Overview
Choosing a printer can be hard work if you want to do it right. I have already put the work into it. cost/page, duty cycle, abilities. duplexer (double-sided printing).
for comparison,
- color workgroup laser 11¢/page color, 1.1¢pg black, Okidata C610dn
- mono lasers 2.067-3¢/pg
- wax/solid ink 10¢/pg
- average inkjet $0.1426-$0.3688/pg color
- high-cost cartridge inkjet color 5-user, low cost per page, e-printer: 8¢/page color, 1.64¢pg black
- high-cost cartridge inkjet color 5-user AIO e-Printer: 8¢/page color, 1.64¢pg black
- low-cost cartridge inkjet color AIO e-Printer: 9¢/page color, 2.5¢pg black
- mono workgroup laser: Okidata B710dn 2.067¢/page
If you are in a dorm room and you have several roommates, and everybody is going to be sharing a printer, then I would suggest using the HP 8500 or an HP 8000 (if you feel you don't need the fax/scanner and you are on a budget, or you don't feel like assembling a printer)
I choose to get a printer with a duplexer and a NIC over any other type of printer because I'm sure to use that in my environment, even at home. sometimes we share printers. It's also good for a work environment.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 inkjet printer
Updated:4/13/2012
this printer for capacity & long haul & 5-concurrent-user at 8¢/page. Kodak 10-series cartridge printers for low cost of cartridges at 8¢/page
HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 inkjet features
- $149.99
- [($25.99:951XL:color×3+$35.99:950XL:black)/1400pgs=8.14¢/page color, ($35.99:950XL:black/2200pgs)=1.635909090909¢pg black]($25.99XLcolor×3+$35.99XLblack)/1400pgs=8.14¢/page color, ($35.99XLblack/2200pgs)=1.635909090909¢pg black
- hp 8100 page 950black/950XLblack, 951XL ink is waterproof, does not run when wet
- 50-sheet ADF and scanner (if you choose 8600)
- 250-sheet input tray, lasts surprisingly long because of duplexer
- network-ready, separate mac addresses for ethernet and wireless, printing from mobile devices via HP ePrint
- sun-proof, of course (except over the years maybe)
- waterproof except on plastic (such as inkjet labels)
- print does not stick to vinyl jackets in notebooks
- duty cycle 25,000pgs/mo
- up to 35ppm in draft
- ethernet, usb 2.0, 2-telco fax, maybe wireless if you buy it with that
- up to 5 users
- my "value" 940 ink that came with my 8500 printer (similar) has lasted 2 reams of paper at least. it's rated for 700 sheets... the trick is
- to not turn the printer off (causes head purge when the printer comes on), and
- to use ethernet instead of wireless (wireless is still buggy and doesn't always wake up with the older 8500 - they just came out with a software and firmware fix).
- set printoid preferences for draft mode, black only, ink saving mode
you will get lower cost/page if you buy one of these inkjet printers. additionally, the HP officejet Pro's have a good duty cycle as well for an inkjet and can be used in a small office.
I will say that the Kodak printers have the advantage that the carts have not changed over the lifetime of 2 printer series. The HP printers and carts have changed (but they have added 100 more pages to their XL carts too).
HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 series inkjet all-in-one printer
Updated:4/13/2012
this printer for capacity & long haul & 5-concurrent-user at 8¢/page. Kodak 10-series cartridge printers for low cost of cartridges at 8¢/page
HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 series inkjet features
- $169.99-$399.99
- [($25.99:951XL:color×3+$35.99:950XL:black)/1400pgs=8.14¢/page color, ($35.99:950XL:black/2200pgs)=1.635909090909¢pg black]
- duplexer(double-sided printing) for 8600 series
- hp 8600 series page 950black/950XLblack, 951XL ink is waterproof, does not run when wet
- 50-sheet ADF and scanner (if you choose 8600)
- 250-sheet input tray, lasts surprisingly long because of duplexer
- network-ready, separate mac addresses for ethernet and wireless
- wireless versions available
- web print, print from iphone via email (8600) - actually, web print program is too old to use now
- sun-proof, of course (except over the years maybe)
- waterproof except on plastic (such as inkjet labels)
- print does not stick to vinyl jackets in notebooks
- duty cycle 25,000pgs/mo
- 100-page fax memory
- up to 35ppm in draft
- ethernet, usb 2.0, 2-telco fax, maybe wireless if you buy it with that
- up to 5 users
- my "value" 940 ink that came with my 8500 printer (similar) has lasted 2 reams of paper at least. it's rated for 700 sheets... the trick is
- to not turn the printer off (causes head purge when the printer comes on), and
- to use ethernet instead of wireless (wireless is still buggy and doesn't always wake up with the older 8500 - they just came out with a software and firmware fix).
