Need Opinions on a New Printer!

[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK everyone, I'm dead in the water regarding my printer. I don't even have a spare hunk of junk sitting around as a temporary replacement. I also posted this same thread on my Skin City Designs site trying to get as much opinion as possible.

I need a photo printer that prints to the edges of the paper and can handle text printing as well.

I don't need all the bells and whistles like a display or wireless capabilities. I have no intention of hauling the thing out of my house to use.

I need a fast printer but I also will sacrifice speed for high quality images.

I want to spend as little as possible (under $200 USD) if I can but am a little flexible for a few dollars.

Do I want laser or injet?
Which renders photos better?
Which is more economical on ink?
Which one has cheaper ink refills?

Hewlett Packard used to be the end all of printers but these days there are so many out there I just don't know. I had a Canon once and hated it. The color management sucked big time. I bought the Canon because back then it was a photo printer and the name stood for quality in cameras so I figured I got a good deal. Not so.

HP seems to only carry All In One's which I do not need. I have a quality HP scanner that is just fine. I don't do much scanning anyway and a redundant scanner is just that, redundant. I will cave if the current line of HP is the "it" printer.

I did look at the HP Envy and it's NICE. I really like it but my problem is that it's about $150 more than I can afford right now. Should I hold out for the price to go down on that one?

Help Twitch decide!

[LKTraz]

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The Canon printers have the cheapest ink refills and they seem to last the longest but since you had a not so good experience with them then I guess they are out.

In an ink jet from HP:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/print...2007811106


For laser jet HP:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=printer&category=LaserJet&a1=Color+printing&v1=Color&product_code=CE914A%23BGJ&catLevel=2

Lexmark:
http://www1.lexmark.com/US/en/view/US-Printers%20&%20MultiFunction/Lexmark-Pinnacle-Pro901/catId=cat170005-category&prodId=6054-product

Kinda tough to find better quality printers without all or damn near all in ones.

The 3 I found there are all in the under $200 bracket.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Inkjet is out. I need something that is photo specific for my needs. I'm not too keen on the lexmark's either. I'm looking for opinions on personal experience, not so much a web / research expedition. I've done all that and I'm still in need of questions answered.

The last time I used a sales "tech" for info, that got me that nasty Canon. The ink is cheap because it produces crap color, LK.

HP has always been known for it's printer quality and image reproduction long before they started making computers. I just don't know if anyone's technology and quality has caught up with them.

carry on

[twisteroo]

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Once again I am of no use with this computer stuff. I have not had a printer hooked up in years. The printer I did have went out the window into the garbage bin a year ago because it had not been used in years.

[LKTraz]

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Well if you're looking for photo specific quality then I can tell you that HP is still the king of the hill. Almost every photography service I've seen that offers "quick print" service has HP printers.

Oddly though, every one I've seen in the last 3 or so years is an all-in-one type printer. For the price range you're looking at the HP C301a and C410a are the ones.

I always had HP printers until recently. The last ones had shit for longevity with color cartridges and they were on the expensive side to replace. Henceforth I switched to Canon. You are evidently looking for much better photo print quality than I am.

Go with the HP. The only other one I can find that might do what you want is from Epson and it's made specifically with photo printing in mind. Epson PM225 Picture Mate.

All the HPs are inkjet type and I'm pretty sure the Epson is too.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I'm going to hold out for the Envy. Dylan posted on my Skin City site about this that HP is having a sale on it. When I was on their site looking, it was $125 more and Staples has it for like $325. That means it's going down in price and if I can do without a printer for another week or two, I'm good to go.

All my bills paid receipts are in a temporary file on my computer and I can print them out and staple them to the original bills when I get the new machine. Maybe I'll just sell my scanner too since this will be a very compact all in one. I'll know once I get it and try out the scanner and see if it holds up to the bells and whistles I have on my scanner now. Another HP product, they rule with scanners too.

Good to know that you noticed photography services in your area are using HP printers too! That is something I would never notice! Big help making my decision on that one!

Now to get the truck fixed first, then see how short I am for a goddamn printer! UGH - too many financial crises this year!