Which Printer?

[smurfchops]

I need to buy a new printer, mainly just to use black, bog standard. Would you recommend bubblejet or laser - what is the difference?  I'm not very technical as you can tell, just need to know a reasonably priced printer for personal use, which also will not need cartridges replaced too often - one seems to last me around a year at the moment! And should I use good quality cartridges or will the 'cheap' ones be OK?   I am using a bubblejet printer at the moment which has lasted around four years, but on its last legs as far as black cartridge printing is concerned.

[chazza55]

I would recommend a laser.

HP to very good budget ones.

I used to have the HP laserjet 1000w, but gave it to my Dad.

I now have the HP Laserjet 1010 (I paid �90 !!!!!!)

I love that printer - not that big either!!!! (Bookshelf printer)

I think this is the successor: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProduc tID=220186

[fo3nix]

for printing text, you cant beat a laser printer.

a laser, for that purpose, are faster at printing, they print smoother text, and are far cheaper to run. unless you buy a fairly expensive one though, it wont do photos or things like that well.

[WoWo]

Yep I'd agree a laser printer is the best if your not concerned with printing colour pictures. It's much faster, and the quality is much better.

Laser printer cartridges tend to be more expensive at around �30-�50 but I had my last one for 5 years and it wasn't even half empty when I upgraded to a new printer.

I have a Brother HL2030B (the B for Black rather than Grey) I got mine at Misco for �58+ vat (this includes a full cartridge) For some reason a black one was �10-�15 cheaper than the same white one.

Great printer

[ceebee007]

You can make your cartridges last longer by selecting ECONOMY or DRAFT mode (or equivalent - the terminology varies from printer to printer) when you are in your print menu, especially when you're printing out something that doesn't have to be best quality.

I have used the 'cheap' cartridges and found them perfectly acceptable.

[smurfchops]

Thank you for all your help !

[smurfchops]

Oh and by the way -- will I need to buy a new USB Cable (as advertised at comet.co.uk) - I already have a cable connected to my PC from my old printer (I wont be using the old printer any more).

[chazza55]

It depends on the cable that you have already. If you have a USB cable arleady, then you shouldnt really need a new one unless the printer you buy uses a non standard connection. (unlikely!)

You usually have two types of cable:

The old sort that is not used any more = parallel (wide, bulky connectors) - I would expect an older printer to use these.

The newer sort = USB (much smaller ends, quicker data transfer)

Any new printer you get, I would expect to have to use a USB cable.
Some printers supply them in the box, some do not. So you may want to check the "What's in the box?" text of the product or ask the vendor.

Or, you could buy the printer, see if it has the cable or not - then go and get one if necessary - they should be only a few pounds.

[smurfchops]

The one I have is around four - five years old, so I think I had better buy the new one - thanks for all your help!