ISO:A new printer... suggestions needed...

[Lachesis00]

What printer would you NOT buy and why? What printer do you suggest and why? I need a new printer. My old Lexmark is on her last legs. It's jamming and there is nothing there that I can see causing the jam. It will feed fine but when you go to print it makes this terrible sound and jam

I want one that does nice photos speed isn't a huge issue as long as it prints nicely. Reasonably priced would be nice. Say under $200 if possible. Small in size would be nice. I don't need/want one of those "all in ones".


I look forward to suggestions

 

[Alex]

For a photo printer your best bets are the various Epson and Hewlett Packard models. There numerous models that fit the bill. I would just go to a Staples or Wal-mart and check them out

 

[Lachesis00]

Hehehehee No Walmart or Staples. I am limited to Costcos and Fred Meyers. I am thinking HP... but I was wondering if one prints better photos over another...

 

[MICKEY88]

HP Photosmart 7760W

I have the photosmart 7550 and have been very pleased with it's performance..

 

[Lachesis00]

Oh thank you! It prints nice photos? thats my main concern since I take so many *hehehe*


Have you ever printed the 4x6" photos? Is this special paper or how does it work?

 

[niks81]

We got a Canon right around xmas time and it has really worked nicely. Its really easy to print 4x6 photos on and they look exactly duplicate to the ones developed at the store

I don't remember the price on it though but I'm pretty sure it was under 200.00

 

[MICKEY88]

I've printed photos of all sizes...I have some 4x6 paper and some 8.5x11...

there is a seperate tray for the 4x6 so you can keep it loaded in the printer, depending on your software, you can also print multiple sizes on the larger paper...such as 2-5x7's...


everytime I give someone photos I've printed they can't believe that I printed them at home since the quality is so good...,,you will want to buy good paper also...if you buy really cheap photo paper the quality of your prints will suffer...

 

[wdwgirl03]

I have an hp 1210 printer/scanner/copier. It's really nice. And it wasn't that expensive either.

 

[Lachesis00]

Do you buy the paper pre-cut to 4x6? Sorry to sound so clueless. I just have never seen it

Thank you for all your input!! May have to go Costco shopping tonight... as Joey has a project and printing is required.

Originally posted by MICKEY88
I've printed photos of all sizes...I have some 4x6 paper and some 8.5x11...

everytime I give someone photos I've printed they can't believe that I printed them at home since the quality is so good...,,you will want to buy good paper also...if you buy really cheap photo paper the quality of your prints will suffer...

 

[wdwgirl03]

Originally posted by Lachesis00
Do you buy the paper pre-cut to 4x6? Sorry to sound so clueless. I just have never seen it

Thank you for all your input!! May have to go Costco shopping tonight... as Joey has a project and printing is required.

They sell paper that is already 4x6.

 

[Lachesis00]

Huh, go figure. I honestly have never seen 4x6" but don't let that surprise you... living in Alaska... Is it expensive (as opposed to 8x11")?

Originally posted by wdwgirl03
They sell paper that is already 4x6.

 

[MICKEY88]

I have paper of both sizes,,I bought a large pack of Kodak 4x6 paper at Sams club.... and I've also tried ROYAL BRITES....it's good paper and less expensive,,,

multiple sizes on the large paper and cut them to size..

 

[MICKEY88]

4x6 kodak paper


$20 for 150 sheets... at costco....works out to about .13 a picture....not a bad price....of course you have ink costs as well...

 

[DSNY FN]

I would reccomend any of the Epson stylus photo printers I have had a photo 870 for a few years now and have never had a minutes problem and love the thing. Ink is probably the cheapest of all printers other than maybe Canon and the image quality is IMHO far better than the others.

 

[Lachesis00]

Wow thanks so much! This is a huge help.... .13 is *not* bad. Especially if they look close to say Costco actually printing them

Originally posted by MICKEY88
4x6 kodak paper


$20 for 150 sheets... at costco....works out to about .13 a picture....not a bad price....of course you have ink costs as well...

 

[Lachesis00]

I just know I would not buy a canon. The ink dries up way too fast ;( if you don't use it enough.

Originally posted by DSNY FN
I would reccomend any of the Epson stylus photo printers I have had a photo 870 for a few years now and have never had a minutes problem and love the thing. Ink is probably the cheapest of all printers other than maybe Canon and the image quality is IMHO far better than the others.

 

[MICKEY88]

one additional thought,,I would not buy cheap ink such as the refill kits...I've read several articles that advise against them for photo printing....

 

[Lachesis00]

Thanks. I never have (my sister has and had problems). I do wish the ink wasn't *so* expensive or that I used the printer more often. I only get new ink about once every 2 years *lol*.

Originally posted by MICKEY88
one additional thought,,I would not buy cheap ink such as the refill kits...I've read several articles that advise against them for photo printing....

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

We have a Canon i960 and love it!

 

[oogieboogie]

I've had everything from HP, Epson, Canon & Lexmark. Although each one has its good and bad, I always seem to come back to the Canon.

Why? Because Canon's core business competency has always been in printing, developing, and photographic development. The others did not start in these areas. Therefore IMO Canon has had the longest experience.

Aside from the excellent quality of their products, Canon has consistenly had the cheapest price on their inks. That's where these companies make the most of their money. In the ink and not on the printer itself.

IMO, you need to look at your needs first. Will you do a lot of color printing? If so, I would find a printer that uses separate color cartridges. What will you be printing? What features does the printer have? Do you need special features, like reverse printing or borderless printing?

Figuring out what you need vs what features the printers offer will be a big determining factor. I got a Lexmark before and I was disappointed when I found out I couldn't print in grayscale. I couldn't print in reverse and other stuff. Then sticker shock came when I had to buy the ink. Heck, the ink cost more than the printer itself. Hard lesson to swallow!

Anyway, now I have a Canon i320 that I bought for $30, with 1200dpi and borderless printing capability. And I love it.