Lazer or Inkjet Printer

[LoneStarLawn]

What do you use to print invoices? Seems to me that I change the cartridge of an inkjet printer often, let alone that the cartrifges are expensive. I was looking towards getting a lazer printer (since we only print in black) to save money in the long run..what do ya'll think?

[Vandora Lawn & Landscape]

I use a laser printer for all my printings. Specifically a brother HL-1240. Great speed, something like 7 ppm. It ran me about $300.00 and the print quality is GREAT! It has a USB connection. I've had great luck with it. Here's the link to the brother web site for more info: http://www.brother.com/usa/printer/info/hl1240/hl1240_ove.html

[jeffyr]

I use an inkjet. Recently I found that outpost.com has off-brand ink cartriges for 1/3 the price of the manufacturers--like $10 for 1 or $50 for a 6 pack. They are new and guaranteed to be of the same quality. Everything ordered from outpost is tax free and free overnight shipping.

To reduce the amount of ink you use, have you tried printing at a lesser quality or higher speed ? this will usually lay less ink. Paper selection in the print window (use your normal paper, but select glossy in the printing window) and it should use less as well.

[landscaper3]

We got the Lexmark Z31 and is real efficient on cartriges plus Aplus printing quility.

[dfor]

I've got a Hewlett Packard LaserJet 6L. Haven't had to replace any cartridges in 2 years. Great print quality.

[lawrence stone]

I have a HP laser 4L that I bought used for $200 three years ago and I am going to replace my first toner cartridge this week.

I also have a Epson stylus 800 for a back up that was a
$40 purchase.

[Greenkeepers]

Laser is the only way to go.. You don't have to worry about smearing and all that

Mike
Greenkeepers

[Nathan]

buy a used laser. they are very fast and cheaper in the long run. they also don't smear, important if you print envelopes. I got my brother from re-pc (search on the net)I can't remember if it is repc.com or what. anyhow it prints 17 ppm at 1200 dpi so I can do flyers etc. and it only cost 300 bucks. You can probably find used computer stores in your local yellow pages. Just make sure you see sample printouts from the machine before you buy.

[dhicks]

Get a laser type printer with no less than 2 megabytes of ram or preferably 4 megabytes. The extra memory will speed up printing company logos and other graphics.

[thelawnguy]

I use an Officejet 600 on grayscale econofast setting and the black cartridge will last maybe 6 months. I also have a HP laserjet 6L thats been sitting around for the past 2 years if I can figure how to hook up two printers and find some drivers for it maybe Ill hook it up.

Help, anyone?

[BRL]

You can get an A|B switch (Might be other names for this?) to hook up the 2 printers cheap & easy. You can download any needed drivers from the manfacturers web sites usually. I've been using the A|B Switch for a couple of years with no problems. I've got an old Desk Jet 520 for the black & white stuff an an 890C for color stuff. I change the 520 cartridge maybe once a year, and the color ones probably 3 times a year. Lasers are definitely the way to go for black & white though.

[geogunn]

hewlet packard 6Lse. I'm with dfor. buy it. forget it.

my legal council used one in her office. we tried to wear that puppy out but couldn't buy enough paper to do it.

I hear the brother is good also. the straighter the paper path the better. I use mine for envelopes too.

GEO

[parkwest]

We use an Epson LQ1050 Dot matrix printer with tractor feed for all check printing. A HP Laserjet 4P for legal document and billing, HP Officejet R40xi for color printing and finally a HP Designjet 450C for blueprints and large poster printing. All are hooked to the same main computer which is networked with a couple of Pentium 200 workstations.

[KirbysLawn]

Lazer. I use both a HP ink jet for color and a Xerox for lazer, the laser is faster, better quality, and prints envelopes MUCH better. FYI, I was looking for a cartridge for my Xerox, Office Depot $125 :eek:, found on yahoo.com auction for $40 new in box. Shop around.

[Skookum]

Get a Lazer!

Prices run a little higher than a inkjet, but the workload is higher and final cost per page is less with a lazer printer. Speed is also a major factor. Most inkjets take forever.

I had a HPII used it two years heavy before it needed new toner cartridge. Had a HP3P for two years, sold it to a friend and it was two years later before he needed a toner cartridge for it. I have had a HP5P now for 4 years and just replaced the toner.

I have run everything through this 5P. Memory does help! I have 16 megs in the 5P, never skips a beat. 600 dpi is good for most everything we do. HP's use a smoothing technology that makes it look like 1200 dpi. I had a true 1200 dpi laser printer a several years back that did not do have as good a resolution as the HP5P.

I have a older epson stylus color inkjet that I have not run an entire ream of paper through yet in five years, but I have replaced about 5 black and 7 color cartridges.

Spend the money on a good laser and if you want color get a inkjet for 50 bucks at Wal-mart. You can get a printer switch to run both printers on one computer for about $40.00.

Good Luck :)

[CCLC]

Get a laser. Look in your area for school surplus auctions. I have bought several HP lasers. I paid 45 bucks for a HP IIId which prints both sides of the page. Its great for doing newsletters. Lasers are cheaper to operate.

[zimm4]

Go with a lazer printer. Much less cost in the long run.
HP is the best..

[parkwest]

As for printing envelopes we have found it is better to go with ones with windows in them. Just format your letters, checks and bills to line up properly. Saves lots of time.