Thoughts on buying a new printer

[Lucky Luke]

Hi — can anyone offer a useful comment on a little concern that I have? The question I am asking may sound a bit silly, but my concern is a fact, nonetheless.

My printer has failed, and I need to buy a new one. By looking for information on the Web, I have learned that the cause of printer failure is a drying up of ink in its tubes or whatever. So, the failure is my own fault, in that I have not used the printer often enough, I suppose. I am given to understand that a printer is best used at short intervals — perhaps twice a week, to prevent drying up. Which brings me to the problem I mentioned at first.

If a printer ought to be used at short intervals, it seems reasonable to suppose that the new printers in warehouses, waiting for buyers, cannot be used in this way. They may be on the shelf for months, in fact, sitting totally idle. So, it occurs to me that one might buy a new printer that, for the reason mentioned, has dried up while on the warehouse or shop shelf.

I am aware that a guarantee comes with every new printer. However, that would be small consolation to someone like me, who is elderly, and physically unable to move about much. I should not relish the need to go (on a tram or bus, carrying a largish item) to a service centre in the city, several miles away, even if it was to have a new printer serviced free under the guarantee.

Does anyone know of how dealers manage this hypothetical problem, when keeping hundreds of printers in stock?

Has anyone any comment to make about this risk (apart from telling me to stop maundering, close my eyes, cross my fingers, and go and order the new printer)?

With thanks in advance, for any friendly responses.

A.W.

 

[EddieM]

yeah, sure there is no ink sitting in the printer when they are stored.

 

[bernardgreen]

Some Hewlett Packard printers have the print heads as part of the cartridges and these do not suffer from ink drying and clogging the tubes as there is no tubing to clog up..

Mine is the HP Envy 2255 and can be left for 2 weeks and will still print perfectly.

The cartidges with built in print head maybe a bit more expensive but the extra cost is well worth the reliable operation of the printer

 

[pete50]

Some, and I think other HP printers will follow suit soon, are now coming with print heads as part of the printer rather than the cartridge. I have just bought a HP Officejet 7612 and the cartridges are part of the printer. I also have an Epson Workforce WF-7610 which also has the print heads as part of the printer. That one dried up within the guarantee period and Epson sent out a technician to my home. He couldn't clear the heads so he brought a replacement printer the following day.

You are right though ink will dry in the heads if your printer is not used. Also clone cartridges are worse for drying ink that OEM cartridges. Problem with OEM carts is that if you only paid 49 quid for a printer it really isn't worth your while buying OEM cartridges to try to clear the print heads because of the of the OEM cartridges. A set of Epson Cartridges for my Epson cost £79. I can buy clones for £25 for six sets. Clones will invalidate your guarantee though if Epson, or any other printer manufacturerer, know you have used them.

 

[Lucky Luke]

yeah, sure there is no ink sitting in the printer when they are stored.

That certainly answers my concern, EddieM. I feel better for knowing that. Thanks.

 

[JohnD]

inkjets are fundamentally a silly idea.

Have you considered a laser printer?

The toner cartridges are huge. Mine last a couple of years. No issue with ink drying up or costing a million pounds per pint.

 

[Lucky Luke]

That one dried up within the guarantee period and Epson sent out a technician to my home. He couldn't clear the heads so he brought a replacement printer the following day.

Pete, thanks for that information. It's good to know that the firm will come out to you if need be. For me to go out to the shops is quite an ordeal. I shall order a printer, deciding on which one later.
A.W.

 

[wv62]

If the printheads have dried up get yourself a syringe, remove the cartridges and squirt some isopropyl alcohol into the heads. You may need to do it over a few days but it should solve the problem.

 

[Lucky Luke]

Have you considered a laser printer?

John, I have considered a laser printer. However, the cost of replacement toner tended to put me off. Also, in my study, there is not enough room for anything over six and a half inches high (my Canon Pixma is only about four and three-quarters high), sixteen and a half inches wide and 15 inches deep. I am open to suggestions, though, as the drying up of print cartridges/head is a pain, since I don't use a printer much (but I should hate to be without one). I feel that not to want to have a printer is similar to being happy to have no legs! Can a colour-image of reasonable quality be printed on a laser? For me, the question of size is a major consideration. Any comments that you can make would be gratefully received (about approximate cost, in the UK, as well). I'm all ears!
A.W.

