topic Re: Need a new printer in Electronics

Need a new printer

Icegoddess — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 20:50:20 GMT

Looks like my printer has finally given up the ghost. Will no longer print black. I cleaned the nozzles and even deep cleaned them and at least got yellow and PGBK back, but the black cartridge (which does grayscale) won't print when I do the test. Even changed out the black cartridge to a new one since I had one on hand. I'm almost out of PGBK ink and don't want to buy another one if the printer isn't going to work.

I have had other problems with it in the past that never really got resolved; I just worked around it.

What I had was a Canon Pixma 920 and would like something kinda comparable. Need a GOOD scanner and the ability to feed multiple pages. Being able to duplex print would be a plus. I hate the way Canon does their print cartridges though. They don't last long and cost a lot. But, they are easy to install and know when they were running low. The Lexmark I had before it had ink cartridges that were difficult to install and you couldn't tell the levels on them.

Also, it needs to work with both MAC & Windows. Doesn't matter where it comes from QVC, HSN, Amazon, Costco, etc. but I want a quality machine. Any recommendations are appreciated.

Re: Need a new printer

jackthebear — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 20:56:21 GMT

dont get HP

Re: Need a new printer

jackthebear — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 20:57:53 GMT

have had good luck with brother,

could not' get HP to play nice with Windows no matter what I did, and I think I can tweak the laptop quite a bit, My sister in law just got one HP that didn't work and got another same thing,

Re: Need a new printer

ValuSkr — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 21:05:01 GMT

If you don't need to print in color, I'd suggest a Brother laser printer and a separate scanner. I've had a Brother laser for a few years and it's been very good. The laser ink cartridges are much more economical than inkjet cartridges. Brother may also have color laser printers, but you'll be spending more. Scanners run the gamut, from very inexpensive to very expensive. If the scanner on your Canon still works, you can use it and save your printing for the Brother. That's what I do - I use the scanner on an old HP 3-in-1 printer.

Re: Need a new printer

Sunshine Kate — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 21:05:57 GMT

I had a Canon before I bought my Epson. The Canon was better in every aspect.

Epson doesn't print draft mode very well, does not print sheet labels -- at all. Uses a lot more ink than my Canon used.

If I had to buy a printer today it would be Canon.

I've heard HP is having trouble with their ink cartridges. If one can believe FB, they were being made of recycled water bottles in Haiti.

Re: Need a new printer

Icegoddess — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 21:14:48 GMT

@ValuSkr wrote:
If you don't need to print in color, I'd suggest a Brother laser printer and a separate scanner. I've had a Brother laser for a few years and it's been very good. The laser ink cartridges are much more economical than inkjet cartridges. Brother may also have color laser printers, but you'll be spending more. Scanners run the gamut, from very inexpensive to very expensive. If the scanner on your Canon still works, you can use it and save your printing for the Brother. That's what I do - I use the scanner on an old HP 3-in-1 printer.

@ValuSkr, I do want color. I am currently trying to print out a pattern and the lines are different colors depending on if it's a cutting line vs a seam line, etc. I might be able to print it all black but I'm not sure. It's a really quirky program. And, the scanner was one of the first things I started having trouble with. It started out with printing an increasingly darker bar in the margin of a large print job (like 15 or so pages). Then, that bar started showing up in scans. As long as the picture I was scanning wasn't large I was able to work around it.

Re: Need a new printer

OKPrincess — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 22:32:40 GMT

I bought my HP laserjet from Best Buy a few months ago. Love it!!

Re: Need a new printer

lovesrecess — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 01:15:25 GMT

We have a Canon Pixma but I don't recall the model number; they have about 40 different Pixma models. it is wireless and works great; bought at Costco on sale,..buy the ink at compusave,com....super cheap and no shipping.

Re: Need a new printer

Icegoddess — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 02:03:51 GMT

@lovesrecess, I have the Canon Pixma 920. Got it from Costco several years ago. However, Costco doesn't currently have any Canon printers. I am considereing the Pixma 922 which seems to have all of the same functionality, and it uses the exact same ink cartridges (since I just opened a new box). It's on sale for $99.99 right now at a couple of places. The other thing I have to consider is print drivers, so I don't want a printer that is so new it won't support Win 7 or so old that it won't support the latest Mac OS and this one fits that bill.

Re: Need a new printer

lovesrecess — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 02:04:56 GMT

Sounds like you have a plan!

