OT: Low Cost Color Laser Printer

RalphM wrote on 2/3/2009, 9:13 AM
I used a nice color inkjet printer primarily to print inserts for DVD cases. (Epson 785EPX). Problem was that it was used infrequently and always a hassle to get working due to clogged heads. (Yes, I know, there are ways to keep that from happening, but that would imply a degree of discipline....).

When my monochrome laser printer died, I decided to look for a low cost color laser. Found the Samsung CLP 315 for $129US. So far, It's been highly satisfactory for my purposes and it's ready to print whether it was used an hour ago or a month ago. I suspect the costs per page will be no more than the inkjet, but more importantly, I won't be fooling with endless cleaning cycles.

BTW, as noted in reviews, the printer when first new is pretty smelly. It does dissipate in time.

Comments

Coursedesign wrote on 2/3/2009, 10:23 AM
I used a Samsung CLP-600 for about 18 months before donating it to a recycling charity.

The CLP-600 is just a higher version of the CLP-315, the print quality is similar: good.

The challenge is in the cost of toner, which is more than the cost of the printer.

I bought a CMYK toner cartridge refill kit on eBay and did a refill with it once. Which is how many times most people will do it, because it is a royal, nay, imperial pain in the (*).

I switched to an HP CP1518ni for about $299 at Staples (I also added a service contract for $29.99). Vastly superior print quality, where even photos look good. It prints on just about anything including glossy photo paper and heavy cover stock, and has Postscript 3 and PCL6 drivers (generally there are some things that can only be printed with Postscript on any printer).

Toner cartridges are about $70-80 full list, but who needs to pay that?

And there's no smell. :O)

I now use inkjet only for printing DVDs and CDs, and that's a $99 Canon iP4500 which has nearly undone my spitting hatred of inkjets.

RalphM wrote on 2/3/2009, 10:45 AM
Refill kit worse than filling ink carts? If so, I'll not try it.

It was interesting to note that the "special offer" for the four replacement toner cartridges was more than the cost of a complete printer :-0 Could be that the intro cartridges are not full.....

If the HP is the one I think it is, I've seen the output and it is very good - only problem is that it's too big to fit under the shelf where I have printer space...
UlfLaursen wrote on 2/3/2009, 8:58 PM
I was lucky to get a Konica/Minolta color laser at work, because we were having a big canon color copier instead, and there was plenty of toner for the printer.
I use it mostly for DVD covers and stuff like that.
When the toner that cane with it is out I will surely consider a new one, bevause the toner for this baby is expensive.

Good to know that you like the HP one, Course, I'll save that model no.

/Ulf
Coursedesign wrote on 2/3/2009, 9:37 PM
There is also a cheaper CP1215 model that is similar, but then you don't get the 450 MHz CPU with 96 MB RAM.

The starter cartridges are about 1/2 full, expect about 700 pages out of them.

craftech wrote on 2/4/2009, 7:16 AM
I used a nice color inkjet printer primarily to print inserts for DVD cases. (Epson 785EPX). Problem was that it was used infrequently and always a hassle to get working due to clogged heads. (Yes, I know, there are ways to keep that from happening, but that would imply a degree of discipline....).
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That's the problem. Epson inkjet printers have been plagued with easily clogging heads for years. The cleaning cycles eat up a ton of ink which is Epson's goal. They also were found guilty of selling ink cartridges that weren't full a few years ago.

The HP printers have the heads in the ink cartridge so it is not an issue as you get a new print head every time you buy a new ink cartridge.

Canons have a separate print head, but it doesn't seem to clog up at the drop of a hat like the Epsons do.

My suggestion would be to ignore the nice reviews when new Epsons come out and based upon the company's history, avoid buying an Epson inkjet printer.

John