New Printer Opinion

[Altamira]

Hi all.

Need your help and opinion. My Office Laser printer its going nuts, some good years of service. I need an urgent replace but im on a budget. Here are the things im looking for:

- For small office use/Business use/small workgroup
- Mainly for b/W documents, text, maybe some simple graphical work (generally i avoid color prints unless it is paramount)
- Decent print quality/defenition
- Compatible with Linux Ubuntu
- Multitasking (Print,Copy, Scanner, Fax)
- Ink or Laser (low cost per page)
- Low power consumption
- Below 250 Dollars, the less the better

I hope someone can give me some help here.

Thank you

 

[TemjinGold]

You may have to pick between low cost per page and below $250 because a printer with both might not exist since you want an MFC...

 

[nickbits]

I am a fan of canon mfc

 

[corkyg]

The critical spec you gave is that it must be a AIO machine. This is a pretty good review of such: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1763712,00.asp

 

[nitrous9200]

I like the HP Laserjet M1212nf. It's a few years old now but it's reasonably priced, has all the functions you'd need and has cheap toner replacements.
You didn't mention this below, but this is also a network printer, which is great for a small office.
I'm not sure about Linux compatibility, but I'm sure it would work with a generic HP driver.

 

[Altamira]

Thank you.
So it means something got to go?
Well and if i said no more than 300 pages per month (between prints and copies), mostly black and white? Actually its very likely that the number be even lower. Its a small company and small workgroup, generally we try to scan documents and then use digital means. We only use paper when is really necessary. Would the cost per page be important? What you think?

 

[Puffnstuff]

Cheap printers get you when you buy toner which is priced over the top. I run a hp color laserjet cm2323nf mfp which I've had for several years now and it's been very good to me. I buy my toners from newegg and get their house brand rosewill which works very well for half the price of hp toners.

 

[TemjinGold]

Thank you.
So it means something got to go?
Well and if i said no more than 300 pages per month (between prints and copies), mostly black and white? Actually its very likely that the number be even lower. Its a small company and small workgroup, generally we try to scan documents and then use digital means. We only use paper when is really necessary. Would the cost per page be important? What you think?

Err... have you thought about buying a page scanner instead? I use one of these (got it for ~$65 on a BF sale a couple years back.) If all you do is scan and use the digital document, this scanner is far cheaper than a printer and the resolution will be MUCH better than any MFC can provide.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16838111033


Forgot to mention, if you still want a printer just in case, you could add one of these. Total of 2 would still be below your $250. I would not worry about cost per page if you print so little but whatever you do, don't get an inkjet with that kind of volume because you will spend a ton of money on ink that keeps drying up and clogging vents.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A16L2Q

 

[raf051888]

Check out the Brother MFCs.

 

[Altamira]

Thank you. The question is that i still need FAX functionality.
Based on your opinions these are are the ones i think match what i need:

- Brother MFC1810
- Canon i-Sensys MF4750
- HP Laserjet Pro M1212NF
- HP Laserjet Pro M1217NFW

All have Prints, Copy, Scanner and Fax functionality. They are Laser Monochrome.
They are all below 250 $ Dollars.
What you think? I did not find many reviews i think they are fairly new products. The brother MFC1810 seem the best bang for the buck.

 

[TemjinGold]

I usually do 2 things when buying a printer: read Amazon reviews and add the price of one high-yield toner set to the printer before comparing.

 

[Altamira]

About the Brother MFC1810, there is one thing im not secure about.
The Toner (Brother TN-1050) costs around 50 Dollars and generally let you print 1000 pages at a cost of 5 cents per page (a bit high no?).
The Drum (DR-1050) will let you print around 10,000 pages and costs around 101 Dollars.
Help me out on one thing. You dont need the toner to print? I mean in order to have that 10,000 Yield you need to have both toner and drum or just the drum?
Sorry for the question but im a bit confused with the laser technology.
What you think? Thank you.

PS: I did not find any review of the Brother in Amazon or Newegg, it's a new product (November 2013).

 

[Puffnstuff]

Apparently the toner cartridge is just toner separate from the print drum which applies the toner to the paper. You need both to print to paper.

 

[Ketchup]

Apparently the toner cartridge is just toner separate from the print drum which applies the toner to the paper. You need both to print to paper.

Correct. The toner cartridge is inside the drum. The drum will last you quite a while. Brothers are nice lasers because many of them offer a high capacity toner cartridge with a much lower cost per page.

For example, Newegg has this one on sale right now:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828113655

Uses this toner:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=28-113-562

or a high capacity toner that gets you more than double the output for only a $20 premium:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=28-113-563

 

[Altamira]

Ok so should be like this:
the drum have a life expectancy of 10,000 pages (then it should be replaced?)
and the toner a life expectancy of 1000 pages (and then replaced?)
and in order for the laser printer to work i need both.
So at every 1000 pages (in theory) i should have to replace the toner for about 50 Dollars each. I've seen the toner prices and toner capacities and my god HP and Epson are very expensive to run, specially HP! I think this definitly drops the choices to Canon or Brother.
Even if i like Canon ( the print i have at home) i think Brother might be the right choice to go and try to find the high yield toner you've talked about.
Its really unfortunate that i cannot read any indepth review on the Brother MCF1810, well i only got this: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Science+and+Tech/Story/Review%3A+Brother+MFC-1810.html
If you guys have more opinions please shot out i have to decide myself until tomorrow Thank you very much.

PS: I have also the BROTHER MFC-7360N (High yield toner option, can go to 4.1 Cents per page). Seems a nice alternative. Very good and consistent reviews on Amazon.

 

[TemjinGold]

One thing that you may or may not consider: Brother printers apparently have some of the highest initial startup power surge spikes of lasers. So if you have it connected on the same circuit as your other stuff it might make the lights flicker or your machine go off when you print. Not saying it will definitely happen but I have a Brother myself and every time I go to print, my UPS reboots.

Also, depending on what you print (how much toner is on the page) it can last much longer than listed too. I used to have a Brother 5250DN and must have printed thousands of pages on the starter toner. The thing never ran out up to the point where I donated the printer.

 

[Altamira]

Just to let you know i bought the Brother MFC7360N.
Thank you very much for all your help. Lets see how it behaves

All the best