- set printoid preferences for draft mode, black only, ink saving mode
- 1 USB 2.0; 1 Host USB; 1 Ethernet; 1 WiFi 802.11b/g/n; 2 RJ-11 modem ports
you will get lower cost/page if you buy one of these inkjet printers. additionally, the HP officejet Pro's have a good duty cycle as well for an inkjet and can be used in a small office.
I will say that the Kodak printers have the advantage that the carts have not changed over the lifetime of 2 printer series. The HP printers and carts have changed (but they have added 100 more pages to their XL carts too).
here are the specs for the 8600 wireless. black is less expensive than most mono lasers! black on this printer is the lowest cost/page of any printer on the market. has windows 7 drivers.
cost for ink is $113.96 for all 4 of the 951XL ink and 950XL ink cartridges (don't buy anything less if you want to save money), and the 8600 does 15000pgs/mo duty cycle. ink has been lasting me through a number of reams of paper, about 1/2 box I think and I still have 1/2 ink left. I leave my 8500 wireless a909g which takes the same carts ON all the time.
you will have to assemble the printer, and there are about 10 parts or less.
The hardest part for me was getting the ink cartridges in right.
the ink cartridges don't snap in like other printers.
they slide in, but the guides on the top and bottom can get misaligned.
keep trying, you'll get it.
the cartridges should end up straight up and down.
make sure you have shaken and installed the heads. when the printer first initializes, it's going to take about 20 minutes. it's going to print out several pages near the end. leave it alone. when it's all done, it's going to play a little music and bring up a display.
Kodak HERO printers (low cost carts)
Updated:4/13/2012
this printer for capacity & long haul & 5-concurrent-user at 8¢/page. Kodak 10-series cartridge printers for low cost of cartridges and low price/page at 8¢/page
Kodak HERO series inkjet features
- ($19.99:10C:color+$19.99:10XL:black)/420pgs=9.5190476¢/page color, ($19.99:10XL:black/770pgs)=2.5961¢pg black
- HERO series 10c/10XL ink
- some models have 30 or 35-sheet ADF and scanner (if you choose 9.1 or 6.1)
- 100-sheet input tray (9.1) or 200-sheet tray (6.1)
- some are network-ready
- wireless versions available
- some can print from smartphone, computer or tablet using google cloud print enabled apps
- some have Kodak email print service
- some can print photos from smartphone using a Kodak Pic Flick app
- not waterproof
- sun-proof, of course (except over the years maybe)
- print does not stick to vinyl jackets in notebooks
- duty cycle not listed, so not a serious office printer, no duplexer either
- no print speed listed on web site
- 10Mbps ethernet, usb 2.0, USB EKPTP, USB front panel host port, telco fax port, BLUETOOTH 2.0 (optional accessory required), maybe wireless if you buy it with that
- not known if networked printers can handle concurrent users. I would have to contact kodak.
you will get lower cost/page if you buy one of these inkjet printers. additionally, the HP officejet Pros have a good duty cycle as well for an inkjet and can be shared in a small office.
low-cost Cartridge Inkjets (less ink), good cost/page ratio
if power costs are a concern to you, consider an inkjet. the printer cost is negligible. you have to assemble it, but it's worth it in the end. do all firmware updates it needs. leave these printers ON and just let them sleep to save ink (they do a clean if you power cycle). cartridges can hold a lot of ink.
the kodak 10 series cartridges hold 7/25=28% of the amount of ink that the HP XL carts do for the 8100 and 8600 series so you buy roughly 25/7=3.57x the number of carts than the HP and the cost comparison is ((1500pgs/cart)/(420pgs/cart))*($19.99+$19.99)=$142.79 for the kodak carts and the HP XL carts for equivalent mileage cost $36.99+$27.99×3=$120.96. If your budget per month is low, then this is the printer for you. but if you can afford the larger carts, then go with the HP.
I will say that the Kodak printers have the advantage that the carts have not changed over the lifetime of 2 printer series. this is good. this means that your printer investment will last. The HP printers and carts have changed (but they have added 100 more pages to their XL carts too).
it seems like I can print and print and still there's paper in the printer (because of the duplexer).
Inkjet Printers
Okidata B710dn mono laser printer
Mono Laser Printers
Updated:4/13/2012
Okidata's B710 page, Okidata's consumables and accessories page
features
- Okidata B710dn $775.99, also available from cdw $713.99
- consumables: [$301:52123601:black yielding 15000 pgs at 2.0067¢/pg]
- duplexer(double-sided printing) - the d in dn
- 10/100 ethernet w/JetDirect Print Server network-ready - use fixed/static IP - the n in dn
- wireless-n can be accomplished with a Linksys WET610N (1-port) or Linksys WES610N (4-port)
- ink is waterproof, does not run when wet
- ----- no scanner
- 150+550-sheet input trays, lasts surprisingly long because of duplexer
- -----sun-proof? not sure if pages would stick together on a hot day or not. might since it's toner.
