printer - best value??

[GilbertsGrape]

What printer will give me the most bang for the buck printing in color. Mainly I print adoption flyers for our animal rescue. And we need a cheap solution for printing. Our flyers have color pictures and mainly black text.
So we need a good quality cheap price per page print and cheap priced printer.

We have a HP 722c and a HP 842C we only use the 722c because it is cheaper to print on.

Thanks
Grape

[DarkFury]

One word of caution...

Just because the actual "printer" is cheap... doesn't mean that it is "cheap" to operate. From my experience... you'll pay more in INK usage costs than you did for the actual printer over it's lifetime.

To get the best "bang for the buck"... look for a printer that has separate ink color catridges (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) rather than one with a "tri-color" cartridge.

In my personal experience... I've used the Epson R200 (which has separate inks) and now I recently bought the HP 1200D (which also has separate inks).

The Epson R200 costs about $99 (but you can sometimes get it on sale) and the individual inks run about $20 each (rated around 500 sheets) The HP 1200D costs about $199 retail (but I got mine for $159... check Pricegrabber.com) and the individual inks cost about $32 each but are higher volume (rated at 6,250 sheets on draft mode... probably closer to 1,500 in color)

[Merlin]

What printer will give me the most bang for the buck printing in color. Mainly I print adoption flyers for our animal rescue. And we need a cheap solution for printing. Our flyers have color pictures and mainly black text.
So we need a good quality cheap price per page print and cheap priced printer.

We have a HP 722c and a HP 842C we only use the 722c because it is cheaper to print on.

Thanks
Grape
About how much printing are we talking here? Because as you get up into bigger numbers laser printers will work out to be cheaper than inkjets but not at lower quantity.

[zippyjuan]

I got a Dell laser and the quality is very good. Watch for the deals. I got the 3000cn for $315 plus tax. They also had the 3200cn for about $20 more. It holds more paper and has toner cartriges for 4000 pages each color and 4000 pages black & white. Mine has 2000 page B&W and 1000 pages color, but the replacements are 4000 page. I am very low output and the larger one is about 75lbs which I thought would be too much for my desk. The 3000cn was 30% off at the time and the other was 40% off with free shipping.

[GilbertsGrape]

About how much printing are we talking here? Because as you get up into bigger numbers laser printers will work out to be cheaper than inkjets but not at lower quantity.


Less 75 pages per month probably.

[DarkFury]

Less 75 pages per month probably.
Do you require color as well?

Color laserjets are EXPENSIVE!!!! But for Black and White only... laserjets are the bomb. :D

[GilbertsGrape]

Do you require color as well?

Color laserjets are EXPENSIVE!!!! But for Black and White only... laserjets are the bomb. :D

yep need color too

[zippyjuan]

They have the Dell at $319 right now. http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=3000cnsapp&s=bsd
Through Dell Small Business. Includes toner cartriges for 2000 pages B&W and 1000 pages color. One of the best deals you will find on a color laser.

[Jeffbx]

Here's another cheap color laser - the Konica Magicolor (http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=738763) for $299 after $100 rebate.

[thekidrocks]

Avoid the Minolta!!!!!!!!! I have one of those POS Minoltas setting here dead, and I'm too honked to call them for a replacement. I bought a Okidata and kept going.

Problem with a lot of color lasers, is that they are just like the cheapie inkjets - free printer with purchase of toner.

The Dell is cheap to feed - a MAJOR plus for it.

Lastly, a lot of people run dual printers - a black laser and a decent color unit. If you can get by with a monochrome printout such as text, send the document to the laser.

A smokin' laser for cheap is the Samsung ML1740. Incredible printer for the price. I have one just for FedEx labels - it was that cheap - and right now with my print server down for a minor repair, I am using it for all text. I can't believe how good this thing is for around $50 AR.

[thekidrocks]

Okay, call me dumb, but I just re-read the original post. I have a printer in mind, but you'll have to snag it used. HP used to have a high-end pair of multi-functions called the D135 and D145. The D145 is worth the extra as it has 2 sided print (duplexing) standard - even scans two-sided for copies! This was an expensive small office unit in it's day.

It also is the cheapest printer I've ever had experience with when it comes to ink. It uses ink tanks (#14) that are cheap to buy and have a very high capacity. Beware that the nozzles do go bad, but it's not a given when they croak. This nozzle/tank system is what makes this series from HP so cheap to run. Check out eBay for one - they aren't worth much and were cookers a couple years ago.

[Daversinger]

HP all the way man if you can afford it. i like the allinone (printers/scanner/copy/fax) they have various price ranges.