Printer Ink Shock!

On 02 Mar 2006 18:22:45 GMT, LindaD wrote:

We were looking for an inexpensive printer for the kids to use for their
schoolwork. We found one in one of the Staples circulars, an Epson C88 at
only $69.92 after "easy online" rebates. This seemed like a good price. We
grabbed one and proceeded to pick up some spare cartridges as well. Well, I
was almost floored when my $69 printer required cartridges that would have
cost about $95 (Canadian) after taxes. Why isn't there a law, or at least
a store policy, that all printer ads must carry the price of replacement
cartridges for comparison purposes. Is this a store or printer maker
conspiracy to hide the ridiculous price of ink until after the sale? A very
angry customer! LindaD

I still reccomend HP's business class (OfficeJets rather than Business
Inkjet series now) printers for people who want affordable color
printing without high quality photo capabilities.

HP's really pushing the LaserJet 2600n at $300 lately, which has 8ppm
in black/color in draft mode, the cartridges are rated at 2,000 pages
each, and cost about $80 per color. The HP K550 inkjet ($200) is rated
at 30ppm in black/color in draft mode, the cartridges are rated at
about 1500-2000 pages each, and cost about $35 per color (make sure
you get the high capacity carts, even if you have to mail order them,
it comes with 'regular'/half capcity ones, as does the laserjet). Thus
the laserjet is /more/ expensive to run than the inkjet, and prints
slower. Granted, laser prints look more professional, especially for
reports and resumes, but the HP uses pigment black ink, which looks
fine in normal or best mode with good paper. It will do photos
decently, but the pigment black + dye color doesn't work out too well.
It's designed for business printing, after all. The next HP above the
2600 (which oddly, has a lower part number), the 2550n, is a better
deal. More expensive to start with, about $600, but it prints 20ppm
black/4ppm color and the toner carts are rated at 4,000. Since most
people don't want to spend that much on a printer, especially for the
kids, the K550 is a much better deal in the long run.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

In message , Fenrir
Enterprises writes
HP's really pushing the LaserJet 2600n at $300 lately, which has 8ppm
in black/color in draft mode, the cartridges are rated at 2,000 pages
each, and cost about $80 per color. The HP K550 inkjet ($200) is rated
at 30ppm in black/color in draft mode, the cartridges are rated at
about 1500-2000 pages each, and cost about $35 per color (make sure
you get the high capacity carts, even if you have to mail order them,
it comes with 'regular'/half capcity ones, as does the laserjet). Thus
the laserjet is /more/ expensive to run than the inkjet, and prints
slower. Granted, laser prints look more professional, especially for
reports and resumes, but the HP uses pigment black ink, which looks
fine in normal or best mode with good paper. It will do photos
decently, but the pigment black + dye color doesn't work out too well.
It's designed for business printing, after all. The next HP above the
2600 (which oddly, has a lower part number), the 2550n, is a better
deal. More expensive to start with, about $600, but it prints 20ppm
black/4ppm color and the toner carts are rated at 4,000. Since most
people don't want to spend that much on a printer, especially for the
kids, the K550 is a much better deal in the long run.

What about the cost of paper? How is the inkjet's output on cheap copier
paper. How does that affect your sums?

--
Timothy

On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 14:18:11 +0000, "
wrote:

What about the cost of paper? How is the inkjet's output on cheap copier
paper. How does that affect your sums?

--
Timothy

The original poster said that she wanted the printer for her kids, not
for fancy document printing. If you want perfectly clear text and
professional color graphics work (but not photo), you want a laser.
And many of the lower end lasers have no better text sharpness than
business inkjets.

Having said that, this printer uses a pigment black ink. Compared to
the newer by two years Epson R340, the HP 1100d prints /much/ sharper
text and graphics, even on Xerox's cheapest multipurpose copy paper.
It's clear down to about 3 point fonts. From what I've seen, the
printouts of the K550 are even clearer than this older model. And if
you're going to print important documents such as resumes or
brochures, you're going to buy expensive paper no matter which kind of
printer you own. Also factor in your time, as the 2600n is 3x slower
than the K550.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

wrote:

In message , Fenrir
Enterprises writes

HP's really pushing the LaserJet 2600n at $300 lately, which has 8ppm
in black/color in draft mode, the cartridges are rated at 2,000 pages
each, and cost about $80 per color. The HP K550 inkjet ($200) is rated
at 30ppm in black/color in draft mode, the cartridges are rated at
about 1500-2000 pages each, and cost about $35 per color (make sure
you get the high capacity carts, even if you have to mail order them,
it comes with 'regular'/half capcity ones, as does the laserjet). Thus
the laserjet is /more/ expensive to run than the inkjet, and prints
slower. Granted, laser prints look more professional, especially for
reports and resumes, but the HP uses pigment black ink, which looks
fine in normal or best mode with good paper. It will do photos
decently, but the pigment black + dye color doesn't work out too well.
It's designed for business printing, after all. The next HP above the
2600 (which oddly, has a lower part number), the 2550n, is a better
deal. More expensive to start with, about $600, but it prints 20ppm
black/4ppm color and the toner carts are rated at 4,000. Since most
people don't want to spend that much on a printer, especially for the
kids, the K550 is a much better deal in the long run.


What about the cost of paper? How is the inkjet's output on cheap
copier paper. How does that affect your sums?

IF YOU GOTTA WORRY ABOUT THE COST OF PAPER YOU ARE REALLY STUPID