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From: Priam on 9 Jul 2010 23:12
On 07/09/2010 12:09 PM, Andrew Smallshaw wrote:
> On 2010-07-08, Priam<priam(a)notsosure.com> wrote:
>> I'm surprized by how many people here say they have problems with their
>> laser printers ans I wonder if it's that common. I thought laser
>> printers were no brainers.
>
> For the most part they are. You've got to remember people don't
> come here saying "My printer is working fine" so the picture you
> get is always going to be distorted that way.

That's why I ask. Mayeb soem people had a good experience with other
makes than HP.

> That isn't necessarily anything to do with technology as much as
> market placement: the average inkjet is designed as a personal
> printer for SOHO users whereas the typical laser is designed for
> a higher duty cycle

Well, at $190, I suppose the Laserjet 1012 doesn't qualify as an
industrial printer :)

> There are exceptions of course. There are a few personal lasers
> that seem incredibly flimsy and the odd inkjet built for a decent
> life - HP's Business Inkjets come to mind straight away.

The Deskjet 500, which was one of the first inkjet printer, built itself
a reputation as an undestructible printer. Of course, since the
printhead was part of the cartridge, it didn't do as clean a job as the
Canon BJ-300. That's what I should have bought nonetheless.

> For the record, though, my primary printer is still a 4ML dating
> from 1993 and is still going strong.

Oh, only 17 years! I'm afrid that, mainly if you're ready to apply fix
onec in a while, you'll be stuck with it till the end of times... well,
at least your time.

I see no reason why home printers shouldn't last that long. I think some
companies plan breakdowns or just won't provide basic info on how to fix
the printer.

For instance, all there was to do the first time my Canon was to wash a
little sponge below the print head. Canon absolutely refused to tell
where the little sponge was. Since the ink made it black as the
printhead casing, it was hard to find.

I'm sure the second time it was the same kind of silly problem. They
wouldn't tell me where the pump was. This printer was like brand new and
I had to put it to the garbage. Industrial electronics, big stainless
stell rollers, etc.

But Canon kept suggesting that I buy their new flimsy models at half the
price. I bet you that's exactly what some customers do. They get screwed
and they ask for more. Maybe some other companies -- Brother, Epson,
Samsung? -- are the same. I don't know. I've have only experience with
Canon and HP.

With HP, you don't even have to ask, the service manual is online.
Still, some people who are, I suppose, used to throw things away after a
year or two, pretend that Canon printers are just great.

>> Another question. A new cartridge, good for 2000 pages, is $85 (CAN).
>> Since the drum is in the cartridge, would you rather have it refilled
>> for about 1/3 of the price?
>
> That's up to you. Personally I've never bothered - you talk about
> the problems here and it seems the majority of problems are related
> to refilling cartridges.

Yes, but I would think that most cratridges don't have the drum inside.
It's less risky to fill cartridges when the drum is included.

> I would advise shopping around. I can
> easily spend £60+ here in the UK for an HP cartridge or perhaps
> £50 for a compatible. However, I can also buy a compatible for
> £25 elsewhere. If I go on ebay I can usually find new cartridges
> for around £10 including postage.

New cartridges? I doubt it. They're most probably refilled.

> Personally I don't see that the
> savings are worth the hassle, especially given the health concerns
> over loose toner.

There shouldn't be any concern with refilled cartridges, I would think.
Since I don't print much I don't intend to buy a kit to do my own refills.
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