good low usage printer/long lasting cartridges

[tom LA Reader]

I want a printer for low usage
- inkjet or cheap color laser ($400)
- LOW USAGE-about 10 pages a month
- moderate quality- for childrens color pictures and quick printing
photos
- not high quality photos - I do those thru a service
- COST OF SUPPLIES < $150 per year

my problem has been that inkjet cartridges seem to dry out in 1 or 2
months, whether they are used or not. This leads to a yearly cost of
$300, much too high.

The cost per page in reviews never seem to consider this issue

- will a color laser cartidge last more than a year?
- are there inkjets that will last 3 months?

 

[Ian D]

I want a printer for low usage
- inkjet or cheap color laser ($400)
- LOW USAGE-about 10 pages a month
- moderate quality- for childrens color pictures and quick printing
photos
- not high quality photos - I do those thru a service
- COST OF SUPPLIES < $150 per year

my problem has been that inkjet cartridges seem to dry out in 1 or 2
months, whether they are used or not. This leads to a yearly cost of
$300, much too high.

The cost per page in reviews never seem to consider this issue

- will a color laser cartidge last more than a year?
- are there inkjets that will last 3 months?

The useful life of laser toner is related to the environment it's
used in, especially humidity. Low normal , 50% RH, is the
optimum. I have had an HP Laserjet 4 since 1993, and I just
installed it's 3rd toner cartridge last winter. That includes
the original. The toner was still good each time, but the drum
cleaning blades dried out and lost their flexibility, causing
streaking.

I also have an HP Deskjet 970Cse on which I have replaced the
ink cartridges about every two years on average. On my fourth
color cartridge. It uses the HP 45 black, and 78 tri-color cartridges.

I would expect color laser toner to maintain its quality for at least
two years, probably longer. Even then it's still expensive due to
the fact there are four cartridges at $100 or more, each. On HP
color lasers, the black usually has 50-60% more page capacity
than the color cartridges.

 

[Bob Headrick]

I want a printer for low usage
- inkjet or cheap color laser ($400)
- LOW USAGE-about 10 pages a month
- moderate quality- for childrens color pictures and quick printing
photos
- not high quality photos - I do those thru a service
- COST OF SUPPLIES < $150 per year

my problem has been that inkjet cartridges seem to dry out in 1 or 2
months, whether they are used or not. This leads to a yearly cost of
$300, much too high.

I would think nearly any DeskJet printer from recent times would meet your
needs. For example, any DeskJet 900 series printer (probably available used
for <$20, or any printer that uses the HP 56/57 cartridges For a new
printer you might take a look at the DeskJet 6940. I would expect
cartridges to last a year or more in the printer. HP DeskJets often sit for
three months without printing over a summer break for schools, and they are
expected (and do) print fine in the fall when they are started up again.

For your usage I would avoid any printer with separate printheads and ink
supplies.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[measekite]

If you use OEM ink and print once every month with either a Canon or
Epson dye based printer you should not have any problems.