printer suggestions--old computer

[MZB]

Friend has an old DELL that runs Windows ME.

He had an Epson Color 777 printer that died.

He doesn't use the printer much, but would like to get one with a decent
quality print (and I know his wife would like to print photos). Is there any
low-cost decent printer (say even under $75) that you'd recommend??

Am I correct that if the printer costs less you end up paying more for the
replacement cartridges?

Mel

 

[Jan Alter]

Friend has an old DELL that runs Windows ME.

He had an Epson Color 777 printer that died.

He doesn't use the printer much, but would like to get one with a decent
quality print (and I know his wife would like to print photos). Is there
any low-cost decent printer (say even under $75) that you'd recommend??

Am I correct that if the printer costs less you end up paying more for the
replacement cartridges?

Mel

Well off the top I might suggest an Epson C88. It'll run on with either
a parallel port or USB interface using a Penitium 233 mhz cpu with 128 mb of
RAM.
The printer sells in the neighborhood of $75. As you mentioned the company
gets you on the ink rather than the printer.
What one can do is to make a $50 investment into decent third part
dye-base ink ( instead of the standard Dura-brite Ultra concoction ) 4
spongeless cartridges that are quickly and a no brainer to refill, and a
chip resetter. The end result is a printer that gives very good photo
results, will not start clogging at the drop of a hat as so many anti-Epson
folks continually rant (simply because one orders and fills with dye-base
ink instead of the standard pigment) and refillability that comes down to
cost a couple dollars per cartridge instead of the $12 - $14 that Epson
enjoys extracting everytime one sees the pulsating red light of the printer.
What is even just as gratifying (well to me at least) is that you
don't need to throw the empty cartridge away anymore and you can use the
chips from the included set of ink cartridges that come with the printer to
adorn the spongeless cartridges that you are refilling.
Right now I've got ten C84 printers using this exact setup at school,
and started the first 3 of them over a year ago. It's more work for me
having to refill but I've started two of the teachers with their own ink
refilling setups. If you want more information let me know.

 

[ihelpcompute]

I, too, believe that Epson makes great photo printers. One caveat re:
Epson printers----make sure you turn them off when they are not being
used. Epson printers "park" their print cartridges to prevent them
from drying out/clogging. If you leave an Epson "on," they can not go
into the park position leading to pre-mature failure. JMHO

 

[Tony]

I, too, believe that Epson makes great photo printers. One caveat re:
Epson printers----make sure you turn them off when they are not being
used. Epson printers "park" their print cartridges to prevent them
from drying out/clogging. If you leave an Epson "on," they can not go
into the park position leading to pre-mature failure. JMHO

Sorry but that is incorrect. All inkjet printers cap or park the heads when not
being used whether they are turned off or not, this is just as true of Epson as
any other make.
Epson printers most certainly cap the heads as soon as the print job is
complete. In the case of Epson the capping is usually mechanical and happens
automatically when the head moves to the side of the printer (usually right
side).

<snip>
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Warren Block]

Friend has an old DELL that runs Windows ME.

He had an Epson Color 777 printer that died.

He doesn't use the printer much, but would like to get one with a decent
quality print (and I know his wife would like to print photos). Is there any
low-cost decent printer (say even under $75) that you'd recommend??

To print text: a used laser (check local classifeds and Craigslist.org).
Black and white, prints fast, doesn't dry up if you don't print anything
for a few weeks or months.

To print photos: a flash card and reader so the photos can be printed at
the local X-mart or drugstore for 0.19 each or less. They may already
have this.

Am I correct that if the printer costs less you end up paying more for the
replacement cartridges?

Low-priced printers aimed at home users generally have much higher costs
for supplies.

 

[TJ]

Friend has an old DELL that runs Windows ME.

He had an Epson Color 777 printer that died.

He doesn't use the printer much, but would like to get one with a decent
quality print (and I know his wife would like to print photos). Is there any
low-cost decent printer (say even under $75) that you'd recommend??

Am I correct that if the printer costs less you end up paying more for the
replacement cartridges?

Mel

I would suggest investigating the used market, but I see you've already
done that, with less than perfect success. I can imagine you'd be leery
of trying that option right away again. So, I would suggest that you
look into discontinued and/or refurbished printers. Discontinued models
are new and carry all the original manufacturer's warranties, but at a
reduced price. Manufacturer-refurbished printers are used, yes, but
they've been inspected and repaired if necessary by trained personnel,
and are usually priced even lower than discontinued models. They, too,
often carry a warranty, though it's usually shorter than that of a new
machine. There is a slightly larger chance of getting a "lemon" than
when buying new, but there are new printers that are bad right out of
the box, as well.

While the older models don't have all the bells and whistles of newer
ones, many are quite capable of meeting your requirements, and then
some. And you are right about today's cheaper printers. In general, the
newer, cheaper printers have lower-capacity cartridges, resulting in
higher per copy costs than their predecessors.

All of the printers I've used in the last 15 years were purchased either
used or refurbished. I have no complaints. Some of the used ones didn't
last too long, but I didn't pay much for them, either. (one Epson was
free and lasted almost a year.) The last one, a refurbished HP, is still
cranking out prints as good as new, five years after purchase.

TJ

 

[measekite]

You can get a Canon IP4300 (usually on sale) for around $80.00. It is
terrific.

 

[measekite]

This is just terrible advice. The Epson C printers are known for
clogging. Using generic ink is even worse. The Canon IP4300 more than
meets the needs and is around $80.00 on sale.

 

[measekite]

I, too, believe that Epson makes great photo printers. One caveat re:
Epson printers----make sure you turn them off when they are not being
used. Epson printers "park" their print cartridges to prevent them
from drying out/clogging.

Not all of them and not the newer ones. My friends R300 is never turned
off and he has not had a clog. Of course he always used Epson ink. He
is not a fool.

 

[measekite]

I would suggest investigating the used market,

Totally insane. The brand new products are not expensive.

but I see you've already done that, with less than perfect success. I
can imagine you'd be leery of trying that option right away again. So,
I would suggest that you look into discontinued and/or refurbished
printers.

Discontinued models

are another dumb mistake in most cases. You do not get them much
cheaper and usually the newer technology is enough to justify the small
difference in price.

are new and carry all the original manufacturer's warranties, but at a
reduced price.

Manufacturer-refurbished printers are used, yes, but they've been
inspected and repaired if necessary by trained personnel, and are
usually priced even lower than discontinued models.

Again not cheap enough.

They, too, often carry a warranty, though it's usually shorter than
that of a new machine. There is a slightly larger chance of getting a
"lemon" than when buying new, but there are new printers that are bad
right out of the box, as well.

While the older models don't have all the bells and whistles of newer
ones, many are quite capable of meeting your requirements, and then
some. And you are right about today's cheaper printers. In general,
the newer, cheaper printers have lower-capacity cartridges, resulting
in higher per copy costs than their predecessors.

That is another lie. The Canon IP4300 is the best standard format
printer and can be had on sale for around $80.00. It comes with 5 full
size carts of Canon chromalife 100 ink, a brand new printhead and prints
duplex with twin paper feeds and is the fastest in its class producing
the best photo results and very good text.

The only reason to get something else is if you want to print directly
on a CD but you give up a lot. In all cases HP is not a good choice as
the cost of the consummables are more. Besides, I am not sure what kind
of reuslts you get with non HP paper.

All of the printers I've used in the last 15 years were purchased
either used or refurbished. I have no complaints.

 

[Jan Alter]

This is just terrible advice. The Epson C printers are known for
clogging. Using generic ink is even worse. The Canon IP4300 more than
meets the needs and is around $80.00 on sale.

This is just terrible advice. The Epson C printers are known for
clogging. Using generic ink is even worse.

If you can explain why this is terrible advice after I've already described
that I've had three of these printers running great for over a year and
another seven running with the same results (within the last 10 months),
with no clogging issues on quality third party ink then I'll believe you.
What is more incredulous about your take is that if I were running Epson's
OEM Dura-brite ink in them I would most likely have clogged them by now, as
the first 6 that I put into service using only Epson ink have clogged and
had to be tossed away. The first 5 clogged within a year, and with one
exception, the 6th died after two year's usage. By the way, I don't know
what the third market company puts into their ink, but what I do know is
that the pictures look terrific using the printer and the printers don't
clog anymore and I'm contributing less plastic to the landfills with not
replacing cartridges.

Additionally you claim that all the Epson C printers are known for their
clogging. This in fact is not showing to be true. With the introduction of
the C88 printer Epson came up with a new formula for the Dura-brite ink
called Dura-brite Ultra. In the two years that it's been on the market I
have read perhaps one or two posts on this newsgroup about clogging using
that particular ink formulation in comparison to the Dura-brite ink version
used in the C84, C86 printers.

 

[TJ]

I would suggest investigating the used market, but I see you've already
done that, with less than perfect success. I can imagine you'd be leery
of trying that option right away again. So, I would suggest that you
look into discontinued and/or refurbished printers. Discontinued models
are new and carry all the original manufacturer's warranties, but at a
reduced price. Manufacturer-refurbished printers are used, yes, but
they've been inspected and repaired if necessary by trained personnel,
and are usually priced even lower than discontinued models. They, too,
often carry a warranty, though it's usually shorter than that of a new
machine. There is a slightly larger chance of getting a "lemon" than
when buying new, but there are new printers that are bad right out of
the box, as well.

While the older models don't have all the bells and whistles of newer
ones, many are quite capable of meeting your requirements, and then
some. And you are right about today's cheaper printers. In general, the
newer, cheaper printers have lower-capacity cartridges, resulting in
higher per copy costs than their predecessors.

All of the printers I've used in the last 15 years were purchased either
used or refurbished. I have no complaints. Some of the used ones didn't
last too long, but I didn't pay much for them, either. (one Epson was
free and lasted almost a year.) The last one, a refurbished HP, is still
cranking out prints as good as new, five years after purchase.

TJ

I neglected to mention that I refill my HP's ink cartridges, making the
ink cost negligible. The only problem I've had with clogging has been
with carts that have been refilled over 20 times. I think the sponges
inside the #56 and 57 carts deteriorate with time. The nice thing about
most HPs is that you get a new print head with every new cartridge.
Testing by some laboratories has shown some refill inks to fade quickly,
but I've not had that experience. The first photo I printed with my HP
PSC 2110 is now over three years old, with no discernible fading yet. It
hangs under glass on my mother's bedroom wall.

There are some here, one in particular, who will tell you that my
quality standards are too low. Maybe so, but they're good enough for me
and everybody who has seen my printer's output so far.

TJ

 

[measekite]

If you can explain why this is terrible advice after I've already described
that I've had three of these printers running great for over a year and
another seven running with the same results (within the last 10 months),
with no clogging issues on quality third party ink

THERE IS NO 3RD PARTY QUALITY INK. So therefore I conclude that either
you judgment of quality is impaired or you are not telling the truth.
Plus those lousy printers

DO NOT HAVE DUAL PAPER FEEDS

ARE VERY SLOW COMPARED TO THE IP4300

DO NOT PRODUCE THE QUALITY RESULTS ESPECIALLY WITH PHOTOS

CANNOT DUPLEX PRINT

 

[measekite]

I neglected to mention that I refill my HP's ink cartridges, making
the ink cost negligible. The only problem I've had with clogging has
been with carts that have been refilled over 20 times. I think the
sponges inside the #56 and 57 carts deteriorate with time. The nice
thing about most HPs is that you get a new print head with every new
cartridge. Testing by some laboratories has shown some refill inks to
fade quickly, but I've not had that experience. The first photo I
printed with my HP PSC 2110 is now over three years old, with no
discernible fading yet. It hangs under glass on my mother's bedroom wall.

There are some here, one in particular, who will tell you that my
quality standards are too low. Maybe so, but they're good enough for
me and everybody who has seen my printer's output so far.

There are people who bought a Yugo and think it is great.

 

[Frank]

If you can explain why this is terrible advice after I've already described
that I've had three of these printers running great for over a year and
another seven running with the same results (within the last 10 months),
with no clogging issues on quality third party ink then I'll believe you.
What is more incredulous about your take is that if I were running Epson's
OEM Dura-brite ink in them I would most likely have clogged them by now, as
the first 6 that I put into service using only Epson ink have clogged and
had to be tossed away. The first 5 clogged within a year, and with one
exception, the 6th died after two year's usage. By the way, I don't know
what the third market company puts into their ink, but what I do know is
that the pictures look terrific using the printer and the printers don't
clog anymore and I'm contributing less plastic to the landfills with not
replacing cartridges.

Additionally you claim that all the Epson C printers are known for their
clogging. This in fact is not showing to be true. With the introduction of
the C88 printer Epson came up with a new formula for the Dura-brite ink
called Dura-brite Ultra. In the two years that it's been on the market I
have read perhaps one or two posts on this newsgroup about clogging using
that particular ink formulation in comparison to the Dura-brite ink version
used in the C84, C86 printers.

Jan you're dealing with a brain dead jackass who obviously works for canon.
I too use Epson c models as our office print horses with high quality
after market carts and no problems at all.
Meashershithead is just plain stupid...period.
Frank

 

[Frank]

TJ wrote:

There are some here, one in particular, who will tell you that my
quality standards are too low. Maybe so, but they're good enough for me
and everybody who has seen my printer's output so far.

TJ

You meashershithead?
Nobody cares what his uneducated idiot opinion is.
He knows nothing.
Frank

 

[Jan Alter]

Jan you're dealing with a brain dead jackass who obviously works for
canon.
I too use Epson c models as our office print horses with high quality
after market carts and no problems at all.
Meashershithead is just plain stupid...period.
Frank

I realize that Frank. I just keep looking for some cognizance somewhere and
logic instead of name calling. I'll stop now.

Thank you,

 

[Arthur Entlich]

The Epson 777 may be repairable and should provide a good photo quality
result if it does.

Buying low end printers does usually mean paying a lot for small
cartridges, and also the printers aren't designed for heavy duty cycles.

It is often false economy.


Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

In general, the newer (last 5 years or more) Epson printers go into full
park mode within 5-10 minutes after they last printer something, even if
the printer is left on.

Art