Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: rosalind dna on 25/03/2009 19:07:53
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I want to buy a new Epson Printer which is compatable with my XP PC and the Epson Scanner but my
present Epson Printer died on me this morning after 9 years of constant usage.
I have/had an Epson Color Stylus 460 printer and it's a chunky one. I'd prefer now a smaller sized printer.
Laser one if possible only I don't understand technical words/jargon.
Also where could I purchase a new Epson printer from also what are the best prices now?
Thanks Rosalind
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Why do you want a laser printer? Modern inkjets are good enough for just about anything. Plus inkjets can do colour prnting. If you want a colour laser you are talking money.
Also, why specifically Epson? They're certainly good printers but no better than Canon. Print quality for alphanumeric characters on those 2 makes is slightly better than Lexmark, but Lexmark quality is good enough for everyday use. One advantage of Lexmark and Canon is that the replacement ink cartridges tend to be cheaper than those for Epson.
Then there is HP. I've had several HP printers and not had any problems with them. The print quality is pretty good too.
What is it that you will mainly be printing? For basic letters and documents, just about any inkjet will be fine. But if you want to print mainly photos then go for a photo-quality printer. Kodak are very good but a bit pricey and I think their ink cartridges are expensive too (1 Kodak printer I looked at recently used 8 ink cartridges!).
How much printing will you do? If you will be doing a lot then you need a faster printer with a larger sheet capacity.
Why bother with just a printer? For a few pounds more you can get a 3-in-1 (printer, scanner, copier). That means you use less desk space than with a separate printer & scanner. Plus there are less leads to trail around the place.
I tend to go to Curry's, Comet or Tesco for PC equipment these days. All 3 offer very good prices. Check out their websites for details of printer size, speed, tray capacity, price etc. If there's anything in the jargon you don't understand, just ask here or MSN me.
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At the moment Comet are offering this 3-in-1 http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/470945/HP-F4180-3-IN-1-PHOTOPRINTER/tab/specification (http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/470945/HP-F4180-3-IN-1-PHOTOPRINTER/tab/specification) for £34.25. Very good value.
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If you want nice pictures, read the mags with reviews. There is a big difference in quality amongst printers and makes. I believe Epson make the best photo quality but my HP 5550 (ancient now) is good and the ink is colour fast. Get one with more than (three colours and black), too.
You must use good paper or you may as well ignore all I have said.
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Why do you want a laser printer? Modern inkjets are good enough for just about anything. Plus inkjets can do colour prnting. If you want a colour laser you are talking money.
Doc I don't know what an inkjet printer does. But what kind of ink does it use, cartridges or toner ink like photocopiers do.
Also, why specifically Epson? They're certainly good printers but no better than Canon. Print quality for alphanumeric characters on those 2 makes is slightly better than Lexmark, but Lexmark quality is good enough for everyday use. One advantage of Lexmark and Canon is that the replacement ink cartridges tend to be cheaper than those for Epson.
I have only ever owned 2 printers in my life and they have both been Epson. As is my scanner which I like (and use) loads.
4 years ago I had a HP scanner and it bust within less than 12 months
so I don't like HP. Lexmark not come across it before.
Although that's good news about the ink cartridges though as Epson ones are extortionately priced I think/
Then there is HP. I've had several HP printers and not had any problems with them. The print quality is pretty good too.
What is it that you will mainly be printing? For basic letters and documents, just about any inkjet will be fine. But if you want to print mainly photos then go for a photo-quality printer. Kodak are very good but a bit pricey and I think their ink cartridges are expensive too (1 Kodak printer I looked at recently used 8 ink cartridges!).
I have only used this printer for documents, letters and so on but
I've never got around to print my photos yet. not really though of it.
How much printing will you do? If you will be doing a lot then you need a faster printer with a larger sheet capacity.
I don't know exactly how much printing I'll be doing as yet but
I would like to purchase an Epson that is quicker and less noisy
than the present "dead" one.
Why bother with just a printer? For a few pounds more you can get a 3-in-1 (printer, scanner, copier). That means you use less desk space than with a separate printer & scanner. Plus there are less leads to trail around the place.
I tend to go to Curry's, Comet or Tesco for PC equipment these days. All 3 offer very good prices. Check out their websites for details of printer size, speed, tray capacity, price etc. If there's anything in the jargon you don't understand, just ask here or MSN me.
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If you want nice pictures, read the mags with reviews. There is a big difference in quality amongst printers and makes. I believe Epson make the best photo quality but my HP 5550 (ancient now) is good and the ink is colour fast. Get one with more than (three colours and black), too.
You must use good paper or you may as well ignore all I have said.
Thanks Sophie and if I read a magazine then I'll buy it from the newsagent but I don't really intend to print off photos.
My dead printer used Black and colour cartridges which had red, blue, yellow colours and the realignment got worse over the years although
I always cleaned the printer's ink thing after and before usage.
I have always used the best paper available.
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Inkjets use cartridges. Believe me, they're a lot cheaper than laser toner cartridges!
Lexmark are used by, I believe, 80% of the world's banks so they can't be that bad.
