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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
I'm in the market for a new office printer. I've been looking hard at the new Xerox solid ink system and the HP Color Lasers. Does anyone out there have any advice on pitfalls to avoid, options to consider. Please...no "Free Printer with 3 Year Supply of Ink" offers. I'd rather buy it outright and keep control of my overhead.
Thanks! Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
Skip
I will say the freecolorprinters is the best deal out there . My cost per print was lower than any place I could print color. I actually own the printer now. Remember in this program you are NOT in a contract. You can cancel at anytime . Ken |
LostSoul Regular user Dave 148 Posts |
Hi Skip,
After just getting a couple of new color lasers... The research I had said that the OkiData C5200 was the best “deal” going. It’s price per page was pretty low, if I remember correctly it was down in the 5-10 cent range. Remember, it’s not the cost of the printer that will kill you, it’s the cost of the toner/ink. It costs me $175 to refill my photo printer and it will be good for maybe 1500 sheets, it costs me about $250 to refill my color laser, but it will last for about 7500 pages. Of course the quality from my photo printer is better, I’ll still only use it for things I want to frame or send to people. Dave |
Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
I've spent a lot of time researching color printers over the last few months. I really liked the Xerox printer that you can get from freecolorprinters.com but I couldn't commit to the 2000 pages per month minimum that it takes to get qualified so I started looking at the lower-priced color lasers. (The version they give you costs around $1,000 new.)
There are several factors to consider. First, for me, is the quality of the output. The Xerox Phasers (the solid ink ones) have a great reputation for quality output and they have fewer mechanical parts to go wrong. (That's the printer you get with the freecolorprinter.com deal.) The cost is higher than the current group of printers in the $300 - $500 range and I have read that there is the possibility of the ink melting if your printed materials get really hot. I use a Mac so it's also important to me that my printer have PostScript capability and good Mac support. That really narrows the choices! The Phasers have PostScript 3 and the Konica Minolta 2450 has PostScript 3 emulation. Mac support can be a real issue! From what I see, there isn't nearly as much of an issue with PostScript capability if you're using a Windows-based PC. (I use a lot of PostScript fonts and my main desktop publishing program is InDesign CS which is PostScript based. PostScript fonts print up "jaggy" on a non-PostScript printer and so do EPS illustrations.) Two other factors for me was finding a printer with built-in duplexing (again, the high end Phasers include this and so does the inexpensive Samsung) and lower cost of supplies. When all was said and done, I ended up purchasing a Dell 3100cn color laser printer. It doesn't come with duplexing built-in (although you can purchase a duplexer for it) but it is relatively inexpensive (regularly $499 but I managed to buy it for $305 with discount coupons and the shipping is free), it comes with a full toner cartridges (many printers come with "starter" cartridges that have to be replaced pretty quickly and, as pointed out, the cost of toner is pretty expensive), it has PostScript 3 and the output is really good. It also has a lower than average cost per page of color printing. The bad news is that it's really big! It stands 21" tall and weighs 70 lbs. but it has built-in networking and I'm really pleased with it, although I've only had it a week. The Dell works well with both Macs and PC. If you're a PC user, I have read excellent reviews of the OkiData mentioned by Dave above. Also, a friend of mine went with the HP 2600n because it is a single-pass color printer. The HP is one of the few lower-priced units that is single-pass. That means that all four toner colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are applied in one pass. Most of the other inexpensive laser printer (Dell, Konica Minolta, etc.) are 4 pass printers. That means the toner is applied one cartridge at a time. That's why most of the lower cost printers average about 5 pages per minute for color printing. |
LostSoul Regular user Dave 148 Posts |
Hi Michael,
Good advice...I haven't used a Mac in a few years (Boy, do I miss that!). The people I work with think I'm nuts about postscript, but I've always had so much better results with it, especially with complex drawings. I have Magicolor 2300 (Konica Minolta) at work, at that is 4 pass, but my home OkiData is a single pass (which amazed me when I set my first one up). I have a question on your Dell…When Dell first came out with their own brand of printers, I was told you had to use Dell cartridges in them. Is this still true? (I would have a problem keeping my users stocked because I couldn’t run right out to the store.) I know a lot of the manufacturers are going to encoded cartridges (thanks Lexmark) but I like the ability to run down to Staples or Office Whatever when I need something at night. Thanks, Dave |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
I knew I was going to hear from you, Ken. We talked extensively at KIDabra about Freecolorprinters.com and I know it works well for you. Like Michael, though, I can't quite commit to that 2000 copy per month limit. While I'm busy, I'm not THAT busy paperwork-wise. So, I can buy the Xerox Phaser outright for around $799.00. The pages are much cheaper per copy than my current inkjets.
