Laser Printer

[expresso]

I am confused a bit with all these features

i want to get a laser printer - i need a compact size like this one

need it to scan print copy etc, like a MFC - dont care if its not color -

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPL2N5H6/?c ... dp_it&th=1


i was set on this one -the size - but i dont think it does anything but just print ?

would you know of any who do MFC - without color is fine - but laser and compact ?

do they even have any that do that ?

thanks

[Burgerman]

No that does duplex (both sides) and is a printer only. But way more expensive to run than a more expensive printer. And slower. If you dont print much thats fine. Prints fast enough. The only downside is that you get 700 of 5% black only documents per toner cartridge. Many documents are much more than 5% density so you can basically get about 1/4 to 1/2 that real world. Thats the downside of cheap and small. It has no other issues.

I paid 4x that for a colout 1200 DPI printer that can print fast at 1 page per second at max resolution and full colour, (you dont need that, neither do I) cheap per page at under 1p per print, and can do many many 10s of 1000s of colour photo pages before needing any toner. Which is the same price as a printer. So not really more expensive if you look at page yield per $ but actually much cheaper in the long term. And you want wireless obviously (and the one in the link is). Mines designed to do 120,000 pages per month relibly as an office printer doing everything from letters to coloured brochures! A bit of overkill doesent hurt here!

A multi function one isnt much more money but I never used that scanner. It just wastes space. I can photograph any documents I do need with my nikon Z8 anyway! And it makes a printer much bigger.

Small means less paper storage, (your link up to 250 lightweight paper) so less prints compared to the 750 sheets in mine. Does that matter to you? Well it will when you start using better 120gsm paper as that halves the paper capacity. Cost of print per toner = 10x less. Cartridge on mine do 10k pages compared to 700 in your link. And less durable with small waste and transport roller as well as toner cartridges. But all lasers are bigger than ink waster printers. I mean inkjets. And as long as you are not printing photos, better too.

If you want one that is reliable, does less cost per print, possible colour as that makes even boring documents better, and a built in scanner it will be more expensive and bigger. Also watch out for the stupid cost of toner! Most cheap inkjets come with "starter" toners. That means they print very few pages. So be sure you know what you are getting. More expensive printers may include WAY more toner. And this is more expensive than the printer. So look very carefully!

[expresso]

i havnt used or printed anything in color -

so i rather have a good laser printer for black - i use scanning - copy and printer functions - dont do fax with it so dont need it

i dont run a office - dont need a large printer to do so much -

i like to replace my brother MFC - small size is what i want need - just laser this time -

do you know any to look at ? that are not large - dont cost a ton of money

dont need it to be professional - just clear dark prints - scan copy print is good - wireless and wired options of course

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MSPNYQ2/?c ... _lig_dp_it

i found this one - white but its ok - i believe this has what i need ? or am i missing something ?

all i do is buy inkjet all the time - yeah its cheap to buy - and i dont use it much - but each time print is not dark or good enough - have to clean the inkjets - then replace them when empty after the cleaning getting tired -

[LROBBINS]

I have a cheapish all-in-one HP laser printer (LaserJet MFP M234sdw). Two sided, document feeder, etc. I don't print a lot and the original cartridge has lasted many months (DO NOT FALL FOR THEIR REPLACEMENT CARTRIDGE SUBSCRIPTION). Gives low toner warning way, way before there's any problem printing (sells more cartridges). HP manual says can keep printing as long as print quality OK. Only "feature" that I definitely do not like is that much functionality is cloud based, so you do need reliable WiFi and set up for multiple PCs is not as trouble free as it should be.

[Burgerman]

Agreed.
Zerox lasers are super easy to configure. You download their smart file thingy, and as long as you have added your password for wifi to the printer, then it finds the right drivers, configures everything inc firewall and away you go. On any number of devices.

HOPEFULLY this will let you see what you LOSE when you buy "cheap" laser printers. And why some cost more. The big secret is that the expensive ones are MUCH cheaper. Both in 10x lower cost per page and the sheer number of page print or toner volume included.

Before you reject based on cost.
A cheap printer like the one you linked can do just 700 black only pages with included toner. With 5% coverage.
My printer is double the cost (£500 to me after a deal, no VAT) BUT it can print 10,000 black pages... More than 13x the amount before buying expensive toner. And then add 8000 colour pages on top! Dont be so keen to buy cheap. Actually much more than 13x CHEAPER long term.

