Laser printers [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

Spuds1234

22nd March 2011, 14:17

Im looking at buying a lasor printer for some cheap printing for uni but I know nothing about them except for the fact that I will be able to print off a whole bunch more pages than an inkjet printer will be able to before the cartridge runs out.

Print speed isnt a big deal but good graphics and sharp looking print are.

My budget is about $200 (with a wee bit of head room). What do you recommend I get?

slofox

22nd March 2011, 15:06

I use a Brother 2820 here at work. Had it 5.5 years. Monochrome but cheap to run and pretty much trouble free (as long as you don't...errmmmm..."apply percussive maintenance" when the paper jams coughcough) :o:

steve_t

22nd March 2011, 15:13

NighthawkNZ

22nd March 2011, 15:33

Whilst there are cheap laser printers out there things to look for

Print resolution
What different size and types of paper it can print on and thickness.
Print cost per page
How much to replace toner, print head and toner catchment and after how many prints does it need changing.
Colour vs B&W

Sometimes the cheaper printers work out mopre expensive. It all depends on how often youa re going to use it and what it will be used for...

Spuds1234

22nd March 2011, 16:26

http://www.warehousestationery.co.nz/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/WSL-B2C-Site/en_NZ/-/NZD/ViewOfferDetail-Product?CatalogCategoryID=iqkKBTHBWy0AAAEdrwAMoH0z&ProductUUID=0eYKBTFxUkgAAAEu6eomsMSM&JumpTo=OfferList

:niceone:

Oh, do you need colour printing?

Na, no need for colour. Im not doing anything fancy. Dont get me wrong if I can get a reliable colour laser printer within my budget then I would (so long as I could still print black if the colour ran out unlike some injets I can think of).

Whilst there are cheap laser printers out there things to look for

Print resolution
What different size and types of paper it can print on and thickness.
Print cost per page
How much to replace toner, print head and toner catchment and after how many prints does it need changing.
Colour vs B&W

Sometimes the cheaper printers work out mopre expensive. It all depends on how often youa re going to use it and what it will be used for...

I'll mainly be using the printer to print uni assignments for the next 4-5 years. So long as the cost per page is at or below 6c it will work out to cost the same (or cheaper) as printing at uni and it will just be a hell of a lot more convenient.

Colour is a bonus but wont really get used.

Scuba_Steve

22nd March 2011, 16:41

well here's a list in your price range. (http://pricespy.co.nz/category.php?k=391&o=produkt_pris_inkmoms#rparams=l=s67542499)
I personally own an HP which I'm quite happy with but it is a more "top end" HP laser so I can't vouch for their "low end" models.

Ocean1

22nd March 2011, 17:20

If I can just butt in for a moment...

Any suggestions on an A3 laser? Or did I just add two zeros to that budget.

It's mosty for workshop drawings, nonetheless colour can be handy.

Gubb

22nd March 2011, 18:21

CookMySock

22nd March 2011, 18:52

Check the number of pages the toner will do before it needs replacing, and check the cost of a toner cartridge.

scracha

22nd March 2011, 19:46

Brother HL-2140. (http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4d883fe401ec3776273fc0a87f3b06f5/Product/View/XP1147)

Absolutely bulletproof, and sub $150.

1500 pages per cartridge, and only $110 or so for a new toner.

Seconded. Sub $100 if you look hard enough. Sold dozens and dozens. But I get the high yield cartridges ($112 ish). Stick to the Brother toner. Set it to toner save mode and 300 dpi and you'll get closer to 3000 pages per cartridge. Every 4 cartridge the drum is worn out. When that happens, you're cheaper taking out the remaining toner, throwing the rest of the printer in the bin and buying another.

pete376403

22nd March 2011, 19:56

Brother HL-2140. (http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4d883fe401ec3776273fc0a87f3b06f5/Product/View/XP1147)

Absolutely bulletproof, and sub $150.

1500 pages per cartridge, and only $110 or so for a new toner.

There's something wrong here - a whole printer, which includes a toner cartridge/drum assm, is only $40 more than the toner. The drum will cost more than a new printer. Not just Brother, either.
We have a whole pile of Brother HL-1230, all in good working condition, to be scrapped because supplies cost exceeds replacement cost.

steve_t

22nd March 2011, 20:12

There's something wrong here - a whole printer, which includes a toner cartridge/drum assm, is only $40 more than the toner. The drum will cost more than a new printer. Not just Brother, either.
We have a whole pile of Brother HL-1230, all in good working condition, to be scrapped because supplies cost exceeds replacement cost.

Same with inkjet printers. For the price of 6x OEM cartridges, I could nearly buy a new printer!! It just shows that the ink/toner is where they make their money.

