by pseudolus

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Originally Posted by pseudolus

Originally Posted by Gravesend Dave

So what do you choose laser or inkjet ?,what's better wallet wise ?

Inkjet.

Laser toner is horrifically expensive so only worth if you need that type of quality.

Depends what you call horrifically expensive - per page, based on quantity, obviously.

Ink Versus Laser Cost per Page

In the past, inkjet printers were designed primarily for consumers and home use; they had very low purchase price, but cost per page was high. Today though, we’re seeing a new class of inkjet printers for business use with higher purchase price but much more affordable cost per page, such as Epson’s WorkForce series, Hewlett-Packard’s Officejet series and Lexmark’s OfficeEdge All-in-Ones. In fact, cost per page can be considerably lower with these business-class inkjets versus color laser printers/All-in-Ones – for instance, 9 cents for inkjet color cost per page versus up to 26 cents for a comparable color laser printer/All-in-One. Another advantage of inkjet printing is that it’s much more simpler in design than more complicated laser technology – there are fewer moving parts with inkjet printers, which translates into the fact that inkjet printing is a more reliable technology than laser, with less chances of malfunctioning occurring, and thus less chance of service required. Another advantage of inkjet printing is that much less power is required – well over 50 percent less – versus a comparable laser unit, so you’ll be paying much less in power consumption (as much as $30 per month at 3,000 pages per month in one of our inkjet vs./laser comparative studies).

What else can you do to minimize ink and toner cartridges’ cost?

1) Because the cost of color printing is always higher than the cost of black-and-white printing, minimize color printing. For instance, avoid using it when not required, such as when printing drafts, Web pages and in-house documents. Some office-level printers and All-in-Ones also provide controls that enable administrators to disable color printing for some users, automatically shut the printer down after work hours, and disable color printing from USB flash memory drives. You can also make black-only printing (the least-expensive and longest-lasting toner or ink cartridge) the default in the print driver.

2) When considering a color inkjet printer or All-in-One, opt for ones with four separate color cartridges, not for printers that use a black ink cartridge and a single color cartridge that contains all of three cyan, magenta and yellow inks. With these all-in-one color ink cartridges, once color ink is depleted, the entire cartridge should be replaced, even though the other two colors may still be good, wasting ink.

3) Purchase the highest-yield ink or toner cartridges available. They cost more out of pocket, but cost per page will be lower than that of standard yield cartridges, saving you money in the long run. You’ll also minimize emergency trips to the office-supply store, saving you time and money.

I run 4 printers in my office. 2 inject, 2 laser. The costs for running these is about 50% lower for the inkjet than the laser, not including power. So, unless what is being printed is client destined, ink jet all the way.

They seem to run the ink / toner scam in the same way that razor companies scam you with the blades. Have you seen the cost of a dot matrix printer in Thailand? cheapest on at office mate just under 5k, but for one with some speed and a longer life, 10-20k. The ribbons are cheap as chips though, 120 baht each.

Gravy is in the UK - cost peanuts to go and get pictures printed there. Why spend a bundle on a laser colour printer for this when his kids will print reams and reams of pictures out every day playing with the new toy.

Inkjet all the way, lock it on economy.

Have you actually looked at the costs and calculated how much per page it is costing you? Might make your post more meaningful.

Anyway, for the OP there is quite a good buyers guide, with some suggestions, here:

The Tech Buyer's Guru - Printer Buyer's Guide

It really does depend on the quantity. Once the kids find out you can print colour, you might as well start drinking the ink instead of Chang.



Oh, and re your post containing:

"for instance, 9 cents for inkjet color cost per page versus up to 26 cents for a comparable color laser printer/All-in-One."

The Brother colour laser in that review:
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Replacement high-yield toner cartridges cost about $75 each, or $300 for all four, and are rated at an amazing 6,000 pages for black and white and 3,500 for color, or just 1.25 cents per b&w page and 6.4 cents for color. That's by far the lowest cost per page of any printer in this guide, making this a true bargain.

But the printer (well actually it's an AIO with a proper Duplex scanner) is $500. And it weighs 67Lb.

Dave,

Are you actually in Gravesend. Sorry I'm a numpty.

You need an inkjet with a CISS. Continuous Ink Supply System. If in UK there are companies that will supply the ink system about 25 quid.

CISS Ink Supply Systems. CISS ink and CIS cartridge printing specialist

I humbly suggest a Brother printer as the ink supply is external so a CISS system just plugs in but does stick out the front a little about 3 inches. Brother does not sell actual print heads so unlike Canon et al. they do not change the print head/tank design making it difficult to get spares.



Other printers and some Brother have "external" CISS tanks. This is what my rear feed Canon looks like it is 8-years old.



But I am finding it difficult to get new print heads, which "fail" about every three years, as Canon change the design every now and again and Tesco doesn't have then anymore.



If you/they want to print on thick stock get a printer with a rear paper feed as with front loaders the paper has to turn through 180 degrees inside the printer. I bought a Brother with front feed put a piece of 230 grade card stock in and pressed "print" it never worked again! Rear loading Canon still going

Go window shopping and choose a couple of printers then see if they have a CISS system etc. Or print out the list of printers they list and....

My mate here who lives in UK has done the same. He was going to take a CISS system from here back to UK but in the end he simply bought it there.

Can send me a PM if you have any questions.

If in Thailand any decent IT mall has many shops selling them, complete and ready installed.