Re: Need a new printer

Venezia — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 02:36:27 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
have had good luck with brother,

could not' get HP to play nice with Windows no matter what I did, and I think I can tweak the laptop quite a bit, My sister in law just got one HP that didn't work and got another same thing,

We have two printers: an HP Officejet 6500 wireless and a Brother Laser Color printer.

I've never had a problem with any of my HP printers and I have always had Windows. Ditto for the Brother Laser printer. The print quality on my HP Officejet is excellent.

The only brand I wouldn't have again is the Lexmark I used to have. It broke down completely three days before the warranty expired and the customer service guy was nasty. Shouted at me over the phone. The idiot told me we had to unplug the stupid thing even though I knew what had happened and told him so (my career was in I.T.) and that I'd already done that. He actually shouted at me to "DO WHAT I TELL YOU TO!" So we crawled around under the desk, unplugged it and he said (I kid you not) "Now plug it back in"! He was clearly just playing me to delay until the warranty ran out.

I put the phone down after telling him not to shout at me and will NEVER buy another Lexmark. (Do they even still exist or did they go out of business, as they should have?)

Re: Need a new printer

Icegoddess — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 02:49:27 GMT

@Venezia, I agree Lexmark's CS is the pitts. I called them once and the guy was telling me to try it with a Windows machine. I didn't have a Windows machine. If it's compatible with both Mac and Windows you shouldn't need both to get it to work.

But, I would have to say Canon's CS wasn't a whole lot better, although it's not really CS, but that the machines are just made to be disposable anymore. When I first started having trouble with it, the only resolution would be to take it to an authorized Canon service center. Not one in my area, and it would probably cost more than the cost of the printer to get it fixed.

Re: Need a new printer

dooBdoo — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 16:03:42 GMT

@Icegoddess, I've had very good luck with the Canon Pixma series, but I also notice the reviews from reliable online sources for the "best" printers in 2018 are recommending a variety of brands. I wanted to add that I've had extremely positive experiences in ordering from B&H Photo Video (with free delivery and no sales tax -- but that might vary), so you might want to include them as a resource. I purchased my last printer and tv from them. You could call them to get some ideas -- I really like their phone support. Their representatives are knowledgeable, available during posted hours to chat about your specific needs and the products they have to match up to those needs, and I've never felt even the slightest sales pressure from them when I've called and talked with them. They have good sales, too. I hope you find a good option, no matter which brand or source.😊

Re: Need a new printer

Lilysmom — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 08:30:59 GMT

I bought a Brother laser printer as well and I love it. No more hassles with inkjet cartridges. LM

Re: Need a new printer

Icegoddess — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 16:49:51 GMT

@dooBdoo, the printer I'm considering is on sale both on B&H & Walmart. I have also had good luck in the past with B&H. I bought a radio/CD player for my Jeep from them and did have to call for some advice during the install.

Re: Need a new printer

hckynut — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 17:15:41 GMT

@Icegoddess

I have bought most major brands over the years and my present and past several, I choose Canon.

hckynut(john)

Re: Need a new printer

Toppers3 — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 01:29:49 GMT

I have an HP Chromebook and was having difficulty printing until we got an HP printer that was compatible for it.

We had a salesman explain to us that computers and printers work better when they both come from the same manufacturer, as they are made to be compatible.

In this instance I found it to be true, as after we bought this particular printer to work with my Chromebook, the printing issues that we were having had stopped.

We have an HP Office 4650 InkJet printer.

Re: Need a new printer

VaBelle35 — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 21:33:58 GMT

I have the Canon Pixma from HSN. It was dirt cheap, I think I used a coupon.

Re: Need a new printer

VaBelle35 — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 21:35:10 GMT

Before I bought the Pixma, I looked at every print on Costco and Best Buy and read every review and everyone had the same complaints about the cost of ink cartridges and how they didn't last.

Re: Need a new printer

Icegoddess — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 01:33:04 GMT

@VaBelle35, there are many models of Pixma. I had the MX920. I decided to go with the Canon Pixma MS922. I know it's an older model but it's the most similar to what I had before which I really liked until it started messing up, but I had it for several years of good service. Also, I have to consider printer drivers since I'm still running Windows 7 (and no plans to upgrade), but also have a Mac with a more recent, but not completely up to date OS. Printer companies are generally slow to update their drivers for Mac.

Anyways, I ordered from B&H photo this evening and 2 hours later I got an E-mail that it had been shipped. I know that probably means the printing label has been printed and it's sitting in the warehouse, but still, that's pretty quick service.