Gubb

22nd March 2011, 20:16

Most printers are sold at a loss to the manufacturer. They make their $$$ on the consumables. It's the same across the board.

scracha

22nd March 2011, 20:20

Most printers only have only about 1/3rd or less of their toner when sold.

pete376403

22nd March 2011, 20:41

Same with inkjet printers. For the price of 6x OEM cartridges, I could nearly buy a new printer!! It just shows that the ink/toner is where they make their money.

6 cartridges would be not too bad. I bought a Canon MP240 a while back because I needed a scanner. Printer cost $75. replacement black cartridge $43.12, colour $45.94.
Fuck the planet, we're here to make money!

Scuba_Steve

22nd March 2011, 20:44

Most printers only have only about 1/3rd or less of their toner when sold.

+1 to that, unless you spend a few hundred on a printer they'll generally only come with "sample" inks

steve_t

22nd March 2011, 20:51

6 cartridges would be not too bad. I bought a Canon MP240 a while back because I needed a scanner. Printer cost $75. replacement black cartridge $43.12, colour $45.94.
Fuck the planet, we're here to make money!

Oh, did I mention that my printer takes 6 different $30 cartridges? And it's too retarded to print black and white if, heaven forbid, the light magenta cartridge has run out :facepalm:

Scuba_Steve

22nd March 2011, 20:56

Oh, did I mention that my printer takes 6 different $30 cartridges? And it's too retarded to print black and white if, heaven forbid, the light magenta cartridge has run out :facepalm:

retarded? no commercialist yes. cause you know to print black it uses every single cartridge to do so, don't you? it gives a "deeper more defined black" :yes:... well at-least thats they're excuse for it

p.dath

23rd March 2011, 07:36

Im looking at buying a lasor printer for some cheap printing for uni but I know nothing about them except for the fact that I will be able to print off a whole bunch more pages than an inkjet printer will be able to before the cartridge runs out....My budget is about $200 (with a wee bit of head room). What do you recommend I get?

At the $200 mark I would only consider Inkjets. Some of the inkjets in this price range can be half the running cost of the lasers in this price range. I personally like the Brother printers at the price you are talking about.

Spuds1234

23rd March 2011, 12:21

At the $200 mark I would only consider Inkjets. Some of the inkjets in this price range can be half the running cost of the lasers in this price range. I personally like the Brother printers at the price you are talking about.

What inkjet printers can print 5000 pages for $90-$110 worth of ink cartridges.

My mothers inkjet printer (which suits her needs fine) cant even get close to that.

steve_t

23rd March 2011, 12:27

What inkjet printers can print 5000 pages for $90-$110 worth of ink cartridges.

My mothers inkjet printer (which suits her needs fine) cant even get close to that.

Maybe with those $5 compatible cartridges you can get off trademe? Even then, I'm skeptical

rphenix

4th April 2011, 21:05

Like some others I highly recommend Brother Lasers they are very easy to DIY service, not that expensive if you make a mistake it will cost you big. Personally I always recommend to people the cheapest network model so they can use it on multiple home computers, and if you get the wireless one can put it anywhere in the house.

Regarding toners, buy compatible ones from the likes of ezyink.co.nz for drums, forget buying the whole drum, just get the replacement cylinder (its the only part that matters). Replacement drum kits can be had for about $30 off ebay cheaper if you buy several at once just air compress clean before you start :)

geoffm

13th April 2011, 19:09

pete376403

13th April 2011, 21:38

I have a Brother HL1430 laser I bought when I did my ME in Christchurch. The original toner cartridge lasted for almost 2 years - at least 3000 pages. It is a great little printer as long as you don't want colour. I have a Canon IP4200, whose main saving grace is that it can print CDs. The ink cost is unreal.

What ink carts (numbers) does it take? - I've a big box of Canon and Epson ink carts that are going to be binned. All date expired by quite a long time, but new, unopened.

steve_t

13th April 2011, 21:43

What ink carts (numbers) does it take? - I've a big box of Canon and Epson ink carts that are going to be binned. All date expired by quite a long time, but new, unopened.

U got any T0490-T0496?

pete376403

13th April 2011, 22:21

Will have a look tomorrow.

Scuba_Steve

13th April 2011, 23:38

U got any T0490-T0496?

damm u got there 1st

Ricardo S

14th April 2011, 02:05

+1 to that, unless you spend a few hundred on a printer they'll generally only come with "sample" inks

bear in mind that if you put some black tape on the eye sensor of the original toner of a brother hl-2140 it will still work fine for at least a 1000's pages :)

YellowDog

14th April 2011, 06:17

bear in mind that if you put some black tape on the eye sensor of the original toner of a brother hl-2140 it will still work fine for at least a 1000's pages :)

That's a great idea in an emergency situation however will do the printer harm if you run down to nothing.

When looking for a laser printer, make sure thatwhatever you get has drivers for your OS.

As people on here have said, they just last forever and need no maintenance.

Every inkjet I have bought has not ever lasted more than 2 years.

For me, the main thing to consider is the price and availability of replacement Toner.