Ink jet printer suggestions

[Brandon Fraley]

I need to buy a printer and was hoping for some suggestions. Specifics in order of importance:

1. CHEAP! I'm on a budget. No special features needed, just wanna plug in it and print docs
2. Small. Surface area is at an extreme premium in my living space, and if it were mobile enough to take with me on gigs, great!
3. Ease of use. After say downloading a driver, I want to just plug in a usb cable and hit print.

Any direction here or suggestions would be awesome.

THANKS!

 

[Richard Foster]

Ink Jet printer heads clog if not used regularly. This results in wasted ink cartridges (expensive.) I like a small laser color printer by Samsung. Small footprint and hassle free, even with only occasional use.

Check out this model which I have and has been very reliable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828112110&Tpk=SAMSUNG CLP-315/XAA

 

[Shane Kelly]

Vote #2 for the laser printer. No more expensive injet cartridges. Don't know about portable ones, though.

 

[christopher witzke]

I use a HP 2600n color laser.... less than $300 and the toner lasts for years

One of the thriftiest things I've ever bought for my business....

I have an Epson 9880 for my photo stuff.... but everything else goes through the 2600.

 

[Jeff Coatney]

Ink Jet Printers are bullshit. If you want color, get a plotter. If you want a great printer for docs, pdf's etc. get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-21...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300932622&sr=1-10

I bought one of these several years ago- love it. Recommended it to three people - they all love it too.

Laserprinters print much faster and are basically archival if you use the right paper.

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

I've bought two Canon MP series inkjets and they both work really really well.

I had a string of Epsons. Epson printers create AMAZING prints. And then they promptly die. I've never had an Epson printer survive more than 1-2 cartridges. And when I bought my last Epson the printer (with ink included) was cheaper than buying ink for the old printer. Not worth the hassle and inevitable clogging. One of my canons has now gone through its third ink change and is still trucking without any irregularities.

 

[Richard Foster]

I agree with Jeff about the Brother for monochrome. I have one and it's great. I assumed you wanted color.

 

[Mark Allen]

Things to know.

If you buy an apple computer, you get 100 dollars free worth of printer (you still pay tax). Every-time someone buys a comptuer, they can buy a printer and give it to a friend or sell on ebay - that's regarding budget.

I don't know about other printers, but Epson has been waging a war on printer cartridge clones. I just had 2 sets of clone style cartridges become useless after a system update. not cool.

 

[Martin Weiss]

If you should go for an ink printer, have a look at CISS, as described here: http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20574

 

[Brandon Fraley]

Thanks guys! thats good to know about laser printers. I thought that route was a lot more expensive. The Brother printer seems like my best bet, just need to find the best price. Color would be a bonus, but not a necessity.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions!

THANKS!

EDIT: What about either of these printers? I ask because they are so cheap. This and that

 

[Jeff Coatney]

I'd go with the Brother. I just bought my parents one. Works great.

 

[Kevin Olsen]

If you should go for an ink printer, have a look at CISS, as described here: http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20574

Totally agree with Martin on the CISS, professional prints are always inkjet, Dyesub or Pigment, and the CISS system eliminates the cost benefit of laser printers.

KO

 

[Kevin Olsen]

One of my favorite graphics...

KO

 

[Brandon Fraley]

Any opinions on whether either of these would be good buys?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828113616

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828112191