Printer

[emmie]

i think i killed my printer, so may well have to buy a new one. The damn thing has been playing up for ages, though have no idea why. If i buy a new
one can anyone recommend one that is lightweight, easy to manage, copy, print, and the ink won't cost me an arm and a leg, because this HP monster eats up the cartridges like no tomorrow. I bought some different types though it says compatible, but it just won't print, or leaves smudges on the paper. I don't want another HP particularly, and have a dell computer.

[emmie]

if anyone can help on this would be most grateful

[Sparkles62]

I have always used Epson, the ink is very reasonable and the compatable inks are very cheap,
Argos have some very reasonably priced Epson printers,
I would recommend taking out their own cover for your printer,
this is usually something that I am totally against, as it is usually a waste of money, but they have a no quibble new for old cover, and it works.
I walked in last year with my broken printer and my cover reciept, the lady on the counter said thats fine, go and choose a new printer, if it is dearer than your old one you will have to pay the difference,
if it is cheaper, we will give you a credit voucher for the difference, I walked out very happy, with a new printer and a few quid credit, no hassle. X

[Sparkles62]

I forgot to add that they also gave me a new cover reciept for the new printer at no extra charge, so I'm covered again for any breakdowns. X

[HansUrbancka]

Have you tested your printer with the free HP Print & Scan Doctor?. Worth a try before buying a new one. The programme does genuinely find and fixes problems.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&;docname=c03275041

[emmie]

i think its dead, because i had to print off some important documents and the damn thing wouldn't print, half the letters on the page were missing,
this was new or nearly new ink cartridges.
by the way i have a contract with pc world for computer, if i buy a printer from them, will that cover that too, sounds silly i know, but i am not sure.

[Robinia]

ooh I had that problem only yesterday, colours were ok, the black wouldn't print. It didn't work after a head clean/test page so my son told me to remove the black cartridge and gently wipie the bottom with a damp cloth....he said cheap ones tend to dry quickly if you're not using them all the time. It worked for me.

[Robinia]

*I should have said gently wipe (not wipie!) the bottom of the cartridge until ink appears.

[emmie]

i think the fact it fell off the table might have something to do with it, i looked inside the casing, as much as i can and the levers that control cartridge inks going back and forth seem to be stuck. I wish i could find a small easily manageable printer, one that doesn't need mega expensive cartridges.
whats the difference between laser jet and ink jet. cost and efficiency

[mikey4444]

The good thing emmie is that printers have never been so cheap, in real terms. Have a look in a Tesco Extra, if you have one nearby. I have used HP All-in-Ones for nearly 20 years now. My original one weighed a ton and cost over £500, but HP now make them half the weight and size, at less than £100. It does depend on what you want to use your printer for emmie, but I find having a photocopying facility at home jolly useful. Not sure how I would cope without one nowadays !

Here is a link to Tesco Direct. Don't forget you can order this on-line and then collect in-store. I have recommended Tesco quite a lot recently but I have always found them to be very convenient.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/search-results/results.page?catId=4294959727&searchquery=printer&_WebEvents=printers&SrchId=4294967294&_requestid=962312&;_requestid=236486&icid=spiffy_spf_spf_test&icid=redirect_printer

[emmie]

i need it to print and copy, i was going to ask what the difference is between inkjet and laser. I don't want to spend a fortune on it, and it has to be fairly small as there is limited space. its the ink cartridges that were the problem, the cost was far too much, i did buy some supposedly compatible ones, but they don't appear to be, and now it's died on its poor feet.

[emmie]

i don't have a Tesco extra, but can look online, but i would rather look at the items in a shop and get good advice, but money is limited, so not going to pay 100 quid if i can avoid it. What make is good, i had a HP, but not really sure i want to go there again.

[emmie]

other thing is wireless or not, please explain, the one i have needs the cable to go from computer to printer, which i still have.

[Peter Pedant]

I have found lexmark OK
The one I have scans and prints - not bad on cartridges and
as you have found with impt docs
when you want one - Lex has always done it.

[berniecuddles]

3 months ago i brought the HP Deskjet 3520 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer from curry's not bad at all, pack of ink ( 1 black+3 colours) not that dear either got mine brand new ebay £21

[emmie]

thank you, i might pop into pc world, it's where i bought the computer, and see what they can advise. perhaps the cartridges i bought before weren't compatible, as after two documents they wouldn't work, very annoying and waste of money.

[berniecuddles]

hi peter i changed from lexmark to my new one as the lexmark ink was too pricey i thought!

[emmie]

that's the big problem, i think the printer cost me about 40 quid, but the cartridges were costing me over that, for black and colour, i can't afford to spend that sort of money. I don't use it much, but when i do it's for printing copying of letters, documents.

[emmie]

one last thing, compatibility, any reason why one make wouldn't be compatible with another make.

[mjwman]

Before you decide I suggest you look at Cityink Express.
I bought from them refillable cartridges for my Canon ip4950. fully chipped etc.
It is a doddle to refill them with a syringe. I print a lot and have just used my first set of inks in 3 years! A replace ment set of 5x100mls cost about £25 and not much more for your first set including cartridges.

They also do a continuous ink supply system but I did not get on well with that.

I say to look at their site because although their rande of cartridge type is large not all models are covered.

The inks are very high quality and are good for photos too.

www.cityinkexpress.co.uk