Printer/Scanner advice please

Hardeman

Hello,

I need to get a printer for home use. I need it be v cheap to run - am I best getting a laser printer as opposed to ink jet? Can anyone give me a good recommendation thats easy to set up and use. I have a laptop = will I need leads to buy to connect?

Thanks in advance

Hardy

Sput2001

What are you planning to use it for? Do you just want a printer, or an all-in-one printer/scanner/copier? Do you want good quality photo printing?

Laser printers are OK, can be picked up reasonably cheaply if you want just B & W, and refills are pretty reasonable if you're happy to do the refilling yourself. If you want a colour laser you're looking at spending a lot more...

You'll almost certainly need a USB cable to connect to your laptop, as a general rule they don't come supplied with your printer. Pick one up from the pound shop, do NOT get one from the woefully overpriced PC World / Comet / Currys etc.

Some printers are Wifi enabled, so you won't need a cable if your laptop has Wifi too, but they'll probably cost more!

For just ordinary home use, try the Canon Pixma (generally very well reviewed) or Epson DX ranges.

totalsolutions

Hi, Brother make a good range of printers and good service support, good web site and excellant phone support if you need it. All prices really. You get 3-5000 prints from a laser cart. PC Pro mag A-List is the Brother HL 5240. You need a USB cable (A/B connections) you might already have one.

Hardeman

thanks for your responses...I'll google what you have recommended... Its just for home use - black and white - no colour required.. are the cartridges cheap?

thanks

isofa

How much are you be going to be printing?

I have a colour inkjet for short documents and drafts and a colour laser for longer / higher quality items.

Lasers are more cost effective if you are printing lots of documents.

Inkjets are cheaper to buy, but the ink per page is more expensive. They are also smaller and requiring no warm up time, many lasers need to go through a calibration routine and warm up of anything from 30 seconds to a few minutes when they are first powered up. Lasers use much more power, and are heavy and bulky in general (but not all cases).

Lasers emit Ozone gas when printing, this rapidly breaks down, but if you are using it in a small confined space, it may be worth noting.

You won't go far wrong with an HP Deskjet inkjet printer IMO. You could also look for the all-in-ones with scanners and copiers now can be had for less than £100 which is amazing.

Sput2001

You should be able to pick up the Samsung ML-2240 for around £45. It's a decent A4 laser printer. The bundled toner cartridge will last for about 700 pages.

New cartridges aren't cheap (around £40), BUT if you hunt around you can usually find sites that tell you how to refill your existing one, and supply the replacement toner powder. A quick google suggests that this isn't available for the ML-2240, for now at least.

Hardeman

thank you for your replies - it is just for home use - I can print anything fancy at work - I want it to print essay drafts etc and I thought a scanner/copier might be useful to have - but not necessary.. I want something really easy to set up and use too. I'll have a google now and see what I can find

thanks

H x

isofa

I'd have a thumb through the recommended and best buys in computing magazines in the newsagents, that'll help you make a decision, they are hundreds of devices on the market, some not at all as good as others.

There are many online magazines reviews too, for example here you can search: PC Pro, Computer Shopper, Computer Buyer and Custom PC magazine reviews.

Antispam

The Epson RX685 around £100 or was when I bought mine is a good all round printer/scanner

It also prints on to cd/dvd

Compatibles inks can be had for around £2-£3 each. Or £1.66 where I got mine for in bulk order

review below http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/Hardware/printers/RX685.html

Comet has this for £100

You also need a usb lead a-b I think

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/419818/EPSON-RX685



USB 2.0 A (Male) to B (Male)

esuhl

We had to return an Epson D120 recently because the print quality was ridiculous - by which I don't just mean "bad", I mean "totally unreadable". It's a shame 'cos we got the Network Edition one which connects to our LAN wirelessly.

I've just replaced it with a Canon iP4500 and I am *so* impressed. Maybe not perfect for printing full A4 photos, but for normal text, graphics and small images it's incredible! The black print quality is very nearly indistinguishable from a laser printer.

The running costs are supposed to be very low for an inkjet (and I'll buy non-original cartridges off eBay so replacements will be cheap). Laser printers are allegedly cheaper in the long-run, but I'd rather spend £1 or £2 a cartridge, rather than a hefty sum on laser toner - even if the toner does end up lasting a lot longer.

Hope this helps...

shadowdragon

I purchased a samsung lazer colour printer a few months back for £100 and does about 1000 pages with the toner that was included but the toner is £30+ per cartridge and needs 3 colour and a black.

But its a great piece of kit and suitable printing photos for my needs.