Please help me with buying a Laser Printer.

[ibex333]

Well I am fed up with my temperamental ip4000 which prints like it had enough of 3rd party cartridges I've been feeding it for years. I also don't print color images and photos, so I decided to buy a laser printer.

The problem is I don't know what to get...

The criteria is:

1)As cheap as possible.

2)Easily able to refill with 3rd party cheapo toner.

3)Has duplex printing capability. (This one is a MUST) I like getting as much out of every sheet of paper as possible.

Also, what the hell is a "drum"? Is it a part needed for the printer to function properly? Do ALL printers include one, or do I have to buy it separately? Why are there so many drums for sale? I am assuming they either break often or many printers don't include them?

Thanks very much.

 

[gsaldivar]

The HP4000 series is still one of my favorites. It's one of the last to come out that doesn't use "chipped" cartridges, thus allowing you to easily use cheap generic carts & refills. This series has several expansion options, including additional paper trays, envelope feeders, duplexers, and more.

Are you buying toner cartridges with new or recycled drums? The drum is usually an integrated part of the toner cartridge. It is the shiny metal cylinder that is concealed with a movable flap. It shouldn't be touched or exposed to light. "Cheaper" remanufactured toner cartridges do not always replace this part of the toner cartridge. While each drum can last around 40,000 pages (~4 high capacity refills of the HP 4000 series cartridge), print quality will noticably decline as you approach that limit. If you can afford a few extra bucks, when purchasing your generic toner, only buy cartridges that come with a new drum. If you are refilling cartridges with bulk toner, only refill a new cartridge 3-4 times - then replace it.

I used to refill my carts, but they are so cheap lately I've just been buying generic remanufactured carts with new drums for $25 a pop off eBay. Each cartridge makes printouts that looks crisp and clean, just like the day the printer was bought.

Good luck!

 

[ecom]

Some laser printers have the toner, fuser, and drums as separate consumables while other have drum and toner combined in one item. The drum can last a long time so depending on your print needs you might not have to worry about them.

What is your print volume? If it's quite high then you might opt to get a more expensive printer because they often have lower cost per page. For our workgroup printers, the cost per page is something like 0.8 cents per page while the personal desktop laser printers a few people have cost 2.6 cents per page.

Do you have any tabloid printing requirements? (I'm guessing no)

 

[gsaldivar]

$25 toner / 10,000 pages = $0.0025 per page

 

[ibex333]

gsaldivar, can you give me a link to one of these printers? I don't see any for sale except for ebay, and even those are questionable...

 

[ecom]

The 4000 series are out of production, so the only ones you'll find are used. I think they were last made early 2000s. Keep in mind these are medium duty workgroup printers so for personal use they'll last a long time. Older HPs are built like tanks but I've had a lot of issues with the newer ones.

I still have HP 8000, 8150, 5Si MX still going while some of my 4 or 5 year old 24xx are in need of replacement.

 

[gsaldivar]

They were discontinued over 10 years ago, so can't buy them new anymore. Ebay, Craigslist, or a local auction is where I would search for one.

Last one I got off Ebay cost $75.00 which included a toner cartridge and a duplexer. I bought a roller maintenance kit for it which ran another $20 or so.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...askId=120&prodSeriesId=25474&prodTypeId=18972

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_LaserJet_4000_series

 

[gsaldivar]

Here is one for $145 that includes free shipping, new rollers, new toner, new fuser film, and a 3-month warranty. That's probably as close as you will get to "new" for this printer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Completely-Refu...iewItemQQptZCOMP_Printers?hash=item58851d2b05

He will add an extra paper tray and JetDirect (network) card for a few bucks more. You should recover the complete cost of the printer after printing 2-3 cases of paper - sounds like a deal to me!

 

[MrChicken]

Look at Brother printers, they are typically less expensive and have affordable consumables.

Like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-537...3961030&sr=8-1

$199 duplex and wired/wireless.

8000 page toner cartridges are $80 for OEM, $30 for reman.

 

[DigitalJack]

My friend swears by this samsung printer I am considering it myself to replace my aging HP LaserJet II

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828112085

 

[gsaldivar]

I've also sold many of the Samsung printers, they are great little printers and worth every penny. It's harder to get generic cartridges for some models, research before you buy!

 

[ecom]

My friend swears by this samsung printer I am considering it myself to replace my aging HP LaserJet II

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828112085

That printer looks a lot like the Xerox 3250s we just acquired at work. Not sure if they're the same or not, but appearance wise they are very close. They even have that removable plastic piece that I don't know the function of on the back.

The front door/panels design is basically the same. One for the manual feed, larger panel for toner. Two indicator lights and one button. Covered opening on the right side, round connector for additional paper tray...Similar PPM ratings...I really wonder if they are in fact the same printer.

 

[ibex333]

After doing some research, I think I will go with Brother HL-5340D. I don't need wireless, and the toner/new carts for this printer are cheaper then the ones for Samsung. Also, the Sammy needs a chip to reset carts - Brother doesn't.

The only think I cannot understand is does the brother include a drum on their carts or do I have to buy it separately every time it wears out?

 

[gsaldivar]

I'm pretty sure Brother carts have integrated drums. I have been burned before by Brother products, and don't recommend them to others. Good luck though!

 

[MrChicken]

Drum is seperate and rated for 25K pages, cost ~$100. Generics are ~$50

 

[bigsnyder]

Another nod for the Brother 5340.

 

[ecom]

I have an older Samsung laser printer and from what I have found about the toner carts is that they use a fuse to indicate a new toner. It's blown after inserting it I suppose.

 

[willis888]

What would be the printer to get if you printed 300-500 pages per day?

 

[Rifter]

I have used a HP Laserjet III for the last 12 years, it had 236387 pages on it and was going strong till the PSU crapped out. I just sold the ram upgrade module and post script cartridge for more than i paid for the printer, i got it used for $150 12 years ago with 2,345 pages on it , Got just shy of $200 on ebay for the 2 ram modules and PS cartridge. I would seriously consider a HP commercial grade laser if you are doing high volume B&W printing they have cheap toner and will last forever and are built like tanks.

I just recently replaced it with a samsung ML-2510 for $45 brand new from Staples on sale. I did this because i simply dont print as much anymore, a couple hundered pages a month at most.

Toner goes on sale for as low as $20 online and i bought 3 for $90 shipped a few months ago. This is an acceptable cost of operating IMO.