[SWLUG] cheap laser printers ??

[Steve Anderson]

Hiya all.

Gareth Lewis wrote:

> is it still a better bet to spend (quite a lot) more initially and
> get a HP with ps and ethernet in the hope that any 'nix version
> should cope and i should be able to find recycled carts for a
> resonable price ?
> 
> I don't print a whole lot of stuff at home, but that's partially the
> fault of my crappy inkjet.

If you don't print a whole load of stuff, you're probably better off 
just getting a better inkjet, IMHO. It's easier in my experience to get 
unbranded inkjet cartridges than toner cartridges, and you have no worry 
about having to replace drums and things. There's plenty of hidden costs 
in running a laser! I certainly wouldn't touch a cheaper one. You have 
to ask yourself if in five years are you still going to be able to get 
the consumables easily.

My company hasn't had a laser printer for about 6 years - we've just got 
a decent inkjet (HP Deskjet 1220C) hooked up to a Linux box and shared. 
My printer at home is a crappy Epson Stylus C20 (the sort that falls out 
of a cereal box) and despite being cheap does a pretty  good job of 
printing and - lo - works fabulously with Linux as well.

My advice - for what it's worth =) - would be to ditch the idea of a 
laser printer and just get a better inkjet. HP and Epson both seem to 
work well with Linux. Just check that the manufacturer isn't messing 
about with chips in the cartridges that force a life-expectancy on them 
(I think some HP printers do this) or try and use the DMCA in the US to 
stop people recycling them (Lexmark off the top of my head).

Inkjet ink might be more expensive than vintage champage (says "Which?") 
but with a bit of shopping around you can get it to the same price as 
White Lightning =)

Steve