Best inkjet printer?

[Coffee is good :)]

I'm looking to purchase an inkjet printer and could use some help in deciding what'd be best for me.

Budget: $300 ish

Requirements:
High quality (doesn't include HP lol)
LOW ink cost, especially black
All-in-one
WiFi + Ethernet

I'm thinking maybe:
Lexmark Platinum Pro905


Also, is it cheaper to print with laser?

 

[MrUnknown]

for $300, you can get a great black and white laser printer or a semi-decent color one. Probably with network support, but not sure about WiFi.

I personally would recommend a laser printer, especially for black like invoices and such. The text quality can't be matched by inkjet. I got a cheapo brother one for $60 from newegg a while back. works fine.

In general, laser printing is cheaper than inkjet, I don't know the specifics though. A black ink cartridge usually gets 250-350 or so printed pages, where a black toner cartridge usually gets at least 1,000.

 

[iptech]

Yes, much cheaper on a per copy basis, but initial outlay can be higher so if you're only likely to print a few pages per week an inkjet is probably a better buy. Also laser consumables can be very expensive (especially if you buy OEM), but the yield is typically ten-twenty times that of an inkjet.

I bought a cheap inkjet last year when my colour laser broke down. After using £30 worth of ink in one week I decided to get the laser repaired pronto.

 

[Coffee is good :)]

In general, laser printing is cheaper than inkjet, I don't know the specifics though. A black ink cartridge usually gets 250-350 or so printed pages, where a black toner cartridge usually gets at least 1,000.

- Laser is the best choice for printing text, but inkjet prints much better when it comes to color, correct?

- Lexmark claims this: "World's Lowest Black Ink Cost. Print 510 pages with a $4.99 cartridge."

 

[iptech]

"World's Lowest Black Ink Cost. Print 510 pages with a $4.99 cartridge."

You probably would get 510 pages if that's all the text you printed on a page.

Don't be fooled by manufacturers claims, to do a proper comparison make sure their manufacturer yield figures are based upon a 5% page covereage (a typical A4 office document apparently). Most manufacturers have agreed to use this as a measurement baseline, but read the smallprint on their claims as this is only a voluntary code of practice. After taking into account the initial capital cost of the printer use the following formula to calculate the cost-per-page:

$(replacement cost) / (page yield) = $(cost per page)

 

[Coffee is good :)]

"World's Lowest Black Ink Cost. Print 510 pages with a $4.99 cartridge."

You probably would get 510 pages if that's all the text you printed on a page.

Don't be fooled by manufacturers claims, to do a proper comparison make sure their manufacturer yield figures are based upon a 5% page covereage (a typical A4 office document apparently). Most manufacturers have agreed to use this as a measurement baseline, but read the smallprint on their claims as this is only a voluntary code of practice. After taking into account the initial capital cost of the printer use the following formula to calculate the cost-per-page:

$(replacement cost) / (page yield) = $(cost per page)

I cannot find the page coverage percentage anywhere.

Reviews from the likes of Cnet claim 1 cent per page.

--- I looked up the cost of a high end Brother laser and got $63.49/5000 pages = $0.012 per sheet, which would mean the Lexmark is cheaper.
It also requires a $200 drum after 17,000 pages :-/

 

[vdub12]

Find yourself an old used HP4. They are great lasers.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260624834893&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=L*F%3F&GUID=cf8646cd1270a04370c73a47ffef9ee1&itemid=260624834893&ff4=263602_263622

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360275423400&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=L*F%3F&GUID=cf8646cd1270a04370c73a47ffef9ee1&itemid=360275423400&ff4=263602_263622

 

[Coffee is good :)]

Find yourself an old used HP4. They are great lasers.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260624834893&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=L*F%3F&GUID=cf8646cd1270a04370c73a47ffef9ee1&itemid=260624834893&ff4=263602_263622

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360275423400&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=L*F%3F&GUID=cf8646cd1270a04370c73a47ffef9ee1&itemid=360275423400&ff4=263602_263622

Uhh they want $60 and $40 for shipping

 

[Vicenarian]

I would also recommend a laser if you are doing mainly black and white work.

If you want to go with an inkjet, I highly recommend the Epson Workforce 610 series. I purchased one a few months ago for about $130.00, and I love it. Wireless/wired networking, flatbed/sheet-fed scanner, nice all around machine. The only other ink-jets I would recommend would probably be Canon. Whatever you do, stay away from Kodak.

Ink isn't cheap for any printer, but if you buy from an online retailer that offers re-manufactured cartridges, or if you can get refills, then that's generally the best way. I can get a compatible black cartidge, and one cartridge of each color, for about $15-20 shipped.

 

[Larry Sabo]

In my experience, Lexmark consumer-grade printers are cra... er, not recommended. No idea how good/bad their commercial-grade printers are.

 

[vdub12]

Uhh they want $60 and $40 for shipping

Still a good deal even with shipping that high.

They are kind of heavy so I am not surprised the shipping is high. $100 to $150 for an HP4 you will not be disappointed. I have customers that have had those for years and never had any problems. Then when they finally wear out you can buy maintenance kits for them.

I have seen a few that where so used that the case was broken all over and still worked great.

 

[AlphaCS]

samsung clp-315. Run you around $140 shipped. I have three and have sold quite a few of these. Inkjet sucks....

 

[bits-n-bytes]

Ordered a Epson 810 MFP, wireless , etc, 219 offa newegg, letcha know how it works.

 

[Corbin]

Why would you by a epson artisian series? That's just dumb, are you using it as a business printer or a personal printer for pictures? If you go epson go with the workforce line the majority use 5 ink 2k1c1m1y.