recommendations for home printer?

johannis

Good Morning, I'm looking for a recommention for a decent home printer. I'm looking for something that offers a decent print on paper and card (up to 250gsm) and isn't going to require ink purchases every 5 minutes! Ideally it could scan and print A3 but i'm aware that this limits the options. 
i've read loads of 'best of' articles, but wouldn't mind some personal input?
thanks, J

Cornucopia

I think your card requirement is possibly going to rule out a lot of cheaper models which invariably have a U-shaped paper path.   A3, as you say, is restrictive, too.   

Are you looking for ink-jet or laser?

Vitor

A3 puts you into a limited set of more expensive options such as the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e (if you can still find one new) or the SOHO Brother MFC-J6959DW

YBR

Vitor said:

A3 puts you into a limited set of more expensive options such as the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e (if you can still find one new) or the SOHO Brother MFC-J6959DW

I'm interested in the answer to this question, considering an A3 printer myself.

Does anyone know whether either HP or Brother allow unbranded replacement ink cartridges?

Labtebricolist

If you can live without A3 I’d suggest one of the basic HP laser printers.  I use one, print quite a bit, and only replace the ink about once a year using a clone cartridge from Amazon.  Lasers also don’t dry up if you leave it unused for a while, unlike inkjets.

tacpot12

Don't buy an Epson. The printers are ok, but the software is dire.

johannis

Thanks for the replies, tbh i thought A3 might be a potential sticking point. It would be handy to scan up to A3 but it wouldn't be an issue if i couldn't print A3. I shall have a look at your recommendations.

missile

I too use an A4 HP ENVY 5646 Printer. It does take card and instant ink is a good deal.

MyRealNameToo

tacpot12 said:

Don't buy an Epson. The printers are ok, but the software is dire.

When would you ever use their software? Have never used the software provided with any printer.

johannis said:

Thanks for the replies, tbh i thought A3 might be a potential sticking point. It would be handy to scan up to A3 but it wouldn't be an issue if i couldn't print A3. I shall have a look at your recommendations.

Scanning A3 probably requires it to be bigger than printing A3 in which case it may as well do both, other than a bigger buffer A3 printing doesnt require much more than the device being big enough. 

Do you want/need colour printing? We moved to B&W (Brother) and 10 years on we are about 10% through its second toner plus no silly blocked jets etc. I've stuck with own brand toner but it's £25 for the large capacity one so at under £2 a year of printing I'm willing to splurge.  

recordplayer

I've worked in IT for almost 30 years, and I've never known a worst time to buy printers.

The two requests for A3 and card printing essentially push this into workgroup / enterprise territory. The paper paths for most modern printers is 'U' shaped and does not accommodate such heavy stock. Likewise A3 is generally not a home printer requirement, pushing these mechanisms into more specialist (aka costly) territory.

Do you print daily, weekly, monthly or just every two or three months? Many ink jets clog or carts dry up if not used for a while, so that informs whether to go ink jet, ink tank or laser. Do you need colour?

I would avoid both Brother and HP right now. There printers need a constant connection to the internet, phone home and update the firmware regularly, and use draconian tactics to push you into costly ink subscription or to ensure you only buy branded (aka V expensive) supplies, pushing up your costs.

Hope this helps. 

Yorkie1

I will never buy an HP printer again. Admittedly I have a home printer, not one which has the capabilities you're seeking, but it has repeatedly lost connection to the internet and is a right nightmare to maintain. I've given up with the monthly ink subscription too, which got ever more expensive for what you got.