Recommend an A4 printer that actually works
Discussion
Some advice would be appreciated. I just need a simple A4 home printer that just works, nothing fancy, doesn’t even need to be wireless. I have had a succession of HP printer that have driven me up the wall as they never seam to work when you need them. Any advice would be appreciated as it is driving me mad.
Itsallicanafford said:
Some advice would be appreciated. I just need a simple A4 home printer that just works, nothing fancy, doesn’t even need to be wireless. I have had a succession of HP printer that have driven me up the wall as they never seam to work when you need them. Any advice would be appreciated as it is driving me mad.
Colour or black & white?Inkjet or laser ?
Scanner as well or just printer?
Budget?
GlenMH said:
Alorotom said:
If b&w, you’ll struggle to beat a brother laser - cheap to buy and the toner replacements are equally peanuts
This.I've got an Epson XP-322 (ink jet + scanner + copier) & it's worked fine for 6 years now.
Pro:
It was cheap
Con:
I had to buy a cleaning kit about 4 years ago to stop ink being smeared all over paper;
It challenges me every time I put in £20 replacement cartridges rather than £70 Epson;
It does need to be exercised every week or so to stop ink drying out;
Every so often the Wi-Fi has a wobbly. As is usual with printers, only when time is short.
I do find the scan / copy option as useful as the print, so I'm minded not to replace it with a laser when it does die (AFAIK cheapo lasers are usually "print only").
Pro:
It was cheap
Con:
I had to buy a cleaning kit about 4 years ago to stop ink being smeared all over paper;
It challenges me every time I put in £20 replacement cartridges rather than £70 Epson;
It does need to be exercised every week or so to stop ink drying out;
Every so often the Wi-Fi has a wobbly. As is usual with printers, only when time is short.
I do find the scan / copy option as useful as the print, so I'm minded not to replace it with a laser when it does die (AFAIK cheapo lasers are usually "print only").
Have a look at these (there are four models). Colour, A4, print only, duplex printing, £300 maximum price:
https://www.printerland.co.uk/printers/brother/pri...
Use the compare function to compare specifications like sizes, print speed, second tray size etc. The key with laser printers is to make sure non-OEM toner cartridges are available so find the Toner part number & check somewhere like Toner Giant has then (it looks like they do). Note the two more expensive printers come with 3000 page toner to start with but it does bump the price a bit.
https://www.printerland.co.uk/printers/brother/pri...
Use the compare function to compare specifications like sizes, print speed, second tray size etc. The key with laser printers is to make sure non-OEM toner cartridges are available so find the Toner part number & check somewhere like Toner Giant has then (it looks like they do). Note the two more expensive printers come with 3000 page toner to start with but it does bump the price a bit.
sparkyhx said:
my call as well. Lasers are far more reliable especially if you dont print often when inkjets clog up and dry out
totally agree, bought a Ricoh laser for £40 about 7 yrs ago.Works great and it's wireless. Just bought my 2nd ever toner cartridge for £17.
For colour photo printing, we just use the freeprint app. You can't get close to those prices doing it yourself.
Itsallicanafford said:
Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated
To fill in some more info
It will need to be colour - no need to scan or anything like that. A laser printer would be ok I suppose and price isn’t as important as reliability and just working.
To add to the "B&W Brother laser" - I have a small colour Brother laser. It just works. The toner lasts thousands of pages, and there's no ink to go dry. So much easier than the old inkjets.To fill in some more info
It will need to be colour - no need to scan or anything like that. A laser printer would be ok I suppose and price isn’t as important as reliability and just working.
Photo quality is fine for schoolwork etc., which was a pleasant surprise (having spent many hours a long time ago tweaking pre-CUPS profiles on Epson ink-jets to get the best out of them).
jesusbuiltmycar said:
Here's another article by someone who was locked out of his own HP printer:https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/202...
I wouldn't touch HP with a very long barge pole.
So so true!Hi Guys,
We’re looking for a new printer. Preferably inkjet, with copier and scanner. Needs to be wireless and A4, ideally less than £100 with reasonably priced replacement ink cartridges. Current printer is HP Envy 5530 and has been good enough for us, but is refusing to connect to our new full fibre broadband.
Thanks for all positive and constructive responses.
We’re looking for a new printer. Preferably inkjet, with copier and scanner. Needs to be wireless and A4, ideally less than £100 with reasonably priced replacement ink cartridges. Current printer is HP Envy 5530 and has been good enough for us, but is refusing to connect to our new full fibre broadband.
Thanks for all positive and constructive responses.
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