Inkjet Printer for Infrequent Use?

Undervalued

snilloct1957 wrote: »

Can you run the scanner without installing cartridges, as you use your other printer for copies?

Some printers will let you although many won't. Equally a few will allow you to print B&W if the colour cartridge is empty but most won't.

Neil_Jones

I can honestly say I have an inkjet printer (Epson) I bought in 2010 and it quite often goes months between prints or even being powered on and I have never had a problem with inks that dry up.

However because of its age its now effectively a dumb printer because it doesn't have wireless built in (I bodged a solution to that via a wireless print server but that's now packed up and its cheaper to replace the printer than replace the print server!) or any other modern technologies so... oh well.

psychic_teabag

Neil_Jones wrote: »

it doesn't have wireless built in (I bodged a solution to that via a wireless print server but that's now packed up and its cheaper to replace the printer than replace the print server!)

You can conjure up a wireless print server using an old router off freecycle, reflashed with openwrt or similar. My MIL is currently using such a thing to access a usb-only laser printer remotely.

Neil_Jones

Yeah my current router can do it as well (only thing stopping it is the printer's on the other side of the room from the router ) but if the wireless printer server I had previouusly was anything to go by it would only print, it wouldn't monitor ink levels or scan wirelessly (though I didn't hold out much hope for that, I thought it would have at least allowed Ink Monitor to function). But thanks for the pointer, appreciate it

Nemo

Just found this thread as I've got the same issue. I don't print much out and sneak most stuff in at work. I print out bank statements every 3 months or so. Occasionally I need to print something there and then, maybe for next morning so libraries aren't an option.

I've tried to use my 20-yr old Epson CX3200 today, but it appeared clogged. I tried head cleaning and injecting warm water down on to the head, but no joy. It's always been a bit temperamental.

The HP all-in-one printers with the Instant Ink free option seems an option. I get that I can print something say every month to hopefully avoid the clogging issue, but if it happened would I get a free cartridge replacement? (I would imagine 1 cartridge could last years). Do HP have the head as part of the cartridge?

Can you get compatibles for all manufacturers? Which manufacturers have the heads as part of the cartridge and which as part of the printer?

Any specific models that would meet my needs? I occasionally need colour so think laser will be too expensive.

Cheers!

Neil_Jones

The HP and the Canons have their print heads on the cartridge. The Epsons have the print heads in the printer.

This is why there is a variation on the costs of the compatible ink - no need to manufacture or program a chip for Epson, just fill it up, reseal it and package it up. The others require a chip to be either manufactured, reprogrammed or made and this presumably pushes the price up.