Printers: $150 budget, cheaper cartridges, any chance?

[mike wood]

My fine running 6 month old Epson Stylus 160 is ruined, says the tech guy, by my use of off brand cartridges. He says he will keep it in exchange for the $40.00 cleaning fee. (Clogged print head). A new print head "Costs more than the printer."

I'm deciding if I should pay him off and get second opinion, or just put the money into a new printer.

I can't spend enough for a really good one. (Wife). It seems that the real expense is the cartridges. Like the "FREE RAZOR" with expensive blades approach!

The Epson printed a picture off the web on glossy paper that looked pretty good.It cost about $150. Do you have a mid range printer that does this pretty well with cartridges that don't make blood trickle out of your ears when you buy them?

Thanks for any opinions,

mike

[sharder8]

Mike --

I went through the same thing with my Canon last month. Here's what I did --

Ordered a HP932C from Staples on-line. Listed price, $199. Used on-line $30 coupon making the final price $169 with next day delivery..

While the cartridges are higher than He**, they last a lot longer. After a little research, I found that the cost per page for ink when using the HP932C was the lowest of any of the low-medium cost printers.

The other thing I did to help on the ink, was to set the ink volume from the middle to one step below for normal printing and if I want to print a picture, I reset it to the middle.

Harder

[RalphArch]

I just love my HP880 which replaced an Epson with clogged heads. There is no comparison considering the security of knowing that if my refills do result in damaging the print-heads I can just put in another original or aftermarket cartridge and refill away again. I get about 4 or 5 refills at least of 40 cc black ink. so the consumable cost of my printer is very cheap. Don't think about the cost of a printer in isolation of the consumeables. If you refill every other month like I do at $25 an OEM cartridge you will easily get taken to the cleaners by any manufacturer's pricing on these. Plan on using either refills or generic refills from the shows and save some $$.

[mike wood]

So the HP 880 is designed so that you can replace clogged print heads?

The HP 932 sounds good too. 2 HP's, is it a trend?

Good stuff to know.

mike

[mike wood]

Wow!

Refilling that way sounds great. Where do you buy your kits?

I am looking at the Epson Stylus 880, the closest thing to my clogged 860 locally available. $150.00 at Office Depot.

But I'm worried about this clogging issue. And I used the 860 all the time...

Anyone know if you can refill the cartridges on that Epson 880 model? It looks just like the 860.

There is a snap down lever action cap that drops the cartridge and pierces the foil on the ink chambers, and the manual tells you not to remove it once installed. I did when it stopped working and the software utility wouldn't help, and some ink dribbled out!

Come to think of it, I ran the cartridges out of ink before replacing them. maybe that ruins the printer?

If so, there may be a better choice out there, like these printers with the heads in the cartridge. I had no idea these existed. Are they just as good? Which one of these do you like?


mike

[RalphArch]

mike - the cartridges for the hp include printheads, actually I think the epson is one of the few that use separate print heads which makes the printer a throw away if they clog.

[mike wood]

Ralph,

Sounds really good. Does the HP880 print nice sharp color if you use glossy paper?

How much will this one cost me? I just searched for it in several places, but no result. I even thought there might have been a typo in the model number!

Thanks,

mike

[sharder8]

Mike --

Ralph hit the nail on the head, the HP's have the print head built into the cartridge, that's why they cost more. But what that means is when refilling, if the print head gets clogged, you just slap in a new cartridge.

The Canon uses a seperate print head and when it clogs (and I do print daily), you have to replace the print head and that costs as much as a new printer.

I find refill kits on-line, Staples, Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and many other places.

The HP 932C prints beautiful pictures on glossy paper and does a great job all around for the price.

Harder

[sharder8]

caddmannq --

You've been extremely lucky!!! The print head in the Canon BJC-2000 is only good for aprox. 2,000 copies per Canon. I used to refill my Canon tanks also, but the print heads didn't become clogged, they wore out.

Harder

[mike wood]

Sure sounds like HP is the way to go.

Mayeb I should change my plan. Disposable pint heads sound so good right now...

mike

[RalphArch]

Mike - I got mine about 2 years ago - was $275 then - so the 932 is probably the comparable model today and its probably somewhat of a step up. The deals with rebates sound pretty good that Sharder8 was noting. If budget is not a problem and you like features like automatic double-sided printing you may want to step up another $100. That model comes with automatic 2-sides; something you'd have to pay $80 for in the 932. (I know - a lot of money to turn a pile of paper over). However if you did go that route and wanted to fork over another $140 you could get a print server and be able to print from anywhere on your network without having a dedicated computer turned on.

[mike wood]

Thanks Ralph. I need to economize, so it looks like the HP 932c for me. $190.00 at Office Max, unless I run across a better deal. My wife is disgusted with my recent (poor ) choice of the Epson 880. Bent my ear a bit, so I have to watch the pennies!

Older and wiser,

mike

[Richard_Cranium72]

There has been some controversy over Epsons poor image lifespan. There are chemicals that you can buy to clean them,(the heads)if they dry up.