And mine CAN do cloud nonsense. And I just ignore it.
It can also print direct from phones, laptops etc directly - laptop to printer as it got its own printer networkbuilt in too. Log on to it with any password you decide like "printer" and just print! No network or wifi network even needed. But it can do that too obviously, both. Simultaniously. So options are direct from:
Wireless Printer on the wireless network.
Wireless printer from the printers own system.
Wireless via BT
Wireless direct zerox app on any phone or tablet.
Network cable
Network Direct from printer.
As soon as you print a document on any network it downloads the required driver to your device automatically and starts printing.
I cant fault it. But this is their VERSALINK so named because its very versatile in an office to link to.

Mines a C600DNW
https://www.printerland.co.uk/product/x ... dnw/140305
C for colour. D for duplex. W for wireless.
I paid £500 and no VAT.

All overkill for home use. But was peed off with unreliable expensive to use printers that were always out of paper or ink or that wouldnt connect. That cost a fortune in ink and cleaning cycles to use.
NOW, at under 1p per page, I can print 500 pages for under £5... And the odd colour print for about 1/30th the cost of an inkjet.

At 1200 x 2400 dpi max quality geniune toners @ 55 pages per minute:
0.9p per mono document page
6.4p per colour photo page

So higher resolution, 750 sheets on board, 55 pages per minute, massively cheaper per page printed, no toner needed probably in my life, great connectivity, duplex printing, can do 8,000 colour and 10,000 mono pages.

Versus just 700 black only with included toners.
For double the price of a mono printer. No brainer really but it is not as compact! And it is 65lb! So you wont be moving it much... But HUGELY cheaper cost per print. At least 10x and closer to 14x cheaper per page. Included in the price 8000 and 10,000 print toners. So the printer really is way cheaper! 14x cheaper! And much more capable.

[expresso]

its the size i dont want too big tall or large machine -

i like brother - but only compact one i find only prints -

for my usage - low usage - i am ok with inkjet - i buy the cheaper ink for it - good enough - but i hate to keep replacing the color when i never use it -

only black - and if the color gets low or empty - it wont let me print at all - even if just black - i have to add the color also -

i guess maybe i leave it alone till it dies - or if i find a small one that does it all - and not only wireless - i like it hard wired its near my PC - and wireless

i only find that one HP model -

[Burgerman]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brother-Monoch ... NWFP9?th=1

Includes scanner.

[snaker]

In your country, what will you do when the toner cartridge gets empty? Buying a new cartridge or adding toner into the old cartridge? Is re-using the old cartridge illegal in your country?

[Burgerman]

Well my new printer comes with a set of colour toners that print 8,000 pages, and 10,000 black pages. So I will be dead before this happens. Compared to the printer that expresso was looking at with 700 page capability.

If it does eventually run out (unlikely!). Then high capacity replacement toner cartridges, are available with higher still 17k, and 18k page yields from the manufacturer. Or also as non OEM ones, cheap on eBay at less than a 1/4 the price. Are they as good? Colours etc probably not. But unlike inkjet printers they dont block up nozzles or dry out, or screw up the printer and so these seem to work pretty well according to those that use them.

So toner at least in the high capacity printers isnt really a problem. Refilling is an option but not really any cheaper than the replacement alternative full cartridge options.

In fact on a printer like mine the paper is about the same price as the toners per page. Good 120gsm paper is double the cost of toner.
For e.g here are some ebay decent quality 17,000 page toner refils for £139. Full set of 4.
So now you can print 17,000 colour prints for 0.76 pence per page! And then just as many black document ones...

This is why its worth the money to get a printer that can do business level print capacity. Buying ink or toner every 700 pages is much more expensive in the end. Under 1p per page wins!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185824441145

[snaker]

So refilling is totally legal in UK, right? It's just not cheap and unworthy.

I has a MFP canon, its cartridge can print 2.000 pages. I always refill it when it gets empty. The total cost for a refilling is about $5 (while a new one costs $100 or more). They come and do refilling right at my house. A cartridge can be refilled 3-5 times till something inside it gets too aged and it cannot be re-used.

[Burgerman]

Yes theres many cheap refil or remanufactured options. Sometimes refilling needs a replacement chip swapping too if you refil yourself. But the quality with colour is better with originals. But more costly. With black toner only the quaity can be good or bad. But cheap enough to risk. Theres also the transport belt, and waste toner cartridges to worry about or clean too after a lot of use.

