4-5 years ago I paid $400-$500 for an HP Officejet G85 and have been dissatisfied with it.
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF10a/18972-18972-238444-12019-410635-30374.html
I bought it because it was a printer, copy machine, scanner, and FAX.
I don’t want to buy any more equipment which is “ink jet” and uses expensive ink jet ink cartridges every month or two.
Instead I want a laser printer, copy, fax, etc and black and white is fine.
Like always I’m looking for the lowest price.
Here’s what I’m looking at buying (an HP 3050) and I was wondering if anyone has this and if they are happy with it.
http://www.buy.com/prod/hp-laserjet-3050-all-in-one-printer/q/loc/101/202434157.html#
I want to use ink toner cartridges rather than the ink jet cartridges which are almost the same price.
The toner cartridge last 5 to 10 times longer than the ink jet machines.
Thanks for any input.
Replies
I can't tell you about the HP, but we've had a Brother 7820N for two or three years now. Back when I bought it it was about $400 list, got it at Staples for $300. It can be had for about $250 new these days. Actually with the link above it's $200 after a $50 rebate.
No complaints. It is B&W, which is fine for what we've used it for, we have no need for color. Probably 95% of the printing we do comes through this. Basic document printing, proposals, contracts, proofs, kids' school papers, etc.
I used refurbished $25 toner carts (about 2500 pages per cart) in it but I do use OEM $65 drum kits (12,500 pages per drum I think) when the drum has had to be replaced. Takes about 10 seconds to replace either of the above.
It's also USB so I have it on our network.
I will never, ever, ever, never buy an HP printer again. I abhor their software tricks to make me use more ink than I need too. Also, their software hijacks the computer now too. They have moved themselves into my hated company file.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
we use both.. first i hate all-in-one machines
my fax is a plain paper ink-jet ( Sharpe ux-b700 ).. the little ink -jet cartridges cost a lot of money... they would last a long time if i could figure out how to get rid of the junk faxes
my copy machine is a toner machine ( Canon image class D340 )
the print heads cost almost as much as a new machine
the toner cartidges cost almost as much as a new machine
i buy most of our office equipment at staples ( and we have a reward card and gets lot's of discount coupons ) they can tell you what the average "cost per copy " is for every machine they sell
no matter what... they are all expensive to operate...
do they help i the office, do they help in sales, do they help in book keeping , in other words..... should they be part of your overhead ?
for me
i can't operate without a copy machine, a fax, an answering machine, a telephone, a cell phone, a computer, a large format printer, a label machine, filing cabinets, internet, email, ..... and .. an offfice to put it all in
when my fax breaks ... i get a new one ( this one is 5 years old & going strong )
when my copy machine breaks... i get a new one if the warranty is gone.. other wise i bring it back to staples under the warranty
if my large format printer goes down.... i call HP and they send out a tech ( once since 2000 )
find out the "cost per copy " for the machines that have the features you want... that will tell the story
"find out the "cost per copy " for the machines that have the features you want... that will tell the story"HP lies. Their "alignment" process, which seems to kick in anytime they think I'm not using enough ink uses up 1/4 of the cartridge...I will enjoy the day when I put the sledge hammer to my HP printer(s).edit: I'm going to enjoy smashing my Verizon phones too.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Edited 3/21/2008 10:21 pm by Jim_Allen
The Brother 7820 that I have works out to 1.6 cents per copy. If I use OEM toner carts, it's about 2.4 cents per copy.
My old inkjet was about 12-15 cents per copy if I remember correctly, and that's if all went well. If the heads clogged and I had to run a few cleaning cycles...there goes the ink and up goes the price per copy.
If you have an inkjet and you want alternatives to OEM inkjet cartridges, inksupply.com has excellent refill kits. Forget all the yadda about losing your warranty by using after-market inks.
I do a lot of large format printing on an 8-cartridge Epson R2400 printer with their K4 inks and get exceptional results. Using their ink with refillable carts is about 12% the amount it would cost for new Epson carts.
It's funny how people's experiences differ. I have been using an HP laser printer every day for my law practice for 8 years. No repairs or problems. My partners use HP as well with no problems.
