decent budget printer needed

[Blackpuddin]

HP SmartJet printer has decided it no longer wants to communicate with my old iMac, which is running an OS that evidently is now obsolete, grrr. After a fruitless few hours on HP help links I'm giving up trying to persuade the thing to cooperate so am now angrily looking for a replacement which can partner up with my new (so no OS issues hopefully) MacBook Air.

Colour printing not wanted. Don't want Canon PIXMA or similarly alluring units that don't cost much but play up as soon as you get them. Just need something simple that will hook up easily to my Air and not go on strike after a couple of years.

Any ideas out there? TIA

[NDA]

I have a Samsung M2020 - a cheap B&W printer. It's been bullet proof. It also takes generic (cheap) cartridges without the subscription nonsense.

[Blackpuddin]

Thanks, that 2020 one seems to be discontinued, presumably this 2026 is the current model?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176250767043?chn=ps&amp...
If so that's a bit more than I was hoping to pay.
I know, I want everything! Cheap and good. Hoping there's a sweet spot somewhere.

[MustangGT]

You pay for what you get. Budget printers are cheap and cheerful, but may go wrong quickly. Still cheaper than a more expensive one overall generally since they come with ink.

[silentbrown]

Blackpuddin said:

Thanks, that 2020 one seems to be discontinued, presumably this 2026 is the current model?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176250767043?chn=ps&amp...
If so that's a bit more than I was hoping to pay.
I know, I want everything! Cheap and good. Hoping there's a sweet spot somewhere.

If you're happy stepping sightly outside Apple's garden, you can probably upgrade your iMac to a more recent OS using opencore patcher.

https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher...

My 2012 Macbook Pro now runs MacOS Sequoia. It's not the swiftest, as there's a fair amount of stuff happening behind the scenes to make it all fly - but generally, it works.

Added: D'oh: Missed that you've replaced the iMac now!

Edited by silentbrown on Sunday 27th October 11:04

[Blackpuddin]

silentbrown said:

Blackpuddin said:

Thanks, that 2020 one seems to be discontinued, presumably this 2026 is the current model?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176250767043?chn=ps&amp...
If so that's a bit more than I was hoping to pay.
I know, I want everything! Cheap and good. Hoping there's a sweet spot somewhere.

If you're happy stepping sightly outside Apple's garden, you can probably upgrade your iMac to a more recent OS using opencore patcher.

https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher...

My 2012 Macbook Pro now runs MacOS Sequoia. It's not the swiftest, as there's a fair amount of stuff happening behind the scenes to make it all fly - but generally, it works.

Added: D'oh: Missed that you've replaced the iMac now!

Edited by silentbrown on Sunday 27th October 11:04

Ah no I still have the iMac which I use mainly for work although the Air Book is slowly supplanting it. The iMac seems to have reached the end of the line on Catalina 10.15.7.
I wonder if I could get a driver for the HP that will work with the Air Book? It simply stopped working with the iMac the other day. The HP's Bluetooth light has always been flashing but was working via a cable to the iMac so not sure why it's conked out now. Getting 'paper jam' as an excuse even though there isn't one.

[x5tuu]

Brother HL-1112 - £90 B&W laser - https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1946417?clickSR=sl...

Job jobbed - zero fuss hassle and it just works when you need it to.

[Blackpuddin]

silentbrown said:

If you're happy stepping sightly outside Apple's garden, you can probably upgrade your iMac to a more recent OS using opencore patcher.

https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher...

Edited by silentbrown on Sunday 27th October 11:04

This is too scary for me I'm afraid! I'd rather not have any printer working from the iMac than potentially turn the computer into a lump of plastic through my own stupidity/ignorance.

[NDA]

Blackpuddin said:

Thanks, that 2020 one seems to be discontinued, presumably this 2026 is the current model?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176250767043?chn=ps&amp...
If so that's a bit more than I was hoping to pay.
I know, I want everything! Cheap and good. Hoping there's a sweet spot somewhere.

I had a look after I posted and then got distracted by other stuff - it seems you're right, the M2020 is discontinued and in fact it's quite hard to find any Samsung printers.