With hih capacity printers these can pretty much be ignored for 120k prints.

Legal and legit? Yes its a free market economy. There are various copaies doing this at many quality levels and prices. Some with enormous amounts of positive feedback.

[agent86]

Brother printers are probably the pick for price and reliability now.

Buy bigger than you think you need but obviously not too big. In the long run like Bergerman says the cost of print is lower so high upfront cost but so cheap to print you don't have to be concerned about lots of printing.

Never upgrade printer firmware, the updates 99% of the time are to stop cartridge refills and third party cheap cartridges from being used.The printer will nag you but resist.

The cartridges you get with the printer are always short filled and won't last long. This is normal.

I have refilled many ink and laser cartridges back to the 90's and unless your exceptionally patient its far easier and more economical in many cases to just buy cheap replacement cartridges from a reliable supplier who gives a warranty. You have more failures than genuine but most good cartridge suppliers are no hassle to get warranty, it is rare but some times the chips are just not recognised and you have to get a replacement set covered under warranty. The printer manufactures hate you using other cartridges as that is the bulk of their profit so they have people on stopping refills and third party replacements around the clock but the third party suppliers always catch up. If you make sure everyone knows not to update firmware and find a good supplier you will not likely have issues.

Remember to print at least one page a month, printers don't like sitting unused.

[Burgerman]

Well lasers dont much care how long you wait. They just seem to work. And inkjets screw up even if you print once a week. I am mighty sick of inkjets. Tried every brand going. All as bad.

But

The cartridges you get with the printer are always short filled and won't last long. This is normal.

Is true with cheap home printers.

My Zerox business printer can be purchased with no cartridges at all very cheaply. And in fact all the sub assemblies seperately.
Or purchased WITH 3 different options.
6k page cartridges.
10K black 8k colour.
Or
16.9k black and 16,800 colour.
So three different price options. Large cost differences, 3 different print toner volumes. Non of those offer a typical consumer short fill (like 700 or 2k) cartridges. Making the printer look more expensive. But if you work it out by cost per print the more expensive printer is over 10x cheaper! Has better reliability and longer next day warranty. And faster.

So you just need to understand what you are buying. If a laser is cheap, then its likely the lack of toner volume, slower speed, less connectivity, and less memory etc. And cheap printers frequently have unfathomable software/drivers thats hard to configure. And the ongoing cost per page that is the real problem. That may not matter if you dont print much. But if you do the it REALLY matters!

[agent86]

I misspoke. I have a office printer but the cartridges are not short fill but they come in two sizes. They supply smaller ones which did about 1000 pages, the cheap printers really cheap out. I think they quoted 2000 but you know they use the same logic that a 12V 50AH Lead battery will do 50km in mobility transport. Its not real life use.

Even when I had a very expensive high end Epson printer when I used to print high quality photos you used over 50% of the ink endlessly cleaning the print head if you didn't print everyday so turned out cheaper to take high quality paper pigment ink photo print to someone who could maintain their huge ink printers and used them all day. it turned out cheaper per print and saved a lot of frustration. There are lasers that print high quality art quality prints but their huge and very expensive. I use laser for average quality and general printing and proofs and send off to get the high quality prints done.

By the way what are you printing that requires that volume of paper. My wife runs a home office and I use the printer regularly and people we know send stuff to print but we are still only using 2000 pages a year with rare exceptions. The brother laser is the first printer in 40 years that didn't cause me endless problems since the old industrial dot matrix. It is 6 years old and just works.

[Burgerman]

I am not printing anywhere close to that volume of prints.
As lasers go it can print 2400 x 1200 dpi and prints dont look bad. But as a photographer with a Z8 and a lot of fancy lenses I never bother printing anything under 30 inches wide. And use highly reflective silvered paper and pro lab for that. Thats why my PC has a 55 inch 4K OLED as a monitor. And when I can get an 8K version I will. A laser is for documents. Pretty high quality, leaflets, flyers, etc. Small pics as part of these documents or coloured backgrounds etc. For e.g I printed off 1000 (half page sized) leafelts for my nephews business in a few minutes. All coloured backgrounds and graphics and pictures. They were on glossy 120gsm paper. Looked very professional! An inkjet would send you bankrupt andrun out of ink 1/8th way through.