Ditto. Bought an old tank of a printer HP IIP Plus. Paid $ 150 for the printer then $175 for the high yeild cartridge. That was 8 years ago. Prints like the eveready bunny.
Gary
Tell me, how did you hook up parallel port on the printer to the USB port on the computer? Does a simple cable adapter work for that interface or does the computer have to have a parallel port card installed? What about drivers?
The printer is so old is doesn't have a USB hookup. I suspect you can purchase a patch cord to go from one to the other. Not sure about needing parallel port card. The drivers for these old HP printers are an integral part of the printer. If you can find one of the HP II series I would highly recommend it.
Hope this helps
Gary
I have the HP laserjet 4p now but it's got a parallel port and my computer has USB and absolutely no parallel ports whatsoever. I would like to keep the printer if I could connect to USB but I don't think that will work. That's why I was looking for an adapter of some sort to connect the two, otherwise I'll just have to get a new printer.
There must me something you can rig up. They just don't make them like this anymore. It would be a sin not to be able to use it. Like everything else I guess.
Gary
You can buy a HP 4P compatable USB-parallel cable for about $6.
A little more invasive would be to add a parallel PCI card to your computer. If you have space and if your computer will support it.
USB to parallel port printer cables are available from about $8 up through the mid #20s. Don't know what differences there might be. Amazon carries these on the internet along with various other computer supply places. Frys carries them if you like Frys.
I guess I'll just have to get a cable and see if I can keep my laser printer. It's a little slow in terms of pages per minute but it runs forever on one cartridge of print media and the replacement cost for a new cartridge is next to nothing. Thanks for all the information.
Maybe the difference is that you were smart enough to buy a laser printer and I've been using an inkjet. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
My gripes were with HP inkjets, no exp with HP lasers. Big difference in machines.
HP pretty much controls the market for large format printers ...... no problems with them..
it must be the low end stuff they are trying to compete on price points that give them
troubleMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Jim: I purchased new computor to work with old printer HP
I'm constantly getting updates from HP.
Every time they update I must "realign".
One weak the printer would not work, after next update I could print again.
I suspect, HP is having problems with windows vista
It seems that vista is a lot of problems.
First 1.5 mths. it would shut down with no warning. that seems to be fixed now.
My father has dial up internet, bought new computer, vista, still can't get omline.
Best Buy is giving him a hard time.
I finally told him to ask best buy to instal windows
don't know what is going to happen.
had to go to Staples tech service to find a closeout laptop for my wife... so we could order it with Win XP Pro... her software wouldn't run on Vista
when it came time for me to get new computer i switched over to Mac.... and bought Win XP Pro to install on it so i can run my legacy programs....
a full version of XP Pro runs $300 unless you buy a grey market versionnow that mac will run native windows , lot's of people are switching so they can avoid VistaMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
my mistake
When I did my remodel the GC had a standard clause in the contract that I had to provide an on-site phone line so he could plug in a fax. It was invaluable for working with the suppliers, manufacturer tech support, engineer, architect.
I know it doens't fit your criteria but I use an HP C6152 that uses ink jet technology but seems to act like a laser. It has separate cartridges for the colors and I don't have the dry out probelms I used to have with the single cartidge printers. I've got mine set up via wireless so it doesn't matter where it is inside the range of the wireless router. Just needs a 110v and a phone chord. The link is to the current version.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/supmodel/product/Q8181A%2523ABA?jumpid=in_r329_search//C6100+printer_Q8181A
Regarding Jims, problems, remember he's a luddite like Frenchy when it comes to understanding how to use a computer. ;^)
i've never had an laser hp that didn't work right upon being plugged in, and i've never had another brand that worked right upon being plugged in. i bought a 4m (very small very basic single paper tray) for $500 in 1995, and used it every day for 10 years in my law practice until i wanted something fast. i gave it to my daughter 3 years ago and it gets used constantly for college work.
i replaced it with a bigger faster 4l (i think)bought used for $300, and it runs like a top. i had one repair that was $75 that took it out of service 4 hours.
i've never had an inkjet (hp or otherwise) that was worth a damn.
i've never had an laser hp that didn't work right upon being plugged in, and i've never had another brand that worked right upon being plugged in. i bought a 4m (very small very basic single paper tray) for $500 in 1995, and used it every day for 10 years in my law practice until i wanted something fast. i gave it to my daughter 3 years ago and it gets used constantly for college work.