I vote for the HP cause I and family/friends have had great luck.

Look for ANY HP printer with "Photo Ret II or III"

This will be any 700c series, 800c series or 900c series.

For price on ink carts,, err,, well,, uh..

IF, you can find an older HP 700c series as in a 710c 712c 722c these do GREAT photo work.

With the techbargains coupon, I get the color carts in the twin pack for 22.00 each inc tax.

The newer HPs and the leftover 842s seen around commonly will eat you out of house and home..

Question,, are you into PHOTOS or Not ?

I use a Xerox C8 for my text, cost $50 and the transparent ink wells are easy to fill.

Then I ONLY use the hi-dollar HP PhotoSmart or my 712c or my Xerox C-20 for the photos.

If you are just playing around, try the 610c HP at Staples @ $50.00 add some glossy paper or maybe two printers to break $100 and use the techbargains $30 coupon for a total of $75 or so.

Mom has one of these little printers and they do OK on glossy paper.

get back with us..

DrVette

[mike wood]

I do want to make good photos now and then.

The Staples 30.00 coupon on the home page of Techbargains perplexes me; I click and get Staples homepage. I don't understand how to use this deal.

Another place I called said they gave up even trying to clean the Epsons, even with an ultrasound bath they stay clogged.

Good tip on maintenence for the HP. I'm inclined to go for that zippy HP 932c. Staples doesn't seem to sell it however.

So I guess I'll shop around.

Refilling the cartridges would vent the gas pressure above the ink, is that right? So the ink would just dribble out after that?
Or so the salesman at Ofice Max told me. Any second opinions?

I'm getting a real education in printers; better late than never.

mike

[Richard_Cranium72]

Staples on-line store DOES have the HP 932c.

It's $199.95 and on the second page of ink jet printers.

I'd post the link but it's 4000 characters long http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

On the "Staples" coupons, just add what ya want to the basket, click checkout and at the bottom there is a box marked "add coupons"

First, before buying ,, go to www.techbargains.com (http://www.techbargains.com) and get the $40 off 200 coupon by copy method, then paste it to the box at checkout.

You can cancel an order before final submission.

I use Staples and Buy.com coupons EVERY month.

Sometimes you can get stuff below wholesale, though usually not.

You better look at the cartridge prices before getting the HP 932, they're like $65-75 bucks just for the Color.

lotsa luck

DrVette

[This message has been edited by Richard_Cranium72 (edited 01-24-2001).]

[Richard_Cranium72]

Get the HP 840c/842c.

The carts at buy.com are $15.00 CHEAPER than at Staples @ $24.49

TRICOLOR INK CARTRIDGE FOR THE DESKJET 840C 842C 843C $24.49 http://www.us.buy.com/retail/product.asp?loc=101&sku=10239411

The HP840c is $140.99 at buy.com use the $30.00 off a $150 order to lower the final cost of printer and 1 color cart to $135.50 + s/h of probably $10

Printer-->> http://www.us.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10243705&loc=10966

If you want performance, get This one, I know the newer models look more space age but I've seen these 700 and 800c units in action,, GREAT machines. This is a true photo printer "as is"

Get some Kodak Glossy from Staples if you can finangle the coupon to best suit your needs.. Sometimes Office Depot has Kodak paper for cheap.

If you are Not gonna Handle the finished product, Hewlett Packard has some double sided Glossy paper for real cheap.

The weight is flimsy, like 24lb or so whereas the best Glossy paper is 118#.
So if you're gonna frame it and not touch it the thinner may work for you..

The prices on the 930 series ink cartridges are staggering, a full one is about $75 a "Economy" one is $36 and more at Staples.

Staples has better coupons than buy.com BUT the stuff is usually higher, well OK always higher..

DrVette

[sharder8]

Dr. Vette --

The color cartridges for the HP932C are $36.99 at Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, and K-Mart. You can buy them on-line at a couple different sites for under $30.00. I don't know where you got the $65-75 price, but let us know so we can stay away from there.

Harder

[Richard_Cranium72]

What your seeing is the "Economy" cartridges-->>
No. 78 Economy Color Inkjet Cartridge p/n C6578DN $36.29

The "Hi-Capacity" cartridges NO.78 LG TRI-COL INK CART Mfg part#: C6578AN $56.79

Note the p/n suffix difference of "DN" and "AN"


http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?loc=101&sku=10228178

These retail at $72.99

Staples don't even list the large cartridges on their site..

A pal who does pewters at Office Depot sets them up, I get the scoop from him on the stuff they carry.

His opinion is that the 700c/800c HP printers are of the same or nearly the same print quality as the newer prettier units.

Opinions are just that, opinions.

Here's a link to the HP store for the 932c that should help clarify available products-->>
http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/supplies_store/printer_supplies.jsp?

