Recommendations re colour laser printer?

[Brian Cryer]

My colour laser at home has finally given up the ghost. It was a
konika-minolta magicolor printer and was always a bit troublesome. So I'm
now looking at getting a replacement. My question is simply are there any
brands (or specific models) which (in your experience) stand out as being
more reliable?

Sorry, I appreciate that this is a bit vague, but I would value other
people's experiences as a guide.

Thanks.

 

[John McGaw]

My colour laser at home has finally given up the ghost. It was a
konika-minolta magicolor printer and was always a bit troublesome. So I'm
now looking at getting a replacement. My question is simply are there any
brands (or specific models) which (in your experience) stand out as being
more reliable?

Sorry, I appreciate that this is a bit vague, but I would value other
people's experiences as a guide.

Thanks.

Just a bit more information might help. Printer will be used for general
home computer use or something more 'high class' like business
presentations? Is most printing going to be B/W with just bits of colour or
is everything going to all Technicolor all the time? Volume of printing is
a few pages per week or hundreds per day? Printer will need to put out
something like standard A4 or will you need to produce A3 or some other
large format? Is printing on heavy stock in the cards? Multiple paper
sizes/weights loaded (alternate paper trays) or is manual switching OK? The
purchase budget is in what range? Do consumable costs matter to you?

I have been quite satisfied with my old Dell 3100cn but it is discontinued
and, frankly, larger than any sane person would select for home use and
would be far more comfortable in a small business setting. Consumables
under relatively light home usage of perhaps 20 pages per week on average
is such that I can only say that toner is good for a number of years.

 

[Brian Cryer]

Just a bit more information might help. Printer will be used for general
home computer use or something more 'high class' like business
presentations? Is most printing going to be B/W with just bits of colour
or is everything going to all Technicolor all the time? Volume of printing
is a few pages per week or hundreds per day? Printer will need to put out
something like standard A4 or will you need to produce A3 or some other
large format? Is printing on heavy stock in the cards? Multiple paper
sizes/weights loaded (alternate paper trays) or is manual switching OK?
The purchase budget is in what range? Do consumable costs matter to you?

I have been quite satisfied with my old Dell 3100cn but it is discontinued
and, frankly, larger than any sane person would select for home use and
would be far more comfortable in a small business setting. Consumables
under relatively light home usage of perhaps 20 pages per week on average
is such that I can only say that toner is good for a number of years.

Hi John,

you are quite right, I was a bit vague. In answer to your questions:

* Home use, so low volume.
* Colour - because my children "need" colour for much of their homework.
Reasonable colour print quality for photographs - again, because of the
children's coursework.
* A4 only. Don't need to print on heavy stock - nice if it could print on
photo paper, but that is something I'd be happy to sacrifice for a lower
cost. Duplex is a nice to have. Single paper tray, so manual switching would
be fine - although on my last laser I don't think I ever printed on anything
other than A4.
* Must be reliable - okay, I'm sure that every manufacturer says this, but
I've now got through two colour lasers at home and I've not been impressed
with either of them (konika-minolta and samsung).

I've not done any homework yet, but am wondering whether HP would be a safe
bet? As they are a brand which at work I've never had an issue with.

Thanks.

 

[John McGaw]

Hi John,

you are quite right, I was a bit vague. In answer to your questions:

* Home use, so low volume.
* Colour - because my children "need" colour for much of their homework.
Reasonable colour print quality for photographs - again, because of the
children's coursework.
* A4 only. Don't need to print on heavy stock - nice if it could print on
photo paper, but that is something I'd be happy to sacrifice for a lower
cost. Duplex is a nice to have. Single paper tray, so manual switching
would be fine - although on my last laser I don't think I ever printed on
anything other than A4.
* Must be reliable - okay, I'm sure that every manufacturer says this, but
I've now got through two colour lasers at home and I've not been impressed
with either of them (konika-minolta and samsung).

I've not done any homework yet, but am wondering whether HP would be a safe
bet? As they are a brand which at work I've never had an issue with.

Thanks.

