all in one printer - advice needed

gooner99

Hi. I need to buy an all in one printer. It will be mainly used for printing documents and copying documents. It won't be a heavy workhorse and it won't really be used as a photo printer. I have been looking on the net, but don't know much about printers. What I do know is the most important thing is ink usage and price. Also I 've read that some printers use a lot of ink to clean the jets and realign. Can anyone recommend a all in one printer that is serving them well for the use above and doesn't cost too much to run.

Also any other buying advice is much appreciated, as it seems it's not the cost of the machine, but the cost of keeping it running. I even read that some printers show empty levels even when there is still ink in the cart and will only show full again when a new cart is in place.Others don't seem accept compatable inks. So I suppose it goes to show,they make ther money on the ink and not the printer.All advice and tips welcome.

Thanks.

Gurgle

Advice: Don't buy an all-in-one, they're nothing but trouble.

If you're printing more than ~200 pages per month, get a laser printer - monochrome < 150 euro or colour < 300.

For copying, look for a stand-alone scanner with a sheet-feeder.

Most printers have an option somewhere to 'run out' so it will continue printing even when the cartridge is reported empty.

gooner99

Thanks for the reply.

Printing would typically be less than 200 pages per month.

The scanner with sheet feeder would require the pc and printer to be switched on in order to copy,right?

I think on the all in one you can copy without the pc on, or is this only a feature on some models?

richardw001

I've had a little HP all-in-one for the last three years with no probs - that said I wouldnt be printing more than 50 pages a month.

The photocopy option works without turning on a pc

Key thing as you said is the cartridge price

corriganalan

I got one of these for 150 over the counter in an office supplies shop. Great little machine and cheap to run. Laser is better as it never dries up like ink if not used for a month or two.

http://www.brother.co.uk/g3.cfm/s_page/166900/s_level/36240/s_product/DCP7030U1

enfant terrible

I bought an Epson r200 photo printer about 6 years ago and its still working amazingly.

Can still buy ink cartridges cheap on ebay.

Fogmatic

Don't buy an Epson Photo PX700W, that's for sure.