This man requested a printer for less than $150 and one that the ink carts would not "make his ears bleed"

I'm trying to do just that,, hopefully http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

cya

DrVette

[RalphArch]

if Mike is really interested in a good buy on an 800 series HP the 842 is available directly from HP with a $30 rebate for $119. http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/product_detail/which_product_detail.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@14135936 95.0980386567@@@@&BV_EngineID=ghalkcffklegbfdnckgcfjgd gmg.0&product_oid=596097&page=Bundles

It uses photo ret II just like my 880 - probably just a speed difference. But since it takes the same cartridges its a good bet. I get the big tanks (42ml) and refill away until it gets fuzzy or a problem. This could be 5 or 6 uses out of every $40 cartridge. The ink is cheap. And there's no physical difference in the cartridge after refilling - all you're doing on the black is pushing a bb out and replacing it for the seal. On the color the refill point is vertical so doesn't need a seal.

I would stay away from the 600 series like the plague. HP is marketing them (selling under cost) to gullible people who don't mind being raped on the extremely low capacity cartridges.

[mike wood]

Gentlemen,

Many thanks for your lively and informative responses. What was a confusing chore has turned into a little adventure.

I will look at the HP 840c/842c. To think I can save Some folding money with just a small sacrifice in print speed. Wonderful!

I'm really glad I asked. I hope this thread helps others too.

mike

[RalphArch]

if its analogous to the 880c 882 the only difference in these ( commercial and home models) 840 and 842's is the bundled software. So if you have adequate print shop etc save the $9 and go with Richards deal for $110 instead of the $119 at HP directly

[Richard_Cranium72]

Holy Cow Ralph,, a 812c for $89.00 !! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Kewl !!

This one takes the very generic c1823d color cart and the not so generic C6615DN black cart.

Sharder and you are right about these having a generous ink supply.

I have the 1st PhotoSmart printer and a 712c , hp don't give specs on the PhotoSmart on resolution numbers but the 712c ain't too far behind.. Photo Ret II is the thing to look for..

Here's the link on the 812, it'll be a surprise if the long thing works, maybe

Go here and click on "Home and Office Deals"


http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/home/start_home.jsp

DrVette

[This message has been edited by Richard_Cranium72 (edited 01-24-2001).]

[mike wood]

Richard,

The 812c looks good, thanks for the link.

What do I get for another $30.00 in the 842?

A bit more speed, but is the printing as good do you think?

Really, it isn't much more to pay if I get an even better printer, right?

Thanks,

mike

[bdunn]

Xerox just cut the price on the M series printers. The M750 was nice at $150 but its even nicer at $100.

[mike wood]

Thanks Bdunn.

I'm leaning toward the ink and printhead being one unit, as on the HP's.

Does seem like a good deal though.

mike

[Richard_Cranium72]

I don't know exactly the diff between the 812c and the 840/842.

I did notice at HP that the 812c was 600x600 and had photo ret II.

I tried to order on even though s/h was high, the total was $106.00 http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

The 812c was parallel port which is ok by me, I'm in no hurry.

Posting HP's and Staples links is nearly futile as they are soooo long and wind up not working anyway.

The buy.com deal looks most promising for a 840 series, investigate the 812. I'll bet it is a terrific printer also. Be sure to look up the price of its black cart too..

DrVette

[NDC]

For me, it took about 2 months to spend the cost of getting a new printer on replacing the ink cartridges on my HP 950c. Personally, I'm not too crazy about using refill kits. I hate getting that **** all over the place and having to clean it up and then find streaks on my printouts due to a worn printer head... happened to me a few times... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif


My suggestion is to get a printer that has the "Printer Head" attached to the replacement ink cartridge... Why? You will notice that HP ink is rather expensive, but the head is attached to the ink cartridge which replaces the head each time you replace the ink cartridge, which I think is cheaper in the long run....

I'm currently using an HP 950c, HP Photo Smart, and an Epson Photo 750... What I noticed about the Epson printer is that the heads get worned out after a while and I'd have to end up sending it in for service which I found to be a BIG PAIN IN THE ****! I don't know about the newer models of Epson Printers, but the older models such as the Epson Photo 700, 750 has the head attached to the printer itself, so just the ink gets replaced, not the heads..

Bottom line is.... I would recommend getting a printer that has the head attached to the ink cartridge itself rather than on the printer itself. The ink may be a bit more expensive for the cartridges that have the heads built on to them, but it's better in the long run... you get nice new prints each time you replace the ink, not that UGLY streak on the printout due to worn-out printer heads....

[mike wood]

Well, it's setteled. The HP 840c from Buy.com. The Techbargains coupon is for buisiness only, but I have a little 1 man sculpting operation that let me use it.

The printer and three packs of the thin glossy paper came to $148.00 delivered. I think I will try refilling the cartridges since there is so little at stake if any problems develop. I'm assuming they are not slightly pressurized, as a clerk told me at Office Depot, so ink pressure after opening will not be a problem.

I didn't have the slightest clue where to go for a replacement printer until I tried this forum. I think it is very kind of you all to offer such good insight and point the way.

I'm saving some decent money, and actually I like the plain jane boxy look better than the curvy grey current standard.

You guys have a lot of wisdom accumulated from experience; thanks for helping me out!

Gratefully,

mike