 

[JohnD]

A laser printer, and enough toner for a couple of years, can be bought for about a hundred pounds.

I am still using one I bought more than five years ago. I have added toner once. Mine is an OKI B4100 which may be discontinued. HP are also very popular.

Lasers are not so good for colour, especially photo-quality. They are OK for pie-charts and graphs. Colour lasers are bigger and more expensive.

edit
some examples on here
https://www.novatech.co.uk/search.html?s=laser printer&c=715,712,&m=0&o=1

 

[Lucky Luke]

If the printheads have dried up get yourself a syringe, remove the cartridges and squirt some isopropyl alcohol into the heads. You may need to do it over a few days but it should solve the problem.

Friend, I have washed the printhead under warm, running water, twice with no success. When it had dried, I soaked it for about 18 hours in isopropyl alcohol. It still would not work, so I gave up on it. To make matters worse, the video that I watched, showing how to take the printhead out, missed making something quite clear, so I did it wrongly, and wrestled with a jammed printhead, until it dawned upon me what to do to take it out easily. (This may have damaged the terminals, for aught that I know.) Anyway, the error message is that there is no printhead installed! I have given up on it. Thanks for your suggestion though.

 

[EddieM]

it's a sad fact that's it's often cheaper to buy a new printer. something I personally find an offensive waste.

 

[JBR]

I'd go with laser printers too. We got an HP colour laser printer last year and find it better that inkjet for a couple of reasons. The toner may be more expensive, but it certainly lasts longer than ink and when you take into account how long it lasts, it works out cheaper than ink. Also, printing is quicker, especially if you are doing duplicate sheets.
On the other hand, the only drawback for some is the size. No wider or deeper than inkjets (in general) but certainly taller, although that's not a problem for us. As for colour, as has been said, graphics are as good as inkjet, if not better, although photos are said to be not as good. Having said that, I've done colour photos and they're not bad at all. Text is also better in my opinion.

 

[Lucky Luke]

I'd go with laser printers too. We got an HP colour laser printer last year and find it better that inkjet for a couple of reasons. The toner may be more expensive, but it certainly lasts longer than ink and when you take into account how long it lasts, it works out cheaper than ink. Also, printing is quicker, especially if you are doing duplicate sheets.
On the other hand, the only drawback for some is the size. No wider or deeper than inkjets (in general) but certainly taller, although that's not a problem for us. As for colour, as has been said, graphics are as good as inkjet, if not better, although photos are said to be not as good. Having said that, I've done colour photos and they're not bad at all. Text is also better in my opinion.

Thanks very much for your comments, JBR. I think I have decided upon a laser printer. However, I know nothing much about them. Is it a fact that a colour laser (Canon) printer can also work on a single, all-colour-and-black cartridge (instead of several colour cartridges)? If so, what are your thoughts on that option? It certainly seems to be less expensive, as it is only rarely that I use colour printing.
Regards, A.W.

 

[JBR]

Thanks very much for your comments, JBR. I think I have decided upon a laser printer. However, I know nothing much about them. Is it a fact that a colour laser (Canon) printer can also work on a single, all-colour-and-black cartridge (instead of several colour cartridges)? If so, what are your thoughts on that option? It certainly seems to be less expensive, as it is only rarely that I use colour printing.
Regards, A.W.

I'm afraid I haven't heard of that system.
Our HP Color LaserJet Pro M252dw was bought as it came out as best in a number of reviews. It has four cartridges: black, magenta, yellow and cyan which each retail at about £60-70. Yes, that sounds expensive but they last for ages, possibly even years depending upon use. Even the partially-filled ones that came with the printer lasted for months.
I'd suggest that you read some reviews of that Canon printer before deciding. It may well be very good, but I don't know.