So many chose from!!

[multiprocessor]

I began to look for test results on both laser and ink printers a month now.
Tom's Hardware,Extremeteck, C/net,Pc World and Consumer Reports.
There so many, I'm confused more becouse each website has different and top printer that they like. Witch one should chose from???????????????

 

[smitbret]

What do you want the printer to do? How big is your budget, etc.?
-Brett

 

[Osage]

Got a few general comments.

In my opinion forget about cnet, pc world, or web site that depends upon advertiser dollars. They are too likely to be biased. But to add to the Tom hardware guide and CU look also to nifty stuff forums and steves digicams which I also think has quality information from users of the products. There is quality printer information on the web, its just buried under tons and tons of bad information.

Ultimately smitbrets question of "what do you want the printer to do", while vague, is the correct answer. Some critera may be economy, quality, or high quality photoprinting. Another consideration may be how long will the printer sit unsued and your antisipated printing volume. And do you want fax and scanning added in?

So your first step is to identify the existing printer market using quality web sites.----with the warning if you go to biased web sites you waste too much time on writers puffing products. Then you simply ask yourself what you need the printer to do for you and what your neeeds are. Only a few sites will allow you to make a realistic economic
model of what your total printings costs will be over time.
( In my case, that was my goal but it may not be someone else's main goal )

If you are somewhat the type that demands the highest quality regardless of cost, you may be doomed to confusion.

Its sort of like a cd player-any el-cheapo will do a pretty good job and will get somewhat close to a perfect fedility in a quantifiable test. But the closer and closer one gets to 100% costs more and more money.--a diminishing return
thing.

So identify your needs as each persons needs may be different, look at quality web sites and actual user experiences, hold your nose, pay your money and make your choice. Cheer up, the next day you will find a sale on what you bought at a cheaper price.

 

[multiprocessor]

I will be printing most the time
faxing not really some
copying not really but few times year
pictures may be few times year

 

[Osage]

To advise you I would need more information.

You say your needs are mostly for printing---but do you need
color sometimes or never. If you never need color consider an inexpensive monochrome laser. Also missing in action is your yearly antisipated printing volume.-----a real key decision parameter in my opinion. And also what you are willing to spend. ( sorta like someone giving car advice and saying everyone should get a Rolls Royce. )

If your need for scanning, copying, and faxing is very low,
you have a trade off here. Those added capacities do add to the printer price but not all that much vs. borrowing those capacities from a friend or having it commercially done when you actually need those capacities. But for what its worth, once you have a scanning capacity the copy function follows.
With having a flatbed scanner being more versatile than having a mere sheetfeed scanner. And if you also decide you want faxing capacity there is a distinction between all in ones that use your computers modem to fax vs. printers that have their own on board fax.--and can thereby fax without a computer and receive incoming faxes also.

In general and across all inkjet printer manufacturers line ups, cheap printers come with small capacity cartridges. The low initial purchase price will be made up by high cartridge replacement costs because the manufacturers make their money on the cartridges. Pay more initially and you usually get higher capacity cartridges that offer better per page economy. But Tom's and CU offer consumable costs breakdowns in terms of average per page costs so you can run the numbers and get estimated costs of printer plus consumable costs for your needs.

As for me, I got a Canon ip4000 for my wife and a used Canon
MP730 for me. And unexpectedly had to send a fax today. Using bulkinkjetcarts non-Oem cartridges, I figure my per page cost is comparable to the cheapest monochrome lasers and I have more than acceptable quality.

But the new crop of inexpensive color lasers may be an option for many unless really high quality photoprinting is needed.

But if your printing volume is fairly low, alot of printers
may meet your needs without being any being demonstratable more cost efficent. Just eliminate the real ripoffs from your short list and go with your gut.

My advice for what its worth but others may wish to weigh in.

 

[blah]

Dude, get a Dell, hehehe.

..this is very useful and helpful place for information...