Discussion
I'm looking at the HP Envy range and getting confused.
The models I've shortlisted from browsing Amazon, John Lewis and Currys are the 6020 and 6032. However I don't want to get trapped into the 'HP+' system of cartridges by monthly DD; it seems you can't get out of it.Some adverts say 'HP+', others offer a trial of X months free ink. But I'm wary. I just want to buy cartridges when I need them, which is about every two years. Is it possible to buy one of these machines with no strings attached?
The models I've shortlisted from browsing Amazon, John Lewis and Currys are the 6020 and 6032. However I don't want to get trapped into the 'HP+' system of cartridges by monthly DD; it seems you can't get out of it.Some adverts say 'HP+', others offer a trial of X months free ink. But I'm wary. I just want to buy cartridges when I need them, which is about every two years. Is it possible to buy one of these machines with no strings attached?
"Can you opt out of HP Instant ink?
Yes, you can opt out of HP Instant Ink. There is no requirement to use HP Instant Ink. If you sign up for HP Instant Ink, you can always cancel or change plans at anytime.
What happens if you cancel HP Instant ink?
If you decide to cancel your HP Instant Ink, you can go back to using HP original Standard or XL cartridges. HP Instant Ink cartridges will not work after the end of the current billing cycle in which you cancel. To continue printing after your billing cycle ends, make sure you have standard replacement ink cartridges ready to use in your printer."
From https://www.hp.com/us-en/printers/instant-ink/faq....
Yes, you can opt out of HP Instant Ink. There is no requirement to use HP Instant Ink. If you sign up for HP Instant Ink, you can always cancel or change plans at anytime.
What happens if you cancel HP Instant ink?
If you decide to cancel your HP Instant Ink, you can go back to using HP original Standard or XL cartridges. HP Instant Ink cartridges will not work after the end of the current billing cycle in which you cancel. To continue printing after your billing cycle ends, make sure you have standard replacement ink cartridges ready to use in your printer."
From https://www.hp.com/us-en/printers/instant-ink/faq....
Seriously, don't feed this delivery model, find something else.
If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
I bought and binned 3 inkjet printers over a 5 year or so period, eventually got so sick of it I bought a more expensive laser printer 2 years ago and have never looked back. It just works,send something to print and it just prints. Not something I was ever used to with the inkjets which seemed to invent new and wonderful ways of NOT printing every time.
And this ink supply model is just another cynical method of ensuring you're inkjet isnot going to work when you need it to.
If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
I bought and binned 3 inkjet printers over a 5 year or so period, eventually got so sick of it I bought a more expensive laser printer 2 years ago and have never looked back. It just works,send something to print and it just prints. Not something I was ever used to with the inkjets which seemed to invent new and wonderful ways of NOT printing every time.
And this ink supply model is just another cynical method of ensuring you're inkjet isnot going to work when you need it to.
Piersman2 said:
Seriously, don't feed this delivery model, find something else.
If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
I bought and binned 3 inkjet printers over a 5 year or so period, eventually got so sick of it I bought a more expensive laser printer 2 years ago and have never looked back. It just works,send something to print and it just prints. Not something I was ever used to with the inkjets which seemed to invent new and wonderful ways of NOT printing every time.
And this ink supply model is just another cynical method of ensuring you're inkjet isnot going to work when you need it to.
Don't get an HP printer, their ink model is usurious and the printers themselves are carp, IME. If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
I bought and binned 3 inkjet printers over a 5 year or so period, eventually got so sick of it I bought a more expensive laser printer 2 years ago and have never looked back. It just works,send something to print and it just prints. Not something I was ever used to with the inkjets which seemed to invent new and wonderful ways of NOT printing every time.
And this ink supply model is just another cynical method of ensuring you're inkjet isnot going to work when you need it to.
Get a Canon instead. They are better, although still annoying as all printers are. It's the rules!
I used to work for HP and worked closely with HPIB based in Dublin (their finance banking arm) which was entirely funded by the sale of ink. The ink is incredibly profitable and there were just a few personnel running the ink production at any given time and the printers were just regarded as cheap give-away items. They seem to be very touchy about the ink production, you went past the production hall on the way to the canteen/restaurant and there were big glass sections in the wall and if you lingered too long having a look security would come and move you on.
Personally I wouldn't touch them because of the ink rip-off, the printers are generally crap as well.
Personally I wouldn't touch them because of the ink rip-off, the printers are generally crap as well.
Interesting replies, thanks. In fact I had an HP before and it did very well (printed disks too which was very handy at the time) but eventually the carriage mechanism failed. That was replaced by the Canon MG3650, which has recently decided to eat the paper rather than print it.
I think I don't want to take the risk of getting tangled up with HP inks - I remember reading something about how the machine would update from the internet and disable your cartridges, and I'm not having that, so I've been browsing Canon instead.
This model looks about the right level - decent print speed, double-sided printing and smart looking, which is important as it sits on my desk. Most Canons seem to be black but I found this: https://store.canon.co.uk/canon-pixma-ts5351a-wire... Seems you have to buy the cartridges extra so that's about £120 with ink. Does that seem OK?
I think I don't want to take the risk of getting tangled up with HP inks - I remember reading something about how the machine would update from the internet and disable your cartridges, and I'm not having that, so I've been browsing Canon instead.
This model looks about the right level - decent print speed, double-sided printing and smart looking, which is important as it sits on my desk. Most Canons seem to be black but I found this: https://store.canon.co.uk/canon-pixma-ts5351a-wire... Seems you have to buy the cartridges extra so that's about £120 with ink. Does that seem OK?
If you only print now and again then isn't HP Instant Ink it like £1/mth at the lowest level (although IIRC it used to be free)?
Based on how much hassle we had with carts that wouldn't work when needed (wonder what happens if you're on subscription - do they just send new ones?) and the hassle with compatibles, then it might be worth going for.
I ditched ours for a laser - as another poster said, it's almost joyous to be able to turn it on once every couple of weeks and it just prints. Main downside for domestic use is it's not really any good for decent photo-printing. Toner carts are a bit of a gulp! price.
Based on how much hassle we had with carts that wouldn't work when needed (wonder what happens if you're on subscription - do they just send new ones?) and the hassle with compatibles, then it might be worth going for.
I ditched ours for a laser - as another poster said, it's almost joyous to be able to turn it on once every couple of weeks and it just prints. Main downside for domestic use is it's not really any good for decent photo-printing. Toner carts are a bit of a gulp! price.
If you scroll down to ‘what’s in the box’ it says the printer comes with ‘fine’ cartridges so you shouldn’t have to buy ink immediately but will probably find they don’t last long. They appear to do some XL cartridges which are twice the size for not much more.
https://www.tonergiant.co.uk/model/Canon-Pixma-TS5...
I’d agree with steering clear of HP, had one in the office for years if you did at least 1-2 pages a week it was fine but if the nozzles clogged you had to change the cartridges and I’ve yet to find reliable 3rd party cartridges. My one at home needs getting rid of as the cartridges dried up and it has sat on the shelf for the last couple of years. For home just got a cheap mono laser printer.
https://www.tonergiant.co.uk/model/Canon-Pixma-TS5...
I’d agree with steering clear of HP, had one in the office for years if you did at least 1-2 pages a week it was fine but if the nozzles clogged you had to change the cartridges and I’ve yet to find reliable 3rd party cartridges. My one at home needs getting rid of as the cartridges dried up and it has sat on the shelf for the last couple of years. For home just got a cheap mono laser printer.
Tymb said:
If you scroll down to ‘what’s in the box’ it says the printer comes with ‘fine’ cartridges so you shouldn’t have to buy ink immediately but will probably find they don’t last long.
Well spotted! Just ordered it from Amazon for £79 for delivery next Thursday.(mono laser not an option as I do sometimes print colour)
dontlookdown said:
Piersman2 said:
Seriously, don't feed this delivery model, find something else.
If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
I bought and binned 3 inkjet printers over a 5 year or so period, eventually got so sick of it I bought a more expensive laser printer 2 years ago and have never looked back. It just works,send something to print and it just prints. Not something I was ever used to with the inkjets which seemed to invent new and wonderful ways of NOT printing every time.
And this ink supply model is just another cynical method of ensuring you're inkjet isnot going to work when you need it to.
Don't get an HP printer, their ink model is usurious and the printers themselves are carp, IME. If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
I bought and binned 3 inkjet printers over a 5 year or so period, eventually got so sick of it I bought a more expensive laser printer 2 years ago and have never looked back. It just works,send something to print and it just prints. Not something I was ever used to with the inkjets which seemed to invent new and wonderful ways of NOT printing every time.
And this ink supply model is just another cynical method of ensuring you're inkjet isnot going to work when you need it to.
Get a Canon instead. They are better, although still annoying as all printers are. It's the rules!
The best printer i’ve had, no problems at all
The subscription works for me. £2.99 a month for 50 pages & unused carry forward. More than enough for me.
So £36 a year for ink, cheaper than buying or the temptation to buy invariably rubbish copies!
No hesitation in recommending
Can be cancelled easily as above
Concerns about ink clogging up?
Print a photo once a week, no hassle
They send XL cartridge in advance of the old ones running out
Edited by James6112 on Sunday 11th December 13:26
I set up an HP Envy printer for my parents not long ago, it was very easy to configure and you don't have to sign up to the Ink Subscription Service.
They will just purchase cartridges as and when necessary because being elderly they still like to have paper copies of documents.
Personally I think most home/office inkjet printers are biased towards the cost of the ink being extortionate in comparison to the actual machine being a bit of a giveaway, show me one that isn't.
They will just purchase cartridges as and when necessary because being elderly they still like to have paper copies of documents.
Personally I think most home/office inkjet printers are biased towards the cost of the ink being extortionate in comparison to the actual machine being a bit of a giveaway, show me one that isn't.
I have a Kyocera colour laser for home and office duties.
3rd party black carts are about £26 and print thousands of sheets. It's an airprint scanner, copier printeretc and (touuh wood) just works. Cost about £325 IIRC.
