Foo - Color Laser Printers

I’m in need of computer advice from afar.



We (family) are in need of a new printer. Sadly, our 9 year old color desk jet is slowly ending it’s life by eating paper, and leaving marks all over. Perhaps it needs the fiber. So, time to put some money into a printer. We’re in need of a home printer that meets the criteria of:



Laser

Color

Near Photo quality

Individual ink cartridges

Reliable

Moderately priced.





Also: does anyone know how to connect two computers to the same computer with out creating some sort of network? Is it simply a matter of buying a switch box of some sort? Recommendations?

Look at the H-P line of printers, William. There's some good stuff available at Staples & such for under a grand. Tho' the H-P laser printers all use toner and not ink.

"Connect(ing) two compurtes to the same computer"? Not sure what you mean because technically two or more computers connected together IS a network. It's all just a matter of how you connect them together.

More details please. And what's your fear of networks?

It was a typo. I meant to say two computers to the same printer. Is that as simple as a switch box?

It was a typo. I meant to say two computers to the same printer. Is that as simple as a switch box?

Why not set up a wireless network in your home?

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=184855

It was a typo. I meant to say two computers to the same printer. Is that as simple as a switch box?
That's what I thought but didn't want to make assumptions and go off on a tangent :)

Yes, if you go to your LCS and tell them what it is you want to do they should be able to hook you right up. It won't be cheap, figure about 15-18 dollars per cable (3) and the switch box at probably 25 -35 dollars, plus the hassle of remembering to turn the switch every time you want to print. If you only have two computers, networking would probably a more cost effective and less agrivating way to go. Using a Net-LinQ via USB is rather cheap & painless. C'mon get 21st century :)

Check this out for a How-To

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/j_helmig/usbmain.htm

HP 3210 is a good home printer. http://www.officedepot.com/pictures/SK/MD/742856_sk_md.jpg

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=742856&Ntt=hp+3210&uniqueSearchFlag=true&An=text

You can find great deals in the Sale ads in the paper on this one too!

HP 3210 is a good home printer. http://www.officedepot.com/pictures/SK/MD/742856_sk_md.jpg

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=742856&Ntt=hp+3210&uniqueSearchFlag=true&An=text

You can find great deals in the Sale ads in the paper on this one too!
That's an inkjet... he asked about Laser :)

Laser is going to be expensive.
Once you're at nearly 1k your printer will most definitely be network enabled. This means that you can plug your computer into a router.
You can go pick yourself up a netgear router if you don't already have one or plug the printer into your existing router. Then you can use the printer from any printer on the network.

you could also plug the printer into a computer via (usb is how must do it now a days) and then "share" the printer using xp's built in file sharing. The only downside is that the computer has to be on for anybody else to use it .

Keep in mind that it is not the price of the printer that will kill you, but the cost of the “consumables”. You may want to check and see what the cost of replacing the ink cartridges will be. In some cases it maybe cheaper per print to put your images on disk and take them to a one hour photo place and have them print it out.

We sell these. (http://www.savin.com/Savin/savin_comv4.nsf/(All)/ColorPrinters.html?OpenDocument&zone=ZIDSMKN-524JXHEO23&NavExpand=04~Product*Portfolio^Products) I'm a Service Manager for an office equipment company. We sell/service copiers and printers, same thing any more.

I've been doing this for over 15 years and I can tell you a couple things.

1. You better be ready to spend some $$ to get in the color laser game.

2. The cheaper the hardware (printer) the more expensive the consumables/supplies.

3. The more expensive the hardware (printer) the cheaper the supplies should be.

4. A typical home user is not a good candidate for our products. It is costly to buy, and pay for service contract but is justified if you a) can afford it or b) your business depends on it.

Keep in mind that it is not the price of the printer that will kill you, but the cost of the “consumables”. You may want to check and see what the cost of replacing the ink cartridges will be. In some cases it maybe cheaper per print to put your images on disk and take them to a one hour photo place and have them print it out.The higher initial cost of laserprinters are recovered in lower cost-per-page expenses over time. Color inkjets can be had for $39, but the cartridges will cost you $50 and print only a couple hundred pages for a per-page cost of over $0.50. Lasers on the other hand will be close to $1000, but ends up costing only $0.10 per page. I haven't seen any photo-quality laser printers though... You'll want dye-sub..

So, for home use, a laser (color) really isn't a cost effective solution? We're not a buisness, and we don't really print photo's (can Costco that for most, can pro print for better when I get that quality of photo).

I'm a bit (honestly) nervous of networks. It seems that cables and boxes are the easier way to go. My program or set up skills are a bit.. well, non existant. Is it relatively simple?

And Stacey, how YOU doing? I haven't talked with you in.. years on this forum. We're a couple of posters from "back in the day" eh?

We've been using the Samsung CLP 55 for a couple of years without any problems. Toner is expensive, but if you factor in the same volume of printing with inkjet cartridges, it works out better to go laser. The comparable Samsung now is the CLP 550 which can be found for $500-$600.

Edit: About four years ago, color laser printers would cost you $1500-$2000.