I've had some very bad experiences with Okidata and Dell, so I'll probably go with either the Xerox or one of the HP single pass models. I rely heavily on PostScript and duplexing...so these are vital issues...and I'm seriously considering moving to a Mac laptop in the very near future and slowly weaning myself away from Microsoft. So there is another issue. So much to consider! Thanks to everyone for the input! Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
Dave,
Yes, the Dell's use proprietary cartridges that only they make but I have found that someone is selling original Dell cartridges on eBay regularly. (They go for well under $200 for a set of 4 - cmyk, which is about half of Dell's prices.) If you had a bunch of clients using them, you would definitely have to stock up and that likely would be hard to coordinate, although you might be able to get quantity discounts from Dell or the eBay seller. (Also, Dell has been known to give free one-day shipping on specials so that might be negotiable on a sizable order.) Michael |
kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
I will say when I signed up for the program I had to print 3000 copies a month (they have sinced lowered the number). I signed up saying to myself there was going to NO way I can print that much. The first few months I was printing things for other people and it helped me meet my number. After a while I was meeting the monthly number with just my stuff.
Advantages of the program are if the printer has a problem they will fix it FREE of charge. In three years my printer had two problems that would cost me over 1500.00 to fix. If you do out right buy one do think about the service agreement on it. I typically don't buy the service agreements but on this I did. The price on the machines have come down alot. When I first started using the phaser printer 3 years ago it was near 2000.00 to buy it. Ken |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Thanks, Ken. If I decide to go with Freecolorprinters.com I'll use your name as my referrer.
Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
kaytracy Inner circle Central California 1793 Posts |
Just a thought about color printers and their toner/ink cartridges.
About this time each year, many companies and Government facilities, have just finished spending their end of FY funds. A large number of them obtain brand new printers/copiers. Their old ones can end up several places, some will have "Auctions or sale yards". If you check with their maintenence folks, you might get a good deal on outgoing machines, and and even better one on all the old supplies for the old ones that will get tossed into the bin of trach when they are tired of looking at them... Check those Govmt auction sites if you get the chance and have the time. It might be worth your while. k
Kay and Tory
www.Bizarremagick.com |
Mercury52 Inner circle Kevin Reylek 2240 Posts |
Skip, what type of material are you printing? Is it primarily black text and that's about it? The type of printer you get should certainly depend on your needs, and I'm sure you've been taking that into account in your research.
That said, and not being totally sure of your specific needs (I only skimmed this thread) let me give my vote to Canon's line of products. I own a Canon i960 and a family member owns an i9900. I also have several friends who use these and similar models. The Good - Speedy, good for B+W as well as color documents on regular paper. Also produce GREAT photo results when used with Canon photo paper. One of the huge pros in this line is that every color has it's own separate ink tank, and the printers print with about 2 picoliter droplets. This gives the printers very good definition and great ink consumption. I've found that printers (HP for example) can produce great results, but contain many colors of ink in one cartridge. It's such a waste of ink when you have to replace a 3-color catridge just because one color is low, you often have to throw out a decent amount of the other 2 colors! The i960, which I've primarily been working with, has 6 ink tanks, they don't require being changed until they are truly OUT of ink, and they are fairly inexpensive, especially with sources like amazon.com Hope this was a bit helpful. If it wasn't and isn't what you're looking for, hopefully someone else can use the info. Kevin
Kevin Reylek
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2477 Posts |
For ink, I get wonderful price breaks from the products at http://www.carrotink.com - and the cartridges are good quality.