I found older HP mono lasers to be pretty bullet-proof. The court where I
worked before retiring had 100+ of them and and they caused almost no
trouble unless somebody did something clumsy with toner or stock (like
turning the printer upside down for some unknowable reason or feeding
inkjet-only labels). I've had a LaserJet 5P forever and it is perfect. I
really don't know if their low-end colour printers are in the same league
though.

There are a lot of reviews online for laser printers. One which is rated
highly is the OKI C330dn which is an LED printer but which acts like a
laser in every other regard. This is a fast duplexing network-enabled
printer but it is possible that they have a lesser model which has fewer
bells and whistles. This printer costs $400 US and I assume that the same
model will be available worldwide at similar cost.

 

[Brian Cryer]

I found older HP mono lasers to be pretty bullet-proof. The court where I
worked before retiring had 100+ of them and and they caused almost no
trouble unless somebody did something clumsy with toner or stock (like
turning the printer upside down for some unknowable reason or feeding
inkjet-only labels). I've had a LaserJet 5P forever and it is perfect. I
really don't know if their low-end colour printers are in the same league
though.

I agree about HP mono lasers, I had an HP LaserJet 4 at home, second hand
then, had it for a number of years and then passed it on - must have been
well into its second decade by the time I lost track of it. Like you I
wonder whether their colour lasers are as good.

There are a lot of reviews online for laser printers. One which is rated
highly is the OKI C330dn which is an LED printer but which acts like a
laser in every other regard. This is a fast duplexing network-enabled
printer but it is possible that they have a lesser model which has fewer
bells and whistles. This printer costs $400 US and I assume that the same
model will be available worldwide at similar cost.

Hadn't considred LED, was a bit hung up on laser. Thanks.

Thank you for the suggestion. Just the type of thing I was after.

 

[GMAN]

I found older HP mono lasers to be pretty bullet-proof. The court where I
worked before retiring had 100+ of them and and they caused almost no
trouble unless somebody did something clumsy with toner or stock (like
turning the printer upside down for some unknowable reason or feeding
inkjet-only labels). I've had a LaserJet 5P forever and it is perfect. I
really don't know if their low-end colour printers are in the same league
though.

I agree, if you are wanting Mono only then a rock solid used Lasejet 5 has
done me well for the last 10 years. I still use it daily for mono only
printing, but ipicked up a second hand Okidata C5500n business color will full
4 color toners for $5 at the local Deseret Industries(LDS church version of
Goodwill or Slavation army store)

Look for used Laserjet 5's at the local University surplus stores (The place
at the local college that sells off used department pc's and supplies and
stuff)

For around $5 each, i can get the 98A toner carts for the Laserjet 5 almost
everywhere there is a thrift store. I probable will have that Laserjet 5 for
the next 20 years or until i have a pc that doesnt have drivers for it.

 

[Brian Cryer]

I agree, if you are wanting Mono only then a rock solid used Lasejet 5
has
done me well for the last 10 years. I still use it daily for mono only
printing, but ipicked up a second hand Okidata C5500n business color will
full
4 color toners for $5 at the local Deseret Industries(LDS church version
of
Goodwill or Slavation army store)

Look for used Laserjet 5's at the local University surplus stores (The
place
at the local college that sells off used department pc's and supplies and
stuff)

For around $5 each, i can get the 98A toner carts for the Laserjet 5
almost
everywhere there is a thrift store. I probable will have that Laserjet 5
for
the next 20 years or until i have a pc that doesnt have drivers for it.

My old one (HP LaserJet 4) was a very reliable trooper. Went on for ages.
Unfortunatly I need a replacement colour printer - my wife and children
wouldn't let me get away with going for a mono printer. Shame because I'm
sure my old LaserJet 4 would still be going strong and yet I've now worked
my way through 2 colour lasers and am looking for my third - I suppose I'm
getting 4/5 years of life out of a colour laser and that doesn't compare
well with the old HP LaserJet.

I wasn't looking at Oki, how have you found your second hand one in terms or
reliability?

 

[Brian Cryer]

My old one (HP LaserJet 4) was a very reliable trooper. Went on for ages.
Unfortunatly I need a replacement colour printer - my wife and children
wouldn't let me get away with going for a mono printer. Shame because I'm
sure my old LaserJet 4 would still be going strong and yet I've now worked
my way through 2 colour lasers and am looking for my third - I suppose I'm
getting 4/5 years of life out of a colour laser and that doesn't compare
well with the old HP LaserJet.