I have an HP 4ML I bought about the same time. I used it with the Mac I had at the time, and it's been hooked up to a PC for ten years now. Works great, I'm even still on the original toner cartridge...I shake it up once in a while and it just keeps on printing nice and dark.
I have a small Brother all in one which worked great for my limited use.
if I printed more, I'd get dedicated equipment like Mike.
I picked this one based purely on ink prices.
had an xerox, printed great ... cost an arm and a leg to run.
copy guy told me that was their business plan ... underprice the machines so U buy their overpriced ink.
brother machines and ink seems to be the most reasonable.
wife's boss has a big beautiful printer ... cost over $4K ...
but they print tons of stuff ... and it all looks great.
cost per print his compared to mine, his wins.
but $4K buy in compared to $200 or so ... I win!
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I am not too pleased with my HP experiences. I have a photosmart 7350 and it is basically sitting there not being used. I have a Lexmark all in one X83 that has been great. I do not do all that much printing.
Our church had a Lexmark Laser that was giving a couple of the operators problems so we bought one of the Hp 43xx versions that was supposed to be a fairly good medium use inkjet all-in-one. Kept pulling thru multiple pages. If we wanted to put $100 worth of rollers in it might fix it.
Office Depot had a canon image class laser for $125 after rebate. Rated for 10k copies per month. OD wanted $110 for cartridge, ebay aftermarket ones: two for $60 delivered. Jury is still out.
It's truly a small world after all (Disney). I'm in the market for a laser printer too because I just upgraded from Window 98 machine and dial up to Windows XP sp 2 and DSL. The results I'm reading from both "Printer Review" and "Consumer Reports." Here's the skinny: Consumer Reports favors the Dell 1720 laser printer but PR favors the Dell 1720dn laser printer cause it's got a few more features...I'm going for the Dell 1720 at about $185. Both do only black and white, kick out about 23 pages/minute and were rated fairly high in both print quality and picture output. Needless to say, their strong suit is the printed word. ie...if you want sex, you can only read about it with these printers.
Dang...I'm talking printers and your talking copy machines
Never Mind!
Edited 3/22/2008 1:11 am by woodway
I appreciate the info.A couple of years ago someone gave me a used Laser Jet 1100 PRINTERIt has worked fine and the replacement ink toner cartridge is only $35The odd thing is the printer is old enough it DOES NOT run on a USB cord.Instead it uses the old fashioned serial or parallel type of cord to connect to the computer.Those cords just seem really old.The problem was my "newer" computer did not have the serial or parellel port to plug the cord in to and so I had to buy a "card" for about $19 and put it in one of the "slots" in the back just to be able to use the printer.
I actually considered doing just that but then if a simple adapter cable will do the trick, I'll go with the cheaper solution.
This looks like a pretty good deal - $99 for a refurbished machine which comes with a one year warrantyhttp://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku.jsp?skuId=21477929&searchString=hp%203050&category_Id=null$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$2008 Recipient of Mr T - Brownbag One Liner Award
Ohh...that looks like a real deal. We're going to have to check that out ASAP! Thanks.
okidata has the best customer service. 24 hrs a day. people that speak english. cheaper than hp.
http://www.okidata.com/mkt/html/nf/b2500mfphome.html
Don't be fooled by the price of the toner cartridge. Some are cheap but will not produce very many copies.
I own a HP 4100 printer and it works great. I have produced about 60,000 copies so far. I have seen some with over 300,000 copies and are still working well. The machine cost me $1000 new and each toner cartridge costs me about $130 and will print about 10,000 copies. Recently I got on amazon and bought 5 toner cartridges for $50 each that will produce around 10,000 copies each.
Wow I had no idea one cartridge could print that many copies.Thanks for the info,$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$2008 Recipient of Mr T - Brownbag One Liner Award