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Kevin...I've been a dedicated Canon user for years...mostly because of their dependibility, great customer service and separate color ink tanks. I agree with you 100%. But, it's time to move up to a decent color laser. Nearly everything I print these days is in color...and the commercial printing costs are starting to wear on me. Besides, I'm moving more into personalization of my presentation materials for corporate, school and library gigs. Generic presentation materials just don't make a big enough impact in this arena. So I need the ability to print individual personalized pieces in full color and at pro printer quality - hence the solid ink Phasers being my top contender. While inkjets do a great job...their cost per page is higher and general quality is lower than top lasers.
Thanks for the advice, everyone! I really appreciate the input!! The Xerox Solid Ink Phaser is running atthe top of my list...now I just have to decide whetehr to buy it outright or take Ken's worthy advice and try the freecolorprinter.com approach. Guess I'll leave it to science...Heads I buy, Tails I... Skip Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
If it's any help, I'm two and a half years into my three year deal with FreeColorPrinters.com and have been pleased with the printer. I estimate that on my current usage schedule (2100 copies per month) that it costs about $80 per month in ink sticks and maintenance kits.
The printed has had only one problem - it needed a drum heater replaced a few months ago. The service was speedy and, more important, free! You can always back out of the deal with no penalty, but keep in mind that you will pay for shipping it back. Just the thought of repacking this 70 lb unit keeps me from ever considering that option. Jim |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Jim, I'm about half-way through of my third reading of your Success-in-Magic book #2. Every time I read through your books, new income & motivational ideas leap out at me. So...since you and Ken are so supportive of the freecolorprinters.com folks (who could ask for stronger endorsements!!) I guess I'll give them a call! Good thing I used that double-tail coin!!
Um...one question...what happens if you don't meet your 2000 copies per month quota? PLEASE tell me they don't send Gary Shelton round!!! And what on earth do you and Ken do to maintain that 2000 copies per month quota? I am rarely in my home office long enough to do half that much! This inquiring mind needs to KNOW! Thanks! Skip :o)
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
Hello Skip,
Here's the penalty for falling below your minimum on the freecolorprinters.com deal: "*A $100 fee results if you should fall below your specified usage rate. A $125 fee results if you don't fax in a usage report on the due date each month." I'm sure Jim has plenty of ways to keep his printer busy but I know that he printed my copy of Success in Magic on his color printer! That's quite a few pages to print if does several copies at a time. Michael P.S. Be sure you go to freecolorprinters.com (with the "s" on the end) because there is another program set up at freecolorprinter.com and it's not the same. |
Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Michael is correct about the penalty. I was hit once for forgetting to fax in the report. Although I'm pretty certain I did fax it, my fax machine wasn't set to print confirmation sheets and I threw out the printed report, so I had no confirmation that the fax actually went through. That cost me $135! I won't make that mistake again. I now print out confirmations and save the reports in a file in case I need them.
I send my report in on the 7th of every month. They usually email a reminder a few days before, and they email a confirmation after they received it. Also, your usage history is posted on their website. I forgot to check that one time. As part of the agreement, you must purchase supplies from FreeColorPrinters.com. They sell Xerox ink sticks which are a little more expensive than after market ink sticks produced by other vendors (that may void your owner's warrantee...look before you leap). I meet my usage taget by printing out a few copies of my 640 page course each month. If you produce product or do a lot of direct mail it is a good deal. If you expect to have trouble meeting the usage target, then it would probably be better to buy the printer. Jim |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Okay...got it....all I have to do is write a 640 page book and self-publish it three books per month...plus a few light dierct marketing campaigns...and keep up with filing a monthly report or pay a fine on top of my operating costs. Um... Right! I'll get right on that! Are youse guys NUTS???
:o) I reckon I'll be buying. I'm not the most structured and organized guy in the world. I'm more like that artistic guy with the angled beret on his head who lives in his own little world and balks every time this "other" world encroaches on his...without the beret,of course. I have to threaten myself with death to balance my checkbook each month...and that's all computerized! Guess I shoulda used the double headed coin! :o) Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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