Which printer?

[Tefler]

We have an Epson Stylus C66 which is driving us mad. Because we've been using compatible cartridges, we seem now to paying the price with blocked heads. We want to buy a new all-purpose printer (text documents and the odd photo or two).
Do you have something you consider to be good value? In particular, we want something for which the consumables aren't too outrageously expensive.

[YvonneM]

I have a HP C4200 and I hate it with a venegance the cartridges it came with ran out after 2 weeks I had priced the cartridges in Tescos and thought they were cheap but hadn't realised how little ink they contained I now have to order replacements from the computer shop as they are in short supply it took 3 weeks for them to be delivered. there is no tray to catch the paper as it comes out of the printer it does not switch on automatically I can't alter the default setting it automatically defaults to normal when I would like it to be fast draft. How I hate it !!!!

[Hymie]

Having suffered many years with ink jet printers (the high cost of cartridges and the grief getting all the colours to work at the same time etc), when my last one died, I replaced it with another cheap model (as advised by other here) � but also added a cheap laser printer, and have never looked back. I print everything on the laser printer, unless colour is required. I print enough colour stuff to stop the jets drying up.

My recommendation for a laser printer is the Samsung ML 2510. Ebuyer (ebuyer.com) are selling these for �50.53 [Quick find/Stock code 112911] (with free delivery). Printing speed is 24 ppm, with first print out time around 5 seconds � no more waiting for minutes until you have your print out. The reason Samsung can offer a laser printer for around �50 is that the replacement cartridges cost about the same. But if you check out ebay, you can buy refill kits for less than �10 (does for 2 re-fills), I have already re-filled once.

No more inkjets for me (unless I�m printing in colour). I now have 2 printers, should one fail, I have a fall back for emergency printing.

PS The Samsung printer does not come with a USB printer cable (you need to buy one).

[Hymie]

Further to my comments recommending you purchase a laser printer (Samsung ML 2510) & inkjet, I cannot recommend any inkjet Model or Make (they all tend to suffer from reliability issues/expensive replacement cartridges).

But to minimise cost of ownership, ensure that cheap alternative cartridges are available for your chosen inkjet printer.

[wendyl]

I have an Epson R600 all in one printer which has served me very well for several years it prints borderless A4 excellent photos etc Yes it has 6 cartridges but it means you can use all of the ink. Cartridges are not exactly cheap but are reasonable if you shop around. I NEVER use compatibles I learnt that lesson a long time ago (especially whilst under guarantee) Epson will also print on thicker paper because of the way it feeds through and I print all our own greetings cards - I can't do this on my hubby's HP. I also have an Epson acculaser which is excellent except for photos or borderless so a lot of it comes down to what you want it to do