Linux-compatable printer that won't gouge me on ink?

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Sun, Nov 29, 2009 at 12:24:00PM -0500, Andrew Malcolmson wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:36:33 -0500, "Walter Dnes"
> <waltdnes-SLHPyeZ9y/tg9hUCZPvPmw at public.gmane.org> said:
> >   The subject says it all.  I need something that will print black and
> > white, including graphics, without costing an arm and a leg for ink.  It
> > will have to be USB-connected, because serial and parallel ports are no
> > more.
> 
> Since you didn't say how much printing you will be doing, I'll assume
> you mean for low-volume use.  Business inkjets are cheaper to run at
> higher usage levels but are costlier, bigger, and you'd be paying for
> features you don't need.
> 
> The 2008 HP c4400 series (USB) and c4500 series (USB and wireless) are
> decent quality All-in-One printers that can take large size cartridges
> (74XL black, about 700 page yield and 75XL colour, about 400 page
> yield).  The wireless setup isn't yet supported under Linux (but coming
> reportedly) - you need Windows or a Mac to initially get it on the
> network.  The 2009 c4600 and c4700 All-in-Ones also take larger
> cartridges but with somewhat lower yields.

I would _never_ recommend an HP inkjet (and be hesitant on their lasers
too).  The HP 8050 inkjets we have at work (which are by the looks of
it very expensive) are a disaster.  In the first 3 months of use they
have failed at least 5 times each (we have multiple of them) and had
very frequent paper jams in hard to get to places.  The laser printers we
used to have never failed.  If they can't even make a high end expensive
printer that works, what makes you think they can make a cheap one
that works.

For inkjet that works, buy epson.  For laser that works, well xerox is
nice, a few others are too.

> The wireless setup of other network capable HP's can be configured from
> the printer's front panel but you'll pay more for these.  The printers
> with Ethernet connectors of course don't need network setup - they just
> use DHCP.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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