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#1 of 18 Posted 1/1/06 6:22 PM

From Marilyn L. Alm Posts 164 Last 4/6/09
To All [Msg # 161987.1 ]

Heyla, folks....

My HP 2000C appears to have bitten the dust, complaining that the print heads are defunct. I've tried cleaning them, with no luck, and they just continue to complain. I suspect it may be easier to buy a new printer.

I've been very happy with the HP 2300D which was recommended to me as a replacement for my HP LJ4 by staff here. 35 minutes to print a manuscript instead of 2.5 hours! Whoo-hoo! (And we did get the LJ4 working again, so my husband now has a working printer on his computer.)

My primary requirement is separate cartridges for the colors because I often use lots of one color or the other.

Looking at some of the color lasers available, that begins to seem like a viable option. Any thoughts, comments, etc. on what's out there?

HP suggests Inkjet 2300, Inkjet 1200 D, or LaserJet 2600N, but I haven't yet found adequate information to begin to make a decision.

Thanks In Advance.

-- Marilyn

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#2 of 18 Posted 1/1/06 6:51 PM

From Hugh Wyn Griffith WUGNET Posts 5671 Last 7/7/09
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.2 161987.1 ]

What's the nature of your main demand for color printing? If it's brochures and stuff like that for clients then a color laser might be the best bang per buck but if it's photographic images then it's almost certainly inkjet.

Lee has always spoken very highly of the HP PS8250 for speed and color quality and with new paper that they have it is not apparently subject to smudging as seems to be the case often with HP.

Here's a link to HP's inkjets both home and business and including photoprinters and here is one to the PS8250

See what Lee has to add since there is such a range these days including printers with individual ink tanks so that you only replace one color when it runs out -- useful for documents that might be all in black with some red highlighting for example.

Hugh
Windows XP Pro build 2600 + SP2.....MSIE6
Connecting through RoadRunner Cable Modem

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#3 of 18 Posted 1/1/06 10:34 PM

From Marilyn L. Alm Posts 164 Last 4/6/09
To Hugh Wyn Griffith WUGNET [Msg # 161987.3 161987.2 ]

Hugh,

I mostly use it for printing out things like multi-color name tags and such-like for church functions. I haven't gotten into photo-printing yet -- I think I'll let Sam's Club handle that!

I also print out color images of historical costuming, maps, etc. etc. etc.

I haven't really looked at the photo printers because most of them want me to put memory sticks in them, and my Sony camera uses a mini-CD, not a memory stick.

And yes, the individual ink tanks (or toner cartridges if I go laser) are a requirement for me. Depending on the size of the thing, I might also have to get a new desk and printer stand.... <g>

I'll look at the links. The site you gave me DOES tell whether they use the individual tanks, a very good thing. Some of the sites I've visited don't, which is annoying.

-- Marilyn

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#4 of 18 Posted 1/2/06 9:34 AM

From Lee Kreider [WUGNET] Posts 2023 Last 6:58 AM
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.4 161987.3 ]

>>Some of the sites I've visited don't, which is annoying.<<

Don't worry. We are filled with information and once in a while it is ever correct. <g>

Three things missing from your information--yeah, verily four:

How much printing do you do? (Clicks per month--on average.)
How much speed do you need? (Hard to answer, I know.)
How valuable is duplexing? (Two sided printing on the fly.)
Do you have a budget?

The business ink jets from HP (the decedents of your printer) will usually print faster than the comparably priced lasers. Single drum laser color printers are much slower than four drum printers as well as less expensive to buy.)

My Palm blew a gasket this weekend, and until I can get to my desktop and/or get my new one synched, I'm a little limited on my data for costs.

>> I haven't really looked at the photo printers because most of them want me to put memory sticks in them, and my Sony camera uses a mini-CD, not a memory stick.<<

Not a problem at all. You just put the cd in the computer and you can load it onto you HD for editing or print directly from the cd. Memory stick access is an added convenience...well...maybe.

Lee Kreider [PC Hardware]

Edited 1/2/06 by Lee Kreider [WUGNET]

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#5 of 18 Posted 1/2/06 10:24 AM

From Hugh Wyn Griffith WUGNET Posts 5671 Last 7/7/09
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.5 161987.3 ]

That gives the sort of background that will help others help you -- you are in good hands!

Hugh
Windows XP Pro build 2600 + SP2.....MSIE6
Connecting through RoadRunner Cable Modem

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#6 of 18 Posted 1/2/06 5:41 PM

From Charles C Posts 376 Last 9/3/08
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.6 161987.3 ]

Marilyn:

I've been more than happy with my Dell 3000cn laser printer. I bought it to replace an HP 4L which died after printing 1000's of pages and an Epson colour inkjet (model number forgotten) with which I had problems with colour cartirdges since I rarely printed in colour. The one drawback with the Dell 3000cn is that is bulky and heavy.

...Charles

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#7 of 18 Posted 1/2/06 5:46 PM

From Marilyn L. Alm Posts 164 Last 4/6/09
To Lee Kreider [WUGNET] [Msg # 161987.7 161987.4 ]

Lee,

Don't worry. We are filled with information and once in a while it is even correct. <g>

Uh-huh, I know. That's why this Forum is one of my first stops when looking for information on hardware.

Now, to answer your questions:

1. The amount of printing I do is variable. Some months, nada. Other months, I might do up to ten thousand. The coverage on them is variable, too. Name tags with a small graphic and color lettering take up lots less ink or toner than full page graphics of historical color plates.

