Looking for a Good Basic Printer

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Dec 28, 2014
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I'm looking for a printer that is cost efficient and just an all around good bang for the buck. I would like to spend only 40 to 50 dollars on one. It doesn't have to be wireless. I'm just going to be printing out things from time to time. Not going to be used a lot but i do want something reliable. What is a good brand to buy and what model?

It seems ink jet is the way for me since I will be doing just light printing with it. I was thinking about getting the Canon mg3620. However, what would be its competitors?
 
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BFG-9000
Inkjet is probably the worst choice for intermittent printing, because it needs to be used at least every week or the heads will plug up--unless you live in an area with 100% humidity all of the time. So you will either come back to print something six months later and find it won't print without replacing parts, or will discover the automatic cleaning cycles have completely drained your new ink cartridges without you having printed anything!

Laser is the way to go for that as you can even unplug it for years at a time and it will be ready to go after you plug it back in. Around that price range though it's black&white only so you'd have to make any color prints at a local store like Walmart.

If you will be printing a LOT but only...
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Alabalcho

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Jan 13, 2011
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Ink jet printers are all but "cost efficient". For your $40 (the price of MG3630 on Amazon) you'll get a printer and "starter ink kit" - something good for like 100 light pages. Forget about printing more than 10 photos with that "starter kit". Once ink runs out, you will spend more on ink only than you've paid for the printer (hint: "Bundle of printer and black ink" costs $90).

So, when choosing a printer, one have to decide on following:
- printing volume (documents, or photos);
- laser or ink-jet;
- black-and-white or color;
- printer only, or "all in one"
 
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BFG-9000

BFG-9000

Splendid
Sep 17, 2016
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Inkjet is probably the worst choice for intermittent printing, because it needs to be used at least every week or the heads will plug up--unless you live in an area with 100% humidity all of the time. So you will either come back to print something six months later and find it won't print without replacing parts, or will discover the automatic cleaning cycles have completely drained your new ink cartridges without you having printed anything!

Laser is the way to go for that as you can even unplug it for years at a time and it will be ready to go after you plug it back in. Around that price range though it's black&white only so you'd have to make any color prints at a local store like Walmart.

If you will be printing a LOT but only occasionally, I suggest a used laser printer because the cheapest new ones have very high toner costs. They are sold below cost because they operate on the Gillette razor business model--who gave away handles for free so they could make it back on their overpriced blades.
 
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The Paladin

The Paladin

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Oct 5, 2016
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you will find low end ink jet printer for as low as 29$ at Walmart, brother of brand, some Epson as well, but as mentioned above cartridges for ink are about the same price or more than the price of the printer itself. I have gone through these a few years back until I spend 60$ on a Samsung lazer SCX-3450, wireless/wired/usb monochrome printer. you get 1500 pages form a single toner, the toner cartridge cost about 80$/ea New or if you believe in reloaded toner cartridges you can get the eco version of the toner cartridge for 39$. I use mine for work and a toner last me easily 1 year.
well work the investment, the inkjet printers if not used regularly will be a pain with blocked jets on the cartridges.
 
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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Oct 11, 2014
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No disagreements with any of the preceding posts.

My recommendation is to visit some "big box" stores and look at the printers on display.

For the most part, my suggestion is that you should consider a multi-function device (prints, copies, scans, faxes).

However by going to the stores and actually seeing, touching, and looking at the products being offered will go a long ways towards helping you decide. "Hands on" is a very good way to learn about any given product. Cheap, flimsy products stand out. While in the store you can check the pricing for replacement ink cartridges, toner, etc..

Find a couple of good printer candidates. Go online. Look for professional and known buyer reviews. Go to the manufacturer's web site. Read the User Guide/Manual. Visit the FAQs and Forums.

Will not take you long to get a sense of which products are likely to meet your requirements.

Always a chance for a "lemon" or just plain bad luck with the purchase. Still you can reduce the odds a great deal without too much effort.

For the most part I recommend Canon products: Multifunction printers - MX922 as of late.
 
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