SC - As I said, Epson are very good. I don't know about them being the best quality for printing photos, though. It's not something I've really done to any great extent so I haven't looked into it.
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Inkjets use cartridges. Believe me, they're a lot cheaper than laser toner cartridges!
Lexmark are used by, I believe, 80% of the world's banks so they can't be that bad.
SC - As I said, Epson are very good. I don't know about them being the best quality for printing photos, though. It's not something I've really done to any great extent so I haven't looked into it.
Doc that's interesting about Lexmark printers. This "ex-" printer only used cartridges, I had only used toner in my first printer.
Although your point about the 80% banks is interesting now.
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I have been using an Epson DX4050 3-in-1 and get good results. 3 colour + 1 black cartridge, scans to BITMAP, JPEG, TIFF & PDF files. Uses dura ink (a bit pricey but very good, I have signs printed over a year ago outdoors in full sun still not faded).
Good all rounder & even photo prints are very respectable.
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Rosalind, do you just want to print ?..are you interested in also being able to scan photos or make photocopies ?
I use a Hewlett Packard Office Jet 6210..it's an ink jet printer . It's suprisingly good for what it cost. It's about three years old now. You can pick up multi function printers pretty cheap nowadays..look at THIS (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deskjet-F2280-Printer-20ppm-4800dpi/dp/B001145I7Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238069581&sr=8-1) for instance from Amazon ! for less than £30 !
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Rosalind, do you just want to print ?..are you interested in also being able to scan photos or make photocopies ?
I use a Hewlett Packard Office Jet 6210..it's an ink jet printer . It's suprisingly good for what it cost. It's about three years old now. You can pick up multi function printers pretty cheap nowadays..look at THIS (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deskjet-F2280-Printer-20ppm-4800dpi/dp/B001145I7Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238069581&sr=8-1) for instance from Amazon ! for less than £30 !
Neil, I just want to print as I've done with the "dead" printer because I have already got
an Epson scanner which works very well.
If I wanted a photocopy then I'd either scan whatever through or go to use the library's
photocopier (free).
Yes I had considered Amazon but if the printer was not the one I wanted then it's difficult to return them. I think/know.
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Rosalind, do you just want to print ?..are you interested in also being able to scan photos or make photocopies ?
I use a Hewlett Packard Office Jet 6210..it's an ink jet printer . It's suprisingly good for what it cost. It's about three years old now. You can pick up multi function printers pretty cheap nowadays..look at THIS (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deskjet-F2280-Printer-20ppm-4800dpi/dp/B001145I7Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238069581&sr=8-1) for instance from Amazon ! for less than £30 !
Neil, I just want to print as I've done with the "dead" printer because I have already got
an Epson scanner which works very well.
If I wanted a photocopy then I'd either scan whatever through or go to use the library's
photocopier (free).
Yes I had considered Amazon but if the printer was not the one I wanted then it's difficult to return them. I think/know.
Yes, that is the problem when you buy online. However, when ever I have purchased from Amazon and the product has gone wrong...I get onto the manufacturer and they ususlly always arrange to pick it up and replace it.
I think if you physically need to get to a store then as dr Beave has mentioned then Comet might be good, you also have PC World..however, if you have John Lewis nearby then you really can not go wrong with their advice and warranty.
Check this out for EPSONS product helper..I'm not too sure if they do just printers for general home use but see if this helps http://productselector.epson-europe.com/index.php?locale=en
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Rosalind, do you just want to print ?..are you interested in also being able to scan photos or make photocopies ?
I use a Hewlett Packard Office Jet 6210..it's an ink jet printer . It's suprisingly good for what it cost. It's about three years old now. You can pick up multi function printers pretty cheap nowadays..look at THIS (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deskjet-F2280-Printer-20ppm-4800dpi/dp/B001145I7Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238069581&sr=8-1) for instance from Amazon ! for less than £30 !
Neil, I just want to print as I've done with the "dead" printer because I have already got
an Epson scanner which works very well.
If I wanted a photocopy then I'd either scan whatever through or go to use the library's
photocopier (free).
Yes I had considered Amazon but if the printer was not the one I wanted then it's difficult to return them. I think/know.
Yes, that is the problem when you buy online. However, when ever I have purchased from Amazon and the product has gone wrong...I get onto the manufacturer and they ususlly always arrange to pick it up and replace it.
I think if you physically need to get to a store then as dr Beave has mentioned then Comet might be good, you also have PC World..however, if you have John Lewis nearby then you really can not go wrong with their advice and warranty.
Check this out for EPSONS product helper..I'm not too sure if they do just printers for general home use but see if this helps http://productselector.epson-europe.com/index.php?locale=en
Neil Thanks and I have looked at that Epson website but with all of the
options for the laser and inkjet printers, I got a bit stuck there.
I think that I might go into "town" next week so go to the John Lewis' Oxford Street store. Then ask for their advice. I know that this store does deliver.
Yes I do need to see the printer before I buy it so that I'll get an idea of what it does and how it works.
I have used Amazon before and will do so again but not for techy stuff like printers.
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Thanks everyone for your advice after some thought, I've decided
to buy a HP deskjet (inkjet) standalone printer, as I've got a good scanner already. Which I do not wish to change yet !!!