Mrs NDA recently bought a cheapie Canon Pixmar :

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/canon-pixma-ts33...

This is proving to be reliable and easy... although she might get stung on replacement (colour) cartridges.

[Blackpuddin]

x5tuu said:

Brother HL-1112 - £90 B&W laser - https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1946417?clickSR=sl...

Job jobbed - zero fuss hassle and it just works when you need it to.

Thanks for this. I always look at the 1-star reviews for pretty much anything, but especially computery stuff as I have a very low understanding/tolerance level when it comes to installation problems. The 1-star reviews for this, specifically mentioning connection problems with Macs, have put me off it a bit.

[Blackpuddin]

NDA said:

Blackpuddin said:

Thanks, that 2020 one seems to be discontinued, presumably this 2026 is the current model?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176250767043?chn=ps&amp...
If so that's a bit more than I was hoping to pay.
I know, I want everything! Cheap and good. Hoping there's a sweet spot somewhere.

I had a look after I posted and then got distracted by other stuff - it seems you're right, the M2020 is discontinued and in fact it's quite hard to find any Samsung printers.

Mrs NDA recently bought a cheapie Canon Pixmar :

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/canon-pixma-ts33...

This is proving to be reliable and easy... although she might get stung on replacement (colour) cartridges.

As per my last post the bad reviews on these PIXMAs are really bad! I only need/want mono printing.

[NDA]

x5tuu said:

Brother HL-1112 - £90 B&W laser - https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1946417?clickSR=sl...

Job jobbed - zero fuss hassle and it just works when you need it to.

It looks good, but not wireless though... not sure if the OP is plugging in directly?

[Blackpuddin]

Well I could do, if the holes on the side of the Air will allow that, I would much prefer a cable tbh but it seems we’re all being herded down the wireless route these days which gives manafacturers control over obsolescence. My iMac is working fine but it will probably be useless soon thanks to OS ‘upgrades’, fume moan etc.

[x5tuu]

Blackpuddin said:

Thanks for this. I always look at the 1-star reviews for pretty much anything, but especially computery stuff as I have a very low understanding/tolerance level when it comes to installation problems. The 1-star reviews for this, specifically mentioning connection problems with Macs, have put me off it a bit.

I have this printer and use it with 2 macs and a MBA and it’s plug and play and totally faultless … and has been for 5yrs now.

[Condi]

The default answer for any "set and forget" budget printer is a Brother black and white laser printer. They are so reliable and just work, time after time.

[MesoForm]

NDA said:

x5tuu said:

Brother HL-1112 - £90 B&W laser - https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1946417?clickSR=sl...

Job jobbed - zero fuss hassle and it just works when you need it to.

It looks good, but not wireless though... not sure if the OP is plugging in directly?

£100 for a wireless version

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/brother-ecopro-h...

Honestly Brother laser printers are the answer to most black and white printer questions.

[Craikeybaby]

Another vote for Brother laser printers.

[maccas99]

We've just got the Brother one linked above, it does just work straight out of the box with minimal fuss/bother. Can't argue at the price and comes with a toner to get you started.

[Blackpuddin]

x5tuu said:

Blackpuddin said:

Thanks for this. I always look at the 1-star reviews for pretty much anything, but especially computery stuff as I have a very low understanding/tolerance level when it comes to installation problems. The 1-star reviews for this, specifically mentioning connection problems with Macs, have put me off it a bit.

I have this printer and use it with 2 macs and a MBA and it’s plug and play and totally faultless … and has been for 5yrs now.

Interested in this one, just wondering if it will be compatible with my old iMac on Catalina 10.15.7. Chances of the Argos operative knowing the answer to that feel remote. I'll have a look online to see if a driver is available for it. Thanks to all for input thus far, much appreciated.

[Blackpuddin]

Ok so the Brother website says I can indeed download a 2019 printer driver for Mac 10.15. Which is great.
Confusingly it also says I can get a much more recent (2024) Firmware Update Tool which updates the Brother firmware over the internet. Not sure if that's what I need. It's the Mac that's old, not the printer? God knows what it all means.