So, for home use, a laser (color) really isn't a cost effective solution? We're not a buisness, and we don't really print photo's (can Costco that for most, can pro print for better when I get that quality of photo).

I'm a bit (honestly) nervous of networks. It seems that cables and boxes are the easier way to go. My program or set up skills are a bit.. well, non existant. Is it relatively simple?

And Stacey, how YOU doing? I haven't talked with you in.. years on this forum. We're a couple of posters from "back in the day" eh?
Do you have an existing router so that multiple computers can access the internet at the same time?

So, for home use, a laser (color) really isn't a cost effective solution? We're not a buisness, and we don't really print photo's (can Costco that for most, can pro print for better when I get that quality of photo).

I'm a bit (honestly) nervous of networks. It seems that cables and boxes are the easier way to go. My program or set up skills are a bit.. well, non existant. Is it relatively simple?

And Stacey, how YOU doing? I haven't talked with you in.. years on this forum. We're a couple of posters from "back in the day" eh?

I'm doing well William, and you?

Networking is relativly easy with XP, a bit more difficult with 98SE, tho' there's plenty of good people around here to help you if you get stuck.

The 'cost effectiveness' of lasers is tough to pin down. Initial outlay is much more expensive than with ink jet Yet the 'cost per page' is far less. Prior to going laser we were going through an 40 dollar ink cartridge every 6-8 weeks and maybe 18 months out of a printer. I got my first laser (black only), an HP LaserJet 4L, used for $25 and put a $35 toner cartridge every six months, three years later that printer gave up and I got an exact replacement on ebay for about the same money. We're going on 4 years with the current printer.

If you seriously want to go color laser look to eBay and shop carefully. You won't go wrong picking up a 4 or 5 year old HP that's in good condition.

As with all things there are of course different price points for laser printers. What you will get with a more expensive printer is basically this: more metal and less plastic. On inexpensive printers you will have to look long and hard to find a metal part. Why does this matter? Quite simply because metal is more durable then plastic.

In a better printer you will likely find a better laser unit, metal bearings as opposed to plastic bushings, heavier fuser rollers which will last longer, better photonconductor units, and developing units, etc. You also get a printer which is more serviceable.

With a printer sold at Sams Club, etc. when it breaks, you say, "oh crap. Now what?" With a printer that we sell you say, " oh crap." Then you call us and we come fix it. Again, it all boils down to your budget and your volume.

If you are going to run 5,000 or more color prints per month, than you can justify a good laser printer. If you are going to around 1,000 per month you might get by with a cheap HP. If you aren't going to run 1000 per month than you will be probably better off going somewhere else to print or sticking with Ink Jet.

So, for home use, a laser (color) really isn't a cost effective solution? We're not a buisness, and we don't really print photo's (can Costco that for most, can pro print for better when I get that quality of photo).

I'm a bit (honestly) nervous of networks. It seems that cables and boxes are the easier way to go. My program or set up skills are a bit.. well, non existant. Is it relatively simple?

Here's all you need to share printers & computers at home: Etherfast 2-port print-server and 4-port switch (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9708404540&fromMakeTrack=true). Add in $25 for network-cards and cabling, pay some high-school punk $50 to set it up in 45-minutes and you're in business! :)

Since I'm a photographer, personally I like large-format ink-jet printers that can do photos as well. Getting one of these printers next: Canon i9900 -- The Big Picture (http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT/CI9/I9900.HTM). :)

i used to work as a rep for HP and their lasers are really nice just not very economical when it comes to photos, get yourself a nice inkjet instead

So, for home use, a laser (color) really isn't a cost effective solution? We're not a buisness, and we don't really print photo's (can Costco that for most, can pro print for better when I get that quality of photo).

I'm a bit (honestly) nervous of networks. It seems that cables and boxes are the easier way to go. My program or set up skills are a bit.. well, non existant. Is it relatively simple?

And Stacey, how YOU doing? I haven't talked with you in.. years on this forum. We're a couple of posters from "back in the day" eh?

I used to connect my printer to my wireless router then print wirelessly to that. I then moved my gear and had the printer connected to one computer and the other computer printed wirelessly through that. Only downside was the computer with the printer had to be on. They sell a wireless printer server that you can connect to the printer, then your computers can wirelessly print to it. That's easy to set up.

Brother sells a color laser printer, copier, fax for $800. that's got an ethernet port. Real easy to get a switch box and connect printer and computers to it. Then just print away.

Connecting two computers by ethernet then connecting the printer to one of the computers will also work but that computer has to be on for the other computer to be able to print.

That's an inkjet... he asked about Laser :)


Yep I knew that... but meets all the other criteria


I am not a Printer Guru by any means, but I didn't know Laser Printers had Individual ink cartridges?


I like the HP 3210, with the kids, Girl Scout, Cub Scout, an a IBMer living here (not me lol) we need everything this thing does. Scans, Copies, Pictures, Put Digital Camera disks in a array of slots available.
Oh yeah it will even print off of the old fashion Negatives from film cameras (they still make those cameras don't they?) LOL I have several expensive (film) cameras I haven't touched in a long time grrrrrrrr dayum digital!