Inkjet Scam

12 years ago, I found an HP LaserJet 1200 in a dumpster. It still works. Haven't changed the toner cartridge yet. It does choke a bit on huge .pdf files, but it spits 'em out eventually.

 

Yep, as in the video, most manufacturers have long sold the printer at cost or loss then soak the customer on refill ink/toner.

We have always been able to find aftermarket ink/toner for a fraction of the cost.

 

When I used to use inkjets, I refilled cartridges. But there were always problems with printheads clogging, even with the million dollar an ounce name brand cartridges. I went to a color laser printer about four years ago and have never had a problem since. Toner is pretty pricey, but it's way cheaper per page and you don't have to keep clearing its throat to keep it functional.

 

As in the video, we also had poor experiences with inkjet printers besides the ink refill issues - they malfunctioned or completely failed frequently. They were cheap to buy but that was about the only upside.

As with most people, our usual needs were standard black printing for routine documents, so a laser printer worked great for that. Our experience with Brother laser printers has been much better than our inkjet woes. We had one for almost 10 years then gave it away about 3 years ago - it was still working, but we wanted doubled sided printing and WiFi for our laptops, tablets, and smart phones.

But we missed being able to print the occasional color stuff. A couple of years ago we got a new color laser printer for $200 and still have yet to replace the color toner (looks like we will soon). We recently purchased a set of 4 aftermarket toner cartridges (1 black + 3 yellow) so have that ready to go when the color cartridges need to be replaced. It is also WiFi enabled and prints double sided.

 

InkJet is the absolutely WRONG technology for the occasional printer user. The ink dries out and when you most need to print something, you can't. I have figured it out about 15 years ago when I bought my first (and last) inkjet printer. I have been using an inexpensive laser printer ever since and am on my second one in said 15 years. I have a similar use case as the OP. We mostly print shipping labels and occasional other things. We are still on the toner cartridge that came with the printer, which is an introductory small capacity one. The printer works great, has network capability, we can print from mobile devices connected to our wifi. It was not $30 cheap, more like $200, but here we are 7 years later still using it and its original toner cartridge. I have no idea how inkjets are still around. The only way to sell them is to "give" them away. It's a travesty how wasteful and deceptive they are.

I highly recommend spending a little more on a decent, but inexpensive laser printer for the occasional use. Laser toner does not dry up and is always ready to print something no matter how long it has sat unused.

 

You might still be able to use your parallel-port only printer on a modern PC with one of these:

link : //http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012FF3CW0/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U__n18fCb8HXD6EF

There are also PCI cards that provide parallel ports if there's expansion room in your PC.

Amazon.com: pci parallel adapter card

 

Our 4-pack aftermarket color laser toner replacement cartridges (black + 3 color) were only $30. This should last us at least another 2 years at our rate of use - probably several years more as the original manufacturer cartridges are usually teaser, low capacity ones.

 

we just picked up a b&w cartridge for our hp inkjet for $6.50 freight free on amazon prime

comparable hp is $35. for one, a bit less for multiples.

looks like new and works great. we have the same problem with occasional printing, and the cartridge always dried up in between.

even if we spend $13./year, that's cheaper than going to laser

 

Scanner function can be handles by your smartphone, if you have one. Apps like this one provide very good and free way to scan your documents.

 

Got a Brother Color LED printer (HL3040-CN, comparable to laser) a few years back for about $80. A suite of 3 color and one black cartridges sets me back a bit over $200 IIRC. They are very durable and long-lived though. But: the printer is not photo quality. For that I've got an inkjet: Canon Pro100, takes 8 cartridges, and IIRC I can get them as a suite for, huh: a bit over $200.

B&H often outdoes Amazon for printer supplies, btw.

 

had to look them up

 

you're talking new oem? i don't see anything for less than $6.50

 

I started scanning film with a flatbed, still have it, can't remember the last time I used it. It IS vastly superior to a cell phone pic, but a hassle. I run it with VueScan, fwiw.

I dropped the the flatbed for a dedicated film scanner, a Minolta Dual Scan IIRC (scans at around 2800 dpi). Then moved to the Minolta 5400 scanner. For most stuff. For color negatives I picked up a Nikon scanner.

I mostly finished scanning my color slides, about 1800, have a 2 or 3 rolls worth, really old ones too, that I really should do, just sorta hit the wall. Scanned a comparable amount of black and white negatives. Got 6~7 rolls into the mountain of color negatives, another mountain. A lot of work. And the thought, in the back of my mind: all things pass, just let go, you've done enuf.

I actually resurrected my black/white film processing up until a few years back. Still have a single roll of out-of-date Tri-X I should shoot. Sometime...

Funny, I was mixing my own developers and fixers from scratch when I was just a kid, long time back.

Here's something I played around with in the darkroom, many years ago: