Printer which takes cheapest ink?

stars_bright
stars_bright Posts: 159 Forumite
in Student MoneySaving
My son is off to Uni in the next few days and I have just thought that he will need a printer for his PC. I have found that the cost of ink, over the years, is much more than the purchase price of the printer, so I was wondering which printer would be best to buy from the point of view of cheapest ink?
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Comments

  • U've_been_framed
    U've_been_framed Posts: 274 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Probably an Epson or a Canon. Cheap ink is easily available for both these brands. HP ink cartridges are more expensive because they include the print heads. I wouldn't consider any other make of printer.
  • laura_mac_2
    laura_mac_2 Posts: 21 Forumite
    check on www.cartex.co.uk for cheap compatible ink cartridges. I have used them for my Epson printer and have saved loads.
  • Stephen_Leak
    Stephen_Leak Posts: 8,762 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    Canon are usually regarded as generally having the cheapest cartridges.
    The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in my life. :)
  • CrispyUK
    CrispyUK Posts: 230 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I've been using a Canon Pixma iP4000 for a couple of years now, it's been superseded by newer models since but the range is still available.

    Very happy with it, has separate tanks for each colour ink, plus 2 blacks, one for images and a larger capacity designed for quick text printing. Means you only need to change the one that's run out :)

    Can usually get the original Canon tanks for around £6/7 each if you shop about and use cashback, they're quite a good size and last me ages :) Friend with a similar printer tried compatibles and found print quality was awful so might be best to stick to the originals.

    Printhead is also removable so can be replaced although I think you have to order direct from Canon support - but quality hasn't deteriorated yet so haven't needed to try.

    Epson on the other hand (unless they've changed recently) don't have removable print heads so once they're at life-end the printer is pretty much scrap.
  • Torby
    Torby Posts: 1,704 Forumite
    if his work involves mostly black and white (all text etc) he could do a lot worse that the HP 1018 laser on these forums a short time ago...£39.99 and that should do him between 1500 and 2000 A4 pages at normal coverage...so if he doesn't want to print out photos....its a good buy...alternatively....I also have an Epson...Jet Tec do cartridges for them...they're cheap...hold twice as much ink...and are readily available form SVP and the likes.
    I recently bought my daughter an Epson DX4000, as it will print, scan and copy all in one...a full set of carts (3 colour 1 black) cost about £12 from SVP, plus through Quidco you get cashback
    I'm now a retired teacher... hooray ...:j

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  • Diminutive
    Diminutive Posts: 348 Forumite
    First Post
    Hey... I'd really recommend a HP all-in-one. They are super compact and fold up all tight. The computer free copying can be a real life saver especially if you're nabbing copies of notes from a friend!

    Then as fair as the ink itself goes there is a system called the peach system. This separates the print-head from the ink container. The print-head can be reused through many many ink containers.

    My HP all-in-one takes black cartridge 21, the original 21 contains 5ML of ink. With the peach system, the alternative 21 contains 19ml.

    For number 21 the first pack is £21.99 from cartridge people... with that you get one printhead and 3 of the inks (19mls each... giving you 57mls of ink for £22) Then after you've got the print head, it's only £10.99 delievered for the three inks (again 57mls of ink).
    Works similar for the colour ink too.

    The inks last for ages and the print quality is brilliant =)
    The size of the printer itself is a real advantage especially for small student rooms and the HP printers are usually very good value!
    ~Diminutive
  • nasty_nas
    nasty_nas Posts: 32 Forumite
    You can purchase so called recycled cartidriges mine cost 2 pounds each, never had a problem with them
    let me find yu the link
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  • NickiM
    NickiM Posts: 712 Forumite
    Hmm, my Lexmark cartridges seem to be really expensive *glad that she found them half price in the Post Office*
  • tankgirl1
    tankgirl1 Posts: 4,252 Forumite
    i have a HP all in one, but cant afford the ink for it, so got an epson off freecycle- can get cartriges for it REALLY cheaply off ebay - like £2 for both colour and black :T
    I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

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  • pinkshoes
    pinkshoes Posts: 20,074 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Photogenic First Post
    i had an epson stylus printer all through uni, and got the cartridges from www.inkcycle.co.uk which were about £3 each.

    I remember people with Lexmark printers that always seemed to pay the most for their printers.
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