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Need a New Printer with Low Ink Costs - Any Recommendations?

by Robbie B
11 replies
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Hey guys. I don't print much. Mainly when the books need done and well... it's that time of year. The one I'm using is an ancient inkjet thing. Epson Stylus 3 something. Since I only use it really occasionally, it's running a head clean cycle everytime it comes on. Even if it's to scan and not print, so wasting ink left-right and centre. Even once that's done, it's not clear prints, as some lines are faded. No use for the accountant so I need a clear printing printer.

I'm more interested in the ink costs, rather than the cost of the printer. This thing seems to need a new cartridge every time it's turned on.

Any recommendations on ink saving printers?
#ink saving printers
  • Profile picture of the author AprilCT
    I have a HP laser jet (not color) I bought about 5 years ago, one of those combo machines and not top of the line. I found it much more expensive to print than the one it replaced that I'd had forever.

    All together, I had purchased 3 of the official HP refills, at around $80 or so each and just decided to try my luck with the cheapskate cartridges on Amazon. Most of the time the printing is just fine for the cheapskate versions.

    Read the reviews of previous purchasers before you buy. If certain ones do not work well, the reviewers say so if the product has been around long enough.

    You could also look into local places that do refills for less than what officially endorsed products cost.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
    Also, try printing in "draft" or "economy" mode. When printing in black, you can hardly tell the difference and will make your ink last much longer.

    Color printing simply looks a bit faded but again, the ink lasts longer.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      I don't print often but when I do I want a printer that works NOW! I bought a Kodak ESP C310 last year for under $50 at walmart. Ink is cheaper than for my previous HP printer. The wireless on this Kodak was a breeze to connect and I like that it "closes" up - keeping it dustfree (my cat likes to sit on the printer). It's done a great job and is faster at printing than my previous HP inkjet was.
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      • Profile picture of the author Robbie B
        Kodaks seem to be popping up everywhere I look. Cheap to buy and lower ink usage. Certainly not dear to try anyway. Looking positive for the Kodak. They're claims are that their ink cartridges are the lowest cost in the UK. I think I'll be checking them out.

        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        I don't print often but when I do I want a printer that works NOW! I bought a Kodak ESP C310 last year for under $50 at walmart. Ink is cheaper than for my previous HP printer. The wireless on this Kodak was a breeze to connect and I like that it "closes" up - keeping it dustfree (my cat likes to sit on the printer). It's done a great job and is faster at printing than my previous HP inkjet was.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robbie B
      Hi Mike, I don' think it has options for draft or economy. I'll look for that in the specs of other models.

      Originally Posted by MikeAmbrosio View Post

      Also, try printing in "draft" or "economy" mode. When printing in black, you can hardly tell the difference and will make your ink last much longer.

      Color printing simply looks a bit faded but again, the ink lasts longer.
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    refill is the way to go

    i have two printers,exactly the same, the one on refills is used for just about everything

    the other is used for final copy and presentation, so cartridges last
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Hardray is not entirely right. Many refills are less than par, and ink tends to have problems over non use. I would suggest laser for a better use, and reliability. Use ink for COLOR!

    Some printers have hardware or software problems, and CONSTANTLY "clean" or "register". And you're right. Such printers are SLOW, more likely to break, and often waste ink. I don't know what to say about selecting them though.

    BTW I would suggest NEVER buying a printer with multicolor cartridges. I'm talking about those that have ONE cartridge for the 3 or 4 colors. It is often a waste any way you slice it. If you must, at least make sure black is separate, And those that DON'T have black INK, if they even exist anymore, have the worst quality and are the slowest.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      Hardray is not entirely right. Many refills are less than par, and ink tends to have problems over non use. I would suggest laser for a better use, and reliability. Use ink for COLOR!

      Some printers have hardware or software problems, and CONSTANTLY "clean" or "register". And you're right. Such printers are SLOW, more likely to break, and often waste ink. I don't know what to say about selecting them though.

      BTW I would suggest NEVER buying a printer with multicolor cartridges. I'm talking about those that have ONE cartridge for the 3 or 4 colors. It is often a waste any way you slice it. If you must, at least make sure black is separate, And those that DON'T have black INK, if they even exist anymore, have the worst quality and are the slowest.

      Steve
      i refill my own so perfection and i still have real cartridges for final copy
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    • Profile picture of the author Robbie B
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      I don't print often but when I do I want a printer that works NOW! I bought a Kodak ESP C310 last year for under $50 at walmart. Ink is cheaper than for my previous HP printer. The wireless on this Kodak was a breeze to connect and I like that it "closes" up - keeping it dustfree (my cat likes to sit on the printer). It's done a great job and is faster at printing than my previous HP inkjet was.
      Seems there's a newer model of that Kodak ESP 3.2. Problem's trying to find them new. Plenty of used ones up for grabs.

      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      Some printers have hardware or software problems, and CONSTANTLY "clean" or "register". And you're right. Such printers are SLOW, more likely to break, and often waste ink. I don't know what to say about selecting them though.
      Yep, that's Epson. Heard the same with HP.

      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      BTW I would suggest NEVER buying a printer with multicolor cartridges. I'm talking about those that have ONE cartridge for the 3 or 4 colors. It is often a waste any way you slice it. If you must, at least make sure black is separate, And those that DON'T have black INK, if they even exist anymore, have the worst quality and are the slowest.

      Steve
      I didn't know you got printers with only colour cartridges. Definitely a waste. I'd be raging if I opened it to find I couldn't do black only cos that's pretty much all I use for printing. No photos or the likes. If I've any photos to print, I'd rather go to a printing kiosk and pay the pences per print there.

      Robbie
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Robbie B View Post

        I didn't know you got printers with only colour cartridges. Definitely a waste. I'd be raging if I opened it to find I couldn't do black only cos that's pretty much all I use for printing. No photos or the likes. If I've any photos to print, I'd rather go to a printing kiosk and pay the pences per print there.

        Robbie
        I heard about it before I looked, so I never got such a printer. For a printed surface, color works the opposite of light. So black is a mixture of ALL colors. Of course printers DON'T have ALL colors, but someone figured "WHY" have a special cartridge for black? They DON'T, for example, have a cartridge for green, or even red, or even BLUE! So they print black by using ALL colors, which makes it closer to brown, and it takes longer.

        So MOST printers have "4 colors". They are generally yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. And black is usually used just for black. It IS the most commonly used "color". The other three colors are mixed, much like other color devices do, to emulate the various colors.

        STILL, though most printers today DO have black, some have 3 or 4 colors in one cartridge.

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author DJL
          I recommend the Brother HL-5450DN Laser Printer.

          I bought mine in August 2012 for $195 on
          Amazon.com, and I use it every day.

          I also spent $21 for a three-year warranty from
          SquareTrade.com, as I have found that to be a
          wise investment in the past.

          The cartridge that came with the Brother lasted
          till February of 2013.

          The second cartridge, which I bought from
          SwiftInk.com for $30, was replaced yesterday with
          another of the same kind (SwiftInk's brand).

          According to the Printer Settings report, I have
          printed a total of 7699 pages since I installed
          the printer.
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