I have had my HP Deskjet 890 for almost 10 years. I’m not exactly sure when I bought it, but the date of manufacture is 08/1997. Local stores no longer sell cartridges for it and refilling only works about half the time. It’s been a workhorse for me, but I decided it was finally time to get with the civilized world.
I bought an HP 2605dn from Costco, for less money than my old inkjet cost 10 years ago.
The color is astonishingly good. The usual consensus is that color laser printers don’t print color graphics, especially photos, as well as inkjet printers do. I think this one is an exception. Even on plain paper, photos have saturated colors, and a glossy finish. It’s definitely better than my old (10 years old!) inkjet. I’m sure modern inkjets are better, but it’s still very good.
This modern, capitalistic world! We thrive on new toys.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Don // Aug 13, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Here’s the one we use. It makes great color prints, copies, faxes, and even has a scanner all for about 1/2 the cost of that laser printer you just got.
2 Donna // Aug 13, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Cool! You definitely got plenty of mileage out of your old one, and you’re justified in buying a new one.
Speaking of new toys and printers, I hope someone can help me ensure my MacBook will print to my HP Deskjet. (hint, hint…)
3 Richard // Aug 13, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Sounds great Daryl. Someday I will get one too, but for now my old HP 4P laser printer is still plugging along. I think I got it around 1995. I was still able to find a cartridge for it the last time I needed one, but the nice thing about lasers is that they print so many copies before needing a replacement. I think the inkjet manufacturers give the printer away because they make all their money on cartridges.
Dayna finally bought a color laser a few months ago. She had a 4P I had given her. She was blown away by the 24-30 PPM speed over the old 6 PPM speed of the 4P. Wonder why?
4 Don // Aug 14, 2007 at 7:06 am
I’ve thought about a laser because Betty and Ann tend to really print a lot of stuff and it doesn’t need to be in color. Are they much cheaper per page?
5 Grandma // Aug 14, 2007 at 7:17 am
I think you had trouble finding a cartridge for my printer the last time it had to be changed. Does that mean that I’m going to have to have a new one before long? Planned obsolescence!
6 Daryl // Aug 14, 2007 at 10:17 am
Don,
In general lasers are cheaper per page. Most lasers run around 2 – 3 cents per page for black text, while inkjets are anywhere from 3 to 10 cents or more. That’s not counting ink lost during cleaning cycles, plugged nozzles, or color cartridges where only one color is empty. On the other hand, it’s easier to refill ink cartridges yourself, if you want to bother with the mess.
If you don’t need color, Costco is selling an HP laserjet for around $100 (Derek has one). Usually when the printer is that cheap they make up for it with supplies, so cartridges may cost more for that one (I don’t remember), but it does a fine job with black text.
Laser printers are no longer an extravagance. If you are interested in color, I can pass on the notes and my findings from my research.
7 Daryl // Aug 14, 2007 at 10:23 am
Mom,
Your printer uses the same cartridges that my old one does, so you are in the same boat. We will be able to find them online for a while still, but they won’t be as cheap as they were at Costco. Maybe I should order a couple for you so you don’t run out.
8 Grandma // Aug 14, 2007 at 4:41 pm
That will be a good idea. I was just begged into doing the notes for the Food Council again.
9 jocelyn // Aug 14, 2007 at 6:30 pm
This is the kind of printer I want. Epson Stylus Photo 1400. Big fast beautiful prints.
10 Don // Aug 14, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Joce, I have never had much luck with Epson printers. I have always had pretty good luck with HP printers.
11 Daryl // Aug 14, 2007 at 7:33 pm
I’ve never owned one, but I know that Epsons can make beautiful prints.
I have heard that many people have problems with Epson ink nozzles plugging up (an expensive repair). I don’t know if it happens enough to reject buying one, but it is something I read about a lot in user reviews of Epson printers. (Of course, usually people only write reviews if they love or hate something!).
12 jocelyn // Aug 14, 2007 at 10:45 pm
We’ve had epson for years and have only had one clog up (of course that would be mine) but only because it sat unused with ink sitting in it for months. But an hp did the exact same thing for the same reason. They’re the best for pictures, so, for now I’ll stick with them.
13 Heather // Aug 16, 2007 at 9:07 am
We had an Epson, and I have to say I LOVE our HP!!!