I wasn't looking at Oki, how have you found your second hand one in terms
or reliability?

Sorry, I take that back, as I wasn't think ... Oki is near the top of my
list, but I'd still welcome your experiences in terms of reliability (and
running cost!) - especially given that the one you have is second hand.

 

[GMAN]

My old one (HP LaserJet 4) was a very reliable trooper. Went on for ages.
Unfortunatly I need a replacement colour printer - my wife and children
wouldn't let me get away with going for a mono printer. Shame because I'm
sure my old LaserJet 4 would still be going strong and yet I've now worked
my way through 2 colour lasers and am looking for my third - I suppose I'm
getting 4/5 years of life out of a colour laser and that doesn't compare
well with the old HP LaserJet.

I wasn't looking at Oki, how have you found your second hand one in terms or
reliability?

Its been very reliable.

The demo print that prints the whole layout of the menues and remaining
drum, imager,toner life etc says that the printer still has 97% drum life and
99%Fuser life left. Not bad for a used office printer. The office that
donated it must have rarely used it .

The old Laserjet 5 that i still have and have used for near 7 years is still
going strong yet the case has yellowed a bit. The one good thing about the HP
color lasers is that you get a new or rebuilt drum as part of the toner. (I do
have a HP 2600 that is great but had a weird mishap with an aftermarket toner,
and the magenta leaked down into the printer, once i open it and clean it out
with a compressor, it should be as good as new)


So you really need to test the unit out by at least doing the built in test
print with the printer before you buy it at one of these thrift stores. Many
times they are donated broken, many times they are as good as new and some
company donated the item because they must have the latest and greatest each
year. Also , in adition to doing the built in test image print, go into the
menu and print the page where it prints the info like toner life, drum life,
fuser life, memory amount pages printed etc.......
That info , plus the ability to get aftermarket toner cars for a fraction of
the original cost is important to find out. I would never pay the full $129
per color toner for the HP2600 that i own, but i will pay $29 per color for a
professionally refilled one.


So i really scored with the okidata C5500n. Since it is a primarily office
printer, it has a 5000 page per toner count.

I mainly use the color lasers i have for printing CD and DVD jewel case
inserts and school reports etc for the kids. And the occasional "good enough
for me" 4x6 prints for the grandparents to look at or put in a scrapbook.

 

[John McGaw]

My colour laser at home has finally given up the ghost. It was a
konika-minolta magicolor printer and was always a bit troublesome. So I'm
now looking at getting a replacement. My question is simply are there any
brands (or specific models) which (in your experience) stand out as being
more reliable?

Sorry, I appreciate that this is a bit vague, but I would value other
people's experiences as a guide.

Thanks.

The newest issue of 'Consumer Reports' magazine in the US has ratings for a
number of electronic items, one of them being colour laser printers. They
show four (in order of score): Dell 1250c, HP LaserJet CP1215, Lexmark
C540n, and HP Color LaserJet CP2025n. Among these the most expensive
'monthly cost' was the Dell at $13.50 and the least expensive was the
Lexmark at $7.00. I'm assuming that this price is what would normally be
called consumables. Purchase prices for these range from $160 to $350US but
there is no telling how frightening your prices with VAT might be.

 

[Brian Cryer]

The newest issue of 'Consumer Reports' magazine in the US has ratings for
a number of electronic items, one of them being colour laser printers.
They show four (in order of score): Dell 1250c, HP LaserJet CP1215,
Lexmark C540n, and HP Color LaserJet CP2025n. Among these the most
expensive 'monthly cost' was the Dell at $13.50 and the least expensive
was the Lexmark at $7.00. I'm assuming that this price is what would
normally be called consumables. Purchase prices for these range from $160
to $350US but there is no telling how frightening your prices with VAT
might be.

Still not made a final decision (although I'm leaning towards one of the HP
LaserJets), so this is useful. Thank you.

Prices in the UK do seem to be significantly higher than those in the US,
and VAT certainly doesn't help!