2. How much speed do I need? Well, certainly no less than the 2000C, and any improvement would be nice.

3. Duplexing would be a nice benefit, and would cut down on paper usage, but it's not a make-or-break requirement.

4. Do I have a budget? Uhm, yeah -- since most of what I do is volunteer stuff, let's try not to go over what I earned at Borders Books during Christmas Insanity Season, ie, somewhere around $500. However, if there's a really classy machine that will give me long service life and etc. that is a bit more, I can fall on my knees and beg the parental units (who usually line up the volunteer jobs for me) for a loan -- they bought me the 2000C outright, after recommendations here about six years ago.

I feel that, based on ink usage during the lifetime of the 2000C, that separate ink cartridges or toner cartridges are a requirement. I went through a lot more blue and yellow, for instance, than I did magenta and black, and it would be silly to replace those every time I replace the yellow or cyan.

<g> You get no pity from me for your Palm being out. I only just started learning about very basic cell phones after Hurricane Katrina made them a necessity.

Not a problem at all. You just put the cd in the computer and you can load it onto you HD for editing or print directly from the cd. Memory stick access is an added convenience...well...maybe.

I've been doing the CD thing for several years. In fact, I specifically purchased the Sony camera because it used the mini-CD instead of a memory stick. I could put more hi-res photos on a CD than on a memory stick, and the CDs were a darn sight cheaper!

-- Marilyn

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#8 of 18 Posted 1/2/06 5:50 PM

From Marilyn L. Alm Posts 164 Last 4/6/09
To Charles C [Msg # 161987.8 161987.6 ]

Charles,

Thanks for the recommendation! I have an HP LJ 2300D for black and white printing, and it's proved to be both fast, and capable.

I don't do a lot of color printing, but I do enough that having a decent printer that is sturdy is a requirement. (BTW, do I know you from COOKS?)

-- Marilyn

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#9 of 18 Posted 1/2/06 5:51 PM

From Marilyn L. Alm Posts 164 Last 4/6/09
To Hugh Wyn Griffith WUGNET [Msg # 161987.9 161987.5 ]

Hugh,

I know I'm in good hands here! Like I told Lee, that's why I come here!

-- Marilyn

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#10 of 18 Posted 1/2/06 7:30 PM

From Hugh Wyn Griffith WUGNET Posts 5671 Last 7/7/09
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.10 161987.9 ]

The door swings both ways -- we need people like you .....

Hugh
Windows XP Pro build 2600 + SP2.....MSIE6
Connecting through RoadRunner Cable Modem

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#11 of 18 Posted 1/2/06 10:23 PM

From Lee Kreider [WUGNET] Posts 2023 Last 6:58 AM
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.11 161987.7 ]

My first thought is an inkjet in the business class. Here is the version with a duplexer. This machine has multiple ink tanks.

Speed will be important for those times when you do those, 10,000/month times.

The least expensive color laser that would offer the speed you need is the Laserjet 3600. See the two models here.

These are four drum printers. A single drum printer couldn't offer the speed you will require for those big runs. It comes in a duplex model. Over your budget.

Maybe others will come up with some other ideas.

Lee Kreider [PC Hardware]

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#12 of 18 Posted 1/3/06 6:10 PM

From Charles C Posts 376 Last 9/3/08
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.12 161987.8 ]

>> (BTW, do I know you from COOKS?) <<

Yes. I'm a regular there, Marilyn, and - for my sins - on staff! My first CompuServe forums were related to computers but primarily programming and it was from that start that I found Cooks!

...Charles

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#13 of 18 Posted 1/3/06 9:11 PM

From Marilyn L. Alm Posts 164 Last 4/6/09
To Charles C [Msg # 161987.13 161987.12 ]

Charles,

Thought your pixels looked familiar. I don't get over to Cooks as often as I'd like since Katrina. I've been too blasted busy to cook much more than basics. Well, and Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for my parents.

In fact, the color printer is related to the cook book I'm currently working on.

-- Marilyn

Edited 1/3/06 by Marilyn L. Alm

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#14 of 18 Posted 1/4/06 7:14 PM

From Charles C Posts 376 Last 9/3/08
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.14 161987.13 ]

Marilyn:

Best wishes for both the book and the printer. BTW, give the pooch a cookie for me!

...Charles

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#15 of 18 Posted 1/4/06 11:56 PM

From Marilyn L. Alm Posts 164 Last 4/6/09
To Charles C [Msg # 161987.15 161987.14 ]

Charles,

Both Shadow and Sunny think the proper treat is a hand size spinach quiche! Or a zucchini quiche. The operative term is "quiche". And don't tell me real dogs don't eat quiche!

-- Marilyn

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#16 of 18 Posted 1/5/06 2:29 PM

From Marilyn L. Alm Posts 164 Last 4/6/09
To Lee Kreider [WUGNET] [Msg # 161987.16 161987.11 ]

Lee,

Thanks for the input. I'll research this more when I get back from a mini-vacation, which Harry and I both deserve after the last four months of worrying about if we had a home left thanks to Hurricane Katrina, and then trying to help our friends who didn't.

One friend, who did lose everything, commented with regards to her computer, "Y'know, computers are supposed to be so 'smart'... you'd think, with as much money as I spent on mine, the darn thing would have at least learned how to swim!"

-- Marilyn

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#17 of 18 Posted 1/5/06 10:47 PM

From John in Detroit Posts 3356 Last 9:35 AM
To Marilyn L. Alm [Msg # 161987.17 161987.16 ]

==after the last four months of worrying about if we had a home left thanks to Hurricane Katrina==

Marilyn, you will always have a home,,, Now a house is a different matter but you will always have a home

Which reminds me... Depending on how fast we drive tomorrow I may or may not make our regualarry scheduled chat in the other forum

Also depends on if I can get a connection or not... Using cell phone just now, they want too much for a high speed tonight and I'm not doing anything high speed just now

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