Posted by Larry Fischer on January 27, 2011 at 10:02 AM
My old HP printer died yesterday.
Seeking a utility printer for mostly printing documents but with decent 4x6 photo rendition capabilities.
I send my data to MPIX.com for larger versions.
Any suggestion of a printer with no frills [I don't need nor want FAX or Scan] and CHEAP ink???
Platform = Windows 7
Thanks to any of those who reply.
Posted by David Prichard on January 27, 2011 at 10:11 AM
We recently purchased an Epson Artisan printer. While we haven't had a lot of experience with it yet, we are not unhappy with the results so far. As they just introduced an new model you might be able to find last year's version at a cheaper price. Cheap ink?
Posted by Larry Fischer on January 27, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Ink costs are important. Thanks David.
the fisch
Posted by Paul DeCesare on January 27, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Fisch, do you have a Costco near you? I have a simple Epson R380 for small photos and regular docs that need color, and the set of 6 ink carts there is almost $25 cheaper than any other source. Otherwise, there is one other option: Through the years I've tried third-party inks and have had some big problems, especially with head clogging at a rate that was so bad I just went back to Epson inks to avoid the problems (I'm talking late 90s, early 2000s). But then in 2003 I came across Pacific Ink, and their ink carts worked quite well, at a price that's substantially less than the name brand inks. I never got head clogs because I used that printer for everything, and since I was still shooting film back then I didn't print many photos. I really don't know how their inks perform for serious photo printing. But, for standard printing needs, maybe you can research their prices for a printer model you may buy and see if the equation works in your favor.
Just FYI, I don't use Pacific Ink now because I decided to get an $80 Canon Laser to print everyday docs in our home, and serious photo printing is done on the bigger Canon Pro 9000. The small Epson barely gets used anymore except for printing on CDs, so I just get Epson ink from Costco because it lasts a year now.
Oy, was that enough info, lol?
Posted by Kent Staubus on January 27, 2011 at 7:18 PM
I've been using a Kodak photo/document printer for the past two years. The printers are all under $100, one was $60. They can print 4x6 photos very easily with the built in photo paper holder. It automatically tells the computer to switch to "photo" mode. I send 8x10 prints from it with my magazine submissions--quality is good. Now for the best part. The ink is CHEAP! I bought a dual pack of b&w ink for $15, and also a dual pack of color ink for $23 at Walmart this month. The ink is photo quality and archival. This is exactly what you say you need.
Kent in SD
Posted by Lon Overacker on January 27, 2011 at 9:04 PM
Larry,
Something to consider... printers are cheap. We all know that the companies make their money on consumables, primarily ink. You might want to make sure the printer has a black cartridge and a "photo" cartridge and make sure you select the properties accordingly when you print. I have an semi-old dual-purpose HP printer/photo printer. I keep telling my wife to select "grayscale" and "draft" mode if she's just printing a recipe or something... but when you don't, you're just sucking up photo ink just printing out simple documents.
How about a very inexpensive printer that just has cheap black ink for your everyday printing and then one of those dedicated 4x6 photo printers that are now also pretty cheap. HP, Espon, Canon, Kodak, etc. stick with the name brands and shop price and features.
Discussion
5 repliesSeeking a utility printer for mostly printing documents but with decent 4x6 photo rendition capabilities.
I send my data to MPIX.com for larger versions.
Any suggestion of a printer with no frills [I don't need nor want FAX or Scan] and CHEAP ink???
Platform = Windows 7
Thanks to any of those who reply.
the fisch
Just FYI, I don't use Pacific Ink now because I decided to get an $80 Canon Laser to print everyday docs in our home, and serious photo printing is done on the bigger Canon Pro 9000. The small Epson barely gets used anymore except for printing on CDs, so I just get Epson ink from Costco because it lasts a year now.
Oy, was that enough info, lol?
Kent in SD
Something to consider... printers are cheap. We all know that the companies make their money on consumables, primarily ink. You might want to make sure the printer has a black cartridge and a "photo" cartridge and make sure you select the properties accordingly when you print. I have an semi-old dual-purpose HP printer/photo printer. I keep telling my wife to select "grayscale" and "draft" mode if she's just printing a recipe or something... but when you don't, you're just sucking up photo ink just printing out simple documents.
How about a very inexpensive printer that just has cheap black ink for your everyday printing and then one of those dedicated 4x6 photo printers that are now also pretty cheap. HP, Espon, Canon, Kodak, etc. stick with the name brands and shop price and features.
Just a thought.
Lon