But thats the point. I buy a laser that can do 8k of colour 10k black and designed for 120k sheets per month. It has much longer lasting drum, transport, waste canister, reliability and build quality and that all comes free. Since its double the cost, but comes with 10 to 15x the page print capability for 2x the cost. And longer warranty, and thats next day at your home. And so it makes buying a cheap one look really expensive. This way I pay double. But can print reliably till I die without needing toner or anything else!

I can stick new full 500 sheet reams in it every time I get down to 50 or so. And another 250 in the other tray of heavier stuff. for cover pages etc. And print both sides. Its also got speed like you wouldnt believe. My ex turns up with stuff to print 30 copies for her classroom and I just do it in 38 seconds. For 26p... Including waking up from sleep, sending the data.

And I dont care as it doesent make a dent!

It just makes printing so cheap that I dont care about it. It doesent block, doesent dry out or get sticky with time and so fine if unused for months. And doesent atttract impossible to clean dust, doesent waste ink and paper and then die like every inkjet, and its got 10 different ways to connect! Yes twice the price of a cheap one. But 15x the capability. And 0.78p per page! And thats included in cost for the first 10k pages. Buying a cheaper one doesent make any sense even if you never print much. Because sooner or later (usually sooner like 700 pages) it will run out. And so it costs up to 5 or 10x as much per page. If it doesent actually go wrong or paper jam etc first.

I am done with cheap printers, inc a cheap dell laser. It failed to connect all the time and then it died and kept chewing up paper. So I bought the one the guys that service all the business printers at printerland UK advised. All service parts available, and the most reliable one they ever sold. No more consumer style printers for me, I've had enough of them. Only downside, 900 watts while printing. But then it sleeps. Under 1 watt.

The day it runs out of toner, if ever, I will shove a set of 16,900 page yield toners in it... Give it a clean. And expect no reliability issues.

[agent86]

The logic is sound. Its how I used to do everything when I worked but when you have expenses coming in faster than income sometimes second best is all you can manage. I refuse to borrow money anymore as that is not a track you can go down for long when you have little to no earning capacity as that creates a loop that's hard to get out of with the extra interest payments, I would rather save up. Sometimes it works out and other times you are not far in and you wish you had of just gotten something decent. Its a juggle. One thing is certain buying bottom quality is just throwing money away. Sometimes you buy stuff that is expensive but it also doesn't work out.

[Burgerman]

Its how I used to do everything when I worked but when you have expenses coming in faster than income sometimes second best is all you can manage.

Well if you are short of money doing things the most economical way, then you wil be REALLY short by buying a cheaper laser! Long term savings soon arrive! Short term economy soon runs out. Time has a habit of marching on.

In other words I cant afford to buy cheaper options.

I buy everything in bulk that doesent go out of date if I can buy it cheaper per lb, page, gallon, or whatever.
I never used credit in 45 years. After once figuring out that it was stupid. If you cant afford something then you REALLY cant afford it on credit! Thats dearer...

I did the same with my van. Bought half price when 2 dollars to the £... Cash. After saving and 17 years later I am still using it and it looks like new when clean. Doesent owe me a penny.

I buy bog roll in packs of 244, and two at a time! Cheaper.
I buy washing up liquid in 5 litre or 1 gallon cans. I do the same with food. I bulk buy meat, £200 at a time and stick it in the freezer. I diont mind paying for stuff that SAVES me money. I did DIY solar, cheap. That was at least a decade ago and its paid for itself several times over. And right now in summer at 5AM its already generating enough to run this laptop and a bit more. And around 2.5KW by 10AM. Chairs... I maintain, and look after. I have 5 now. 3 of which look or are brand new after Careful rebuilds.

[slomobile]

I use a Brother color laser MFC with duplex document feeder because its a local company. Not wonderful, but good enough, and no online BS. USB, ethernet, built in wifi access point, or share on wireless network.
I've toured the Brother campus with my local SME branch. They recycle the toner right there on site, all official like. No 3rd party. They vacuum the remaining toner out of the customer reclaimed cartridges and reuse both the toner and the cartridges refilled to a specific level, and resell them as brand new. Not refurbished.

[slomobile]

There is a 'secret' procedure on my printer to reset the page counter on the chips inside the toner cartridges. I've had the driver tell me they were completely empty 3 times. Just reset the page counter and keep printing with no loss in quality.
I have to look the procedure up again every time, but I believe it involved remembering the location of the on screen numberpad keys, then wait for it to disappear from the screen, and press the locations where certain numbers used to be. Sneaky. Love that tips like this leak out of the factory.