Color laser <= $1000 with PCL and/or color postscript

[Willy Kreim]

I'm looking for a low-use color laser printer WITH PCL5 or higher
(color postscript would be a nice bonus but is not actually needed).

The key point for me is the availability of INEXPENSIVE COMPATIBLE
TONER, so I can refill my own cartridges.

So far, only the QMS Magicolor 2200 seems to offer me the wide
availability of third party color tonner bottles to do my own refills
(just check on ebay).

BUT, it is a "winprinter" and doesn't work with Linux or any other
non-windows OS.

The same applies to the QMS 2300DL.

So far, the only two choices I have found WITH PCL5+ and color
postscript are:

HP Laserjet 2500: $1000 for the printer, toner about $99 per color
cartridge
OKIDATA 5100: $750 for the printer, $150 per each color cartridge (!!)

Plus, I haven't been able to find ANYONE producing compatible toners
for the Okidata (anyone knows what engine they use? perhaps color
toner for other brands can be safely used?)

Any pointers would be welcome. I really, really would like to go with
the Okidata but the lack of availability of compatible toners kills
it.
Also, any reliable sellers of bulk (bottled) color toner that is
compatible with the HP 1500 / 2500 engine?

Thanks!
Willy

 

[Timothy Lee]

I'm looking for a low-use color laser printer WITH PCL5 or higher
(color postscript would be a nice bonus but is not actually needed).

Any pointers would be welcome. I really, really would like to go with
the Okidata but the lack of availability of compatible toners kills
it.
Also, any reliable sellers of bulk (bottled) color toner that is
compatible with the HP 1500 / 2500 engine?

Media-sciences produce compatible stuff for Xerox Phaser machines, but I
haven't tried them.

 

[Tom Ruben]

I'm looking for a low-use color laser printer WITH PCL5 or higher
(color postscript would be a nice bonus but is not actually needed).

The key point for me is the availability of INEXPENSIVE COMPATIBLE
TONER, so I can refill my own cartridges.

So far, only the QMS Magicolor 2200 seems to offer me the wide
availability of third party color tonner bottles to do my own refills
(just check on ebay).

BUT, it is a "winprinter" and doesn't work with Linux or any other
non-windows OS.

The same applies to the QMS 2300DL.

So far, the only two choices I have found WITH PCL5+ and color
postscript are:

HP Laserjet 2500: $1000 for the printer, toner about $99 per color
cartridge
OKIDATA 5100: $750 for the printer, $150 per each color cartridge (!!)

Plus, I haven't been able to find ANYONE producing compatible toners
for the Okidata (anyone knows what engine they use? perhaps color
toner for other brands can be safely used?)

The QMS 2350 does Postscript3, PCL 6, PCL XL and PDF. But it may be our
of your price range: in the UK it costs GBP 750 before tax, compared
with the DL's GBP 500.

 

[Alan]

Also, any reliable sellers of bulk (bottled) color toner that is
compatible with the HP 1500 / 2500 engine?

See <http://www.scc-inc.com/Engine/laserjet2500/> for a report on the
2500.
It indicates that "The toner cartridges sport a second generation HP
ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) electronic chip," which
likely makes refills and clones difficult.

 

[rdyson]

I do not recommed the HP 2500, The ASIC is a pain and I have found no
way around it other than by new. In addition the image drum runs a
page count that when it reaches 0, stops printing period! I
complained to HP but they said it was better than to risk damage to
the printer. Yeah right. My printer was printing perfectly then it
stopped without warning. The warning light never came on and I
happend to be printing a large report in book mode with duplex and
would you know that 12 pages from the end it dies. I'm still
pissed..... Oh yeah, the tech said that when you turn on the printer
that the cycling that you hear actually counts as a page print and
when you open the cover to look you just added a page print. I can't
believe they sell a printer that prevents you from printing because of
a page count.