Laserjet vs. Inkjet?

Early B.
Early B. Posts: 7,900
edited April 2 in Clubhouse Archives
My 5-year old printer broke, so instead of spending money to get it fixed, it is probably more cost effective to buy another one. It was an all-in-one HP deskjet model (d135). I'd like to stick with HP because they have been reliable for me.

I'm considering the purchase of an all-in-one LaserJet (HP model 3050). It can be had for about $300. The only downside is that it doesn't print in color. However, I already have another color printer, so I am more concerned about cost efficiency. I don't like buying $30 inkjet print cartridges every 6 weeks. I was wondering if LaserJets are generally more cost effective than inkjets. I also wanted to know if any Polkies use a laser printer at home and their experiences with them.

BTW -- if I decided to purchase an inkjet, it would probably be the HP 7210. Anybody have one of these?

Thanks.
HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

"God grooves with tubes."
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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Comments

  • Mjr7531
    Mjr7531 Posts: 856
    edited May 2006
    It depends on what you're gonna do, if you print a lot of papers, definatly go with a laserjet, the toner cartriges last darn near forever. Plus there's no smear when the paper gets wet etc. I am personally a fan of laser printers.
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited May 2006
    laser is the way to go for high quality
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,624
    edited May 2006
    Laser all the way. I think out of the last 15 years I've had an inkjet for a week....didn't like.

    I've had HP lasers and really liked them. I've heard bad things about lexmark's overall, but I've been toying with the idea of getting an HP 4200 series Laser (~$7-800). Laser cartridges will blow your $30 cartridge number out of the water, but they typically last about 10-20k sheets.
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited May 2006
    HP laser, its really the only good choice. Buy it and have no regrets.
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  • cindy100
    cindy100 Posts: 256
    edited May 2006
    Early B - I have an HP laser and although it's B&W, I am very pleased. Had 2 other inkjets in the last 2 years and will always vote for the laser. Hope to get color one day but want to get my stereo euipment first!

    Cindy
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2006
    Thanks to all of you for the responses. Seems unanimous. I'll pursue the Laserjet option.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited May 2006
    I have the exactly opposite problem - I print so RARELY that my ink always dries up. Also looking into Lasers. COLOR lasers can be had around 300-400 bucks these days. Wish I had the model numbers of the ones I was looking at in front of me.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • Fireman32
    Fireman32 Posts: 4,845
    edited May 2006
    I have a brother lazer printer at home and its great can print over a 1000 pages with one toner cartridge and the replacement price is about 60 bucks. If i want to print out color i hook up my cheap **** injet and print it out but moft of what i print does not need to be in color. If you want to spend the money get a color laser printer they start at about 400 bucks and then you have the best of both worlds
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited May 2006
    LaserJet.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited May 2006
    They aren't really printing machines, they are ink/toner dispensers. You will spend 10 times the value of the machine in replacement cartridges over the life of the printer.

    The ink is expensive but nothing compared to replacing laser drums. I go through 1-2 toners and 1 drum about every 60 days at a cost of $250.:eek:
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2006
    Dennis Gardner wrote:
    They aren't really printing machines, they are ink/toner dispensers. You will spend 10 times the value of the machine in replacement cartridges over the life of the printer.

    The ink is expensive but nothing compared to replacing laser drums. I go through 1-2 toners and 1 drum about every 60 days at a cost of $250.:eek:

    Wow, you do a lot of printing. How much would you spend if you had to buy a 60-day supply of ink cartridges?
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • Fireman32
    Fireman32 Posts: 4,845
    edited May 2006
    Dennis Gardner wrote:
    They aren't really printing machines, they are ink/toner dispensers. You will spend 10 times the value of the machine in replacement cartridges over the life of the printer.

    The ink is expensive but nothing compared to replacing laser drums. I go through 1-2 toners and 1 drum about every 60 days at a cost of $250.:eek:


    what the heck are you printing???
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited May 2006
    Yeah, I hope you have your own business or something, otherwise I think you're doin something wrong.

    I also hope you recycle :D
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited May 2006
    Early B. wrote:
    Wow, you do a lot of printing. How much would you spend if you had to buy a 60-day supply of ink cartridges?

    We couldn't afford it with 40 businesses that use the toner/drums at that clip, 40 more that use it about half that fast and 15 home offices goes through the same amount about twice a year. Yeah, I've always complained about killing alot of trees, throughout the years. We currently poll alot of our info, but the IRS requires hard copies of many of the docs.:D
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited May 2006
    I've got a 1994 LaserJet 4 that ran a mortgage brokerage. At last check it had printed over 60K pages on about 4 toner carts. Granted HP is not the old HP, I too am still partial to them.
    >
    >
    >This message has been scanned by the NSA and found to be free of harmful intent.<
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited May 2006
    I have a old rebuilt HP laserjet 4 for sale / old but very reliable printer. More of a small office printer but you can't kill it. I don't wish to ship it but I wonder where you're are and if you maybe interested.

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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2006
    I just bought an all-in-one HP LaserJet 3050. I ordered it online yesterday and it arrived today before they could even send me the tracking number!!

    Just finished hooking it up and I am thoroughly impressed with it. It prints faster than I anticipated. Setup was very easy. Print quality, of course, is superior to ink cartridges. Reminds me of the old LaserJets I used on the job many years ago. It's even quieter than my previous inkjet. I'll be quite thrilled if I can crank out a couple thousand pages without changing the print cartridge.

    The copy function is awesome; I'll play around with the fax and scan capabilities later. The only downside is that it doesn't come with a manual, just a start-up guide. HP's on-line help system needs improvement.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,624
    edited May 2006
    What model did you end up going with?
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited May 2006
    brettw22 wrote:
    What model did you end up going with?

    Not to be a smart-aleck, but he answered that..
    "I just bought an all-in-one HP LaserJet 3050."
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,624
    edited May 2006
    Wow.......more sleep is needed...........nap time y'all........
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • HiPerf360
    HiPerf360 Posts: 436
    edited May 2006
    Shizelbs wrote:
    HP laser, its really the only good choice. Buy it and have no regrets.


    I agree....

    I have several HP lasers in my office and the are awesome...

    On a side note I stopped by my mothers office the other day and she still has her HP laser 4p and it is still kicking. I think she got it in 94 or 95? I remember when it was new.... it was so fast (compared to the old dot matrix) but i really didn't realize how far they have come 30ppm is soooooo much faster than 4... LOL

    I finally had to giver her one of my old cell phones so she would stop carrying around this brick in her pocket.
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