My wife had an HP inkjet from her work and apart from the awful din it used to generate each time it was used, it was forever eating cartdridges either because of the relentless cleaning regime of the carts or they just dried up. Useless POS, not to mention the invasive software it insisted on infecting every computer it came in contatct with.
Get a laser printer.
3rd party black carts are about £26 and print thousands of sheets. It's an airprint scanner, copier printeretc and (touuh wood) just works. Cost about £325 IIRC.
My wife had an HP inkjet from her work and apart from the awful din it used to generate each time it was used, it was forever eating cartdridges either because of the relentless cleaning regime of the carts or they just dried up. Useless POS, not to mention the invasive software it insisted on infecting every computer it came in contatct with.
Get a laser printer.
I have a HP printer and use instant ink. I only print occasionally (maybe a bit of the kids homework or some returns labels for online shopping.
I pay £0.99 a month and never have any issues! I think its brilliant. and if you are setting up a new printer, there are codes out there where you can get instant ink free for months and months.
Don't get whats not to like!
I pay £0.99 a month and never have any issues! I think its brilliant. and if you are setting up a new printer, there are codes out there where you can get instant ink free for months and months.
Don't get whats not to like!
Don't do it.
Get any other brand apart from HP.
A nightmare to setup - especially if you get any of the cheaper models without any screens.
Aside from the ink nonsense, do you really want a printer that won't work fullstop unless you have a HP account setup? Why would anyone need to have an online account to scan something? It's completely ridiculous.
Just get something else, Brother is usually ok, Canon has setup issues sometimes and can be cryptic, Epson are usually ok.
If you can, get a printer with a LAN port so it can be hard wired. So much more reliable and will be much faster to scan docs, etc.
Get any other brand apart from HP.
A nightmare to setup - especially if you get any of the cheaper models without any screens.
Aside from the ink nonsense, do you really want a printer that won't work fullstop unless you have a HP account setup? Why would anyone need to have an online account to scan something? It's completely ridiculous.
Just get something else, Brother is usually ok, Canon has setup issues sometimes and can be cryptic, Epson are usually ok.
If you can, get a printer with a LAN port so it can be hard wired. So much more reliable and will be much faster to scan docs, etc.
srappy said:
Don't do it.
Get any other brand apart from HP.
A nightmare to setup - especially if you get any of the cheaper models without any screens.
Aside from the ink nonsense, do you really want a printer that won't work fullstop unless you have a HP account setup? Why would anyone need to have an online account to scan something? It's completely ridiculous.
Just get something else, Brother is usually ok, Canon has setup issues sometimes and can be cryptic, Epson are usually ok.
If you can, get a printer with a LAN port so it can be hard wired. So much more reliable and will be much faster to scan docs, etc.
Fear not, a Canon PIXMA TS5351 is on its way from Brazil, or wherever the Amazon is. It has wi-fi but as it's next to the PC I'll use a USB cable.Get any other brand apart from HP.
A nightmare to setup - especially if you get any of the cheaper models without any screens.
Aside from the ink nonsense, do you really want a printer that won't work fullstop unless you have a HP account setup? Why would anyone need to have an online account to scan something? It's completely ridiculous.
Just get something else, Brother is usually ok, Canon has setup issues sometimes and can be cryptic, Epson are usually ok.
If you can, get a printer with a LAN port so it can be hard wired. So much more reliable and will be much faster to scan docs, etc.
Of course, just to spite me the old printer has started working again, though it has to be hand-fed a sheet at a time and takes forever to actually print.
Piersman2 said:
If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
That is by no means guaranteed at all. I had a Canon ip4200 for around 15 years, sometimes went months without being used, never had any trouble with it at all. The only reason we changed it was that it had no network connection and my wife and I needed to be able to print to it due to working from home, the cost of a network/USB print server was not far off the cost of a new printer.We then got an Epson XP-970, similarly this can go a week or so without being used and no issues there either. Simpo sounds like you're sorted already but in case anyone else is in the market for an up to A3 photo printer with A4 scan/copy functions and networking, definitely worth a look.
Piersman2 said:
Seriously, don't feed this delivery model, find something else.
If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
I bought and binned 3 inkjet printers over a 5 year or so period, eventually got so sick of it I bought a more expensive laser printer 2 years ago and have never looked back. It just works,send something to print and it just prints. Not something I was ever used to with the inkjets which seemed to invent new and wonderful ways of NOT printing every time.
And this ink supply model is just another cynical method of ensuring you're inkjet isnot going to work when you need it to.
This did make me chuckle. And cry a little. Because it's true.If you're using the an inkjet printer sparingly, the one thing you can guarantee is that it won't work when you occasionally need it to.
I bought and binned 3 inkjet printers over a 5 year or so period, eventually got so sick of it I bought a more expensive laser printer 2 years ago and have never looked back. It just works,send something to print and it just prints. Not something I was ever used to with the inkjets which seemed to invent new and wonderful ways of NOT printing every time.
And this ink supply model is just another cynical method of ensuring you're inkjet isnot going to work when you need it to.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff