text or greyscale prints : cheapest way ?

[wrb]

Hi.
I have to buy a printer, and don't know
whether Laser or Inkjet: I only have to print
text or greyscale images, say 100 sheets per month.
What is cheaper ?


Thank you!

 

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 21:16:17 +0200, wrb wrote:

=>
=>Hi.
=>I have to buy a printer, and don't know
=>whether Laser or Inkjet: I only have to print
=>text or greyscale images, say 100 sheets per month.
=>What is cheaper ?
=>
=>
=> Thank you!


Cheapest is to burn a CD and take it to an office supply
store that also prints.

Inkjet will cost less to buy but more to operate. Laser
will cost more to buy but less to operate Cheapest to
operate lasers are the kind in which you replace the toner
rather than the whole printing engine (or "cartridge"). I
would advise you to go to an office supply store that
specialises in copiers and printers, and see what they have
in refurbished equipment. You also need software that will
print grey scale at a high resolution, and some tutoring in
how to get the best print from any given source.

 

[wrb]

Thank you for your dense, useful answer.
I'm afraid that in my region (Rome, Italy)
the print services are still too expensive;
moreover, I sometimes need to print in the early morning
or on holiday.

Since it is not clear whether to buy laser or inkjet
and my wife stresses her need of color printing,
I think I will choose an inkjet model;
I look for a model with at least 4 separate cartridges (black+3 colors);
what are the best not too expensive models in your opinion ?
I heard that Epson has the cheapest cartridges, and HP the most expensive
....

 

[The village idiot]

Thank you for your dense, useful answer.
I'm afraid that in my region (Rome, Italy)
the print services are still too expensive;
moreover, I sometimes need to print in the early morning
or on holiday.

Since it is not clear whether to buy laser or inkjet
and my wife stresses her need of color printing,
I think I will choose an inkjet model;
I look for a model with at least 4 separate cartridges (black+3 colors);
what are the best not too expensive models in your opinion ?
I heard that Epson has the cheapest cartridges, and HP the most expensive
...

If you are going to do grayscale, you would be best off with one of the
printers with 7 or 8 colors. The extra colors are light cyan, light magenta,
and one or 2 shades of light black. All the manufacturers have 7 color
printers, and HP has the 8 color printer. Personally, I like Epson printers
best. They may not be the fastest, or the cheapest, but they do have nice
prints! You should also find one that uses pigment inks. That way the prints
won't fade so quickly.

You could also buy a slightly older 4 or 6 color printer, plus a new but
cheaper color printer. Put grayscale quad or hextone inks in the older
printer. I'm not sure where you could get the grayscale inks in your area,
but you could research them at http://www.inkjetart.com or
http://www.inkjetmall.com

If money permits, I would also suggest one of the postscript printers from
Epson, and the Epson Stylus RIP to go with it. I get better results from my
Epson 1520 with the RIP. The 1520 would make a great grayscale printer with
the quadtone inks and a RIP. As far as color printing goes, the 1520 still
makes a great looking print if you use a good paper.

Hope this helps a little.