[PCWorld]

Post your comments for How to Buy a Printer here

[dukekn]

I purchased a Konica Minolta 2400W Magicolor printer in June 2006. In july I experienced a paper jam in the fuser unit that Technical assistance at Minolta could not resolve. They sent me a replacement REFURBISHED unit to replace it.I have since been checking around and have learned that many of these printers are being returned for replacement. (In fact, when I called UPS to pick up the old unit, the scheduler knew which printer as soon as I mentioned picking up a printer.)I am concerned because I purchased this printer with PC World's recommendation. Even more, I am not happy receiving someone else's headache. My printer was brand new. This printer is second hand!I guess as long as I'm in my one year warranty period, I'll survive, but what happens when the year is up and I'm still having trouble?Any suggestions?Please re-rate the 2400W Konica Minolta Printer. ( I notice that you are now recommending the next model (2403W). I hope it's better than the 2400W.Thanks! Doris K

[willybaseball]

The best advice I can give is to check and see how much the ink cartridges are going to cost you to replace. Most printers are cheap these day -- that's because printer manufacturers want you to buy the printer so you are then dependent on them for the replacement ink cartridges. Thankfully there are some alternatives -- you can buy compatible or remanufactured cartridges instead. You may actually want to check out the cost of these kinds of cartridges before deciding on a printer. If it helps, you may want to check out http://www.123inkjets.com, http://www.carrotink.com, and http://www.castleink.com. Those look to be the "big three" in that particular space.

[wulf]

LEXMARK is worthless-I have a Color 532 that is 6 months old. Color toner cart #1 became empty, I ordered and replaced it. The machine immediately indicated another color toner cartridge was empty and HAD to be replaced (it was NOT empty). With no other choice, I ordered and replaced #2...immediate display was color #3 HAD to be replaced!! Neither #2 or #3 were empty - LEXMARK will tell you this is how the machine is DESIGNED. The color cartridges have a 'smart chip' that maintains a page count - so there's no way around this.I've never been so disgusted with a company and its equipment in 20 years - is there any help out there? The stupid machine did not cost that much more than the cost of buying and replacing 3 cartridges and I resent feeling so manipulated.

[printersvc23]

There are two types of printers available to you: Laser and Inkjet printer. Laser printers are expensive but cost effective in long run. The price of laser printer ranges from a few hundred dollars to over one thousand dollars. However, laser printer prints at much faster rate and each toner cartridge last thousands of prints. If you print more than 50 - 100 pages a week and do not print color, a laser printer may be your solution.

Inkjet printers are cheap and it can print in colors but it can get expensive if you print very often. You can get a pretty good inkjet printer for less than one hundred dollars. But you will find out that ink cartridges do not last long and before you know, you would be spending more on the ink than what you spend on the printer. Since color laser machines are so expensive, if you need to print color, inkjet printer is your only opton.

Do not buy OEM cartridges. They cost too much. Believe me, I service printers for living, remanufactured and compatible cartridges work just fine. Buying remanufactured cartridges, you would be saving over 50% of ink refill cost. Remanufactured cartridges do not work 100% wherever you buy. They work for 90 - 95%. This is just one downside of using remanufactured units. So make sure the seller would exchange defective units and most sellers do. I have very good relationship with the online store TonerPirate (www.tonerpirate.com) Many of my clients buy from them. They sell both inkjet and laser toner. Their prices are pretty much cheapest price I can find. If you plan to buy remanufactured supplies, do not buy Lexmark and Dell. Lexmark and Dell designs their printers in a way so that it reject all compatible or remanufactured cartridges. You will end up spending hundreds and thousands of dollars buying Lexmark brand cartridges. I recommend, HP, Brother or Canon brands.