Torn between 2 printers currently on offer in Tesco.

ThinkingOfLinking

I've looked on Amazon but don't really get what the difference is etc. It's my first ever printer, and I do need an all in one which is what both of these are.

Also, how good at HPs in general, eg low maintenance, costs of ink, etc?

The 2 models are

HP C4580
HP C4480

I am leaning more towards the C4580 though....

Massive thanks in advance to anyone and everyone who can help me.

kwikbreaks

You've hit one the most important factor in that question - the cost of ink which will be many times more than you shell out for the printer over a couple of years assuming you actually use it.

Most original manufacturers ink is expensive but will give better results than compatibles so you need to make a choice on your priorities there.

For photo printing I would use one of the automated services in supermarkets, Boots, etc. rather than a home printer as it can work out much cheaper.

All printers are low maintenance because if they stop working the easiest option is to scrap them and buy another - very non-green but a consequence of the loss leader prices recovered by expensive inks.

On your choice - check what cartridges they use and see what they'll cost assuming you use compatibles. HP make good printers but their cartridges are expensive.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

We have the C series all in one & if its the same cartridges 363s' it very expensive on ink.




just checked both your machines use the same cartridges.

Up to you but I put mine down to the worst pc purchase ever made. Six cartridges at £10 each & doesnt like greyscale printing when one colour runs out....

martin8_2

I haven't bought a printer in awhile (a few years now) but usually go for HP printers in general. I don't think they are the very best but have tended to be cheaper at the time when I was looking! One thing I have noticed is that HP replacement ink cartridges tend to be more expensive and do they insist on using seperate cartridges for different colours although you can buy cheaper "combo" packs from time to time.

In regards to the two printers you have mentioned, it appears that both of them are basically the same printer and the only obvious difference with the more expensive C4580 is that it offers in-built wireless.... so potentially it can be placed somewhere out of the way in the house away from the computer/wireless router and any computer in the house can print to it...

To get a better picture it's prob best to read some reviews on the printer. I presume you've read the Amazon customer reviews of the printer yeah? Just in case, here's an example of a review I found by googling:

Laptop Mag Review- HP Photosmart C4580 All-in-One

ThinkingOfLinking

Thanks for all your answers. I was only going to use it for occasional printing of things such as application forms (for jobs), my CV, money off vouchers and tickets. I get good deals for printing photos already and would never have used it for that. I think I'll give these a miss for the time being.

deejayen

The reason for the high price for HP cartridges is that they have a "New Printhead" -- personally I use Epson printers [have done for years now -using compatible inks] so you may find a good deal on these -- Dave

pete80

I agree with deejayen to go for Epson if you are just using the printer for occasional use. Refill kits or compatible cartridges are easily available at a good price for these.

I am a keen fan of HP Officejet Printers but I do a lot of printing, scans and a few faxes, they are a heavy duty machine and cartidges were very expensive but I can now get then refilled a few times before buying a new cartridge.

ThinkingOfLinking

My father has an Epson and has warned me against it!! He says the ink is very expensive.

pete80

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

My father has an Epson and has warned me against it!! He says the ink is very expensive.

where did he buy the ink from?

Plenty of cartridge sellers online, I use MX2 in Guernsey with no VAT to pay but there are plenty others, aso look in the small ads in PC magazines and on Ebay.

kwikbreaks

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

My father has an Epson and has warned me against it!! He says the ink is very expensive.

As above plus as I mentioned in my original post original manufacturer ink is always expensive - they make their profits from ink not from the hardware. I bought an Epson SX200 all-in-one from a supermarket for £40. There is no way that Epson made a profit on that. They don't make a profit from me on the ink either as I use compatibles 3 colours + black costs about £8 delivered. The colour prints are not as good as Epson though.

sillygoose

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

My father has an Epson and has warned me against it!! He says the ink is very expensive.

My Epson costs £3.07 for a full set of 4 (colour and black) compatible cartridges!!! (77p for just just Black)
They work fine and although not of a very big capacity £20 worth keeps me going for 6 months of heavy printing!!!

The only thing to beware of with Epsons is for some time their cartridges have had little microchips on for the printer to read. My £3 ones do - and work fine in my older model. Epson have got more aggressive with the latest printers by making the printers refuse to work without a genuine Epson chip in the cartridge. If the compatible makers put 'Epson' in their chips then they can be pulled up for counterfeiting! Its just worth checking around before buying a new Epson that compatible cartridges are available and working for it first.

Finally you should never price up a printer on shop price but purchase + usage cost. Who remembers the Dell fiasco? they sold printers for £10 (it was basically a Lexmark) but they modified it so it could only take a Dell version of the cartridge and not a Lexmark one. They then charged £50 per set!! - tons got burned with these and Ebay was flooded with them. A lot of unhappy people! It was even debated it was worth buying one and throwing the lot when it was empty but Dell sold them with demo cartridges with very little ink!