- -----print sticks to vinyl jackets in notebooks
- waterproof
- duty cycle 250,000pages/month
- 800W when printing, 90W standby (actual more like 500-600W and 40W standby)
- 42ppm (some models do 52ppm)
- ethernet, usb 2.0, serial, parallel
- 11.1sec to first page
If you want to print 250,000 pages/mo and you don't care about power consumption, then get a 46 pound workgroup laser printer like this Okidata B710dn at 2.067¢/pg. Even if you can find a used B6100 at a used computer shop that would be a big boost in productivity! they get 30 or 45ppm. and warmup time is pretty quick. 800W. use this in conjunction with a static IP and a linksys WET610N or WET610N to get wireless. it sleeps well too.
laser printers will dim the incandescent lights while printing because it has an 800W heater in it.
workgroup printers live up to their name.
The last okidata printer I got was an okidata OL-810e mono LED pageprinter, and it cost me $800 back then. it lasted me 17 years and many boxes of paper (through several image drums too). I like okidata printers as a result. They are the only company that still makes printers with Windows 98 support.
Xerox Phaser 8860 Wax/solid ink Printer
features
- Xerox Phaser 8860 Wax/solid ink Printer 3.07142857¢/page color, 1.55¢/page black
- network-ready - use fixed/static IP
- duplexer(double-sided printing)
- ink is wax, so waterproof
- ----- no scanner
- 400-sheet input tray, 500-sheet output tray, lasts surprisingly long because of duplexer
- wireless-n can be accomplished with a Linksys WET610N
- -----sun-proof? not sure if pages would stick together on a hot day or not. probably not.
- -----print sticks to vinyl jackets in notebooks
- waterproof
- duty cycle 200,000pgs/mo
- 800W when printing
- 30ppm
- built-in HP JetDirect print server.
- ethernet, usb 2.0, serial, parallel
these printers will dim the incandescent lights while printing because it has an heater in it.
Wax/Solid Ink Printers
Okidata C610dn color laser printer
Updated:4/13/2012
features
- Okidata C610dn color laser printer 11.3¢page color, 1.5,375¢page black
- duplexer(double-sided printing) - the d in dn
- network-ready - use fixed/static IP - the n in dn, has a NIC and HP JetDirect print server
- wireless-n can be accomplished with a Linksys WET610N (1-port) or Linksys WES610N (4-port)
- built-in HP JetDirect print server.
- duplexer(double-sided printing)
- consumables
- toner, so waterproof
- ----- no scanner
- 400-sheet input tray, lasts surprisingly long because of duplexer
- -----sun-proof? not sure if pages would stick together on a hot day or not. probably sticks.
- -----print sticks to vinyl jackets in notebooks
- duty cycle 75,000pgs/mo
- 800W when printing, about 90W standby
- 30ppm
- ethernet, usb 2.0, parallel
lowest cost of any color laser I've seen.
Okidata C610dn Color Laser Printer, mid-workgroup, available at cdw $589
dtn model has 930-sheet capacity. this is better than the other color lasers, and the consumables are lower-priced. 75,000pgs/mo duty cycle. 32ppm. LED technology (I had an LED printer that lasted me 17 years - 5 year warranty on the LED's - I was happy!). print server.
laser printers will dim the incandescent lights while printing because it has an 800W heater in it.
Color Laser Printers
dye sublimation (color critical) prepare for a surprise)...
in Xerox's case, Dye Sub has been replaced with Toner. apparently they have been able to fine-tune the toner process to the point where they have color matching software and color-correction software.
features
- made for color-critical applications, such as photos
- 9.5¢page color, 1.5¢page black (toner, NOT dye sub ribbons)
- color matching software
- duplexer(double-sided printing)
- toner, so waterproof
- ----- no scanner
- 625-1350-sheet input tray, lasts surprisingly long because of duplexer
- network-ready - use fixed/static IP
- wireless-n can be accomplished with a Linksys WET610N
- -----sun-proof? not sure if pages would stick together on a hot day or not. probably not.
- -----print sticks to vinyl jackets in notebooks
- waterproof
- duty cycle 150,000pgs/mo
- basically a laser printer, so probably 800W when printing
- 35-45ppm
- gigabit ethernet, usb 2.0
lowest cost of any color laser I've seen.
Okidata C610dn Color Laser Printer, mid-workgroup, available at cdw $589
dtn model has 930-sheet capacity. this is better than the other color lasers, and the consumables are lower-priced. 75,000pgs/mo duty cycle. 32ppm. LED technology (I had an LED printer that lasted me 17 years - 5 year warranty on the LED's - I was happy!). print server.
where color is critical, subdye printers have in Xerox's case been replaced with high-end toner printers and color-matching software. surprise!
how I calculate cost/page
color
to calculate the ¢/page on a printer, take the sum cost of all the cartridges cartridge, and divide it by the number of pages the color cartridge outputs. that's your color cent/page, because color includes black.
black
INKJETS: depending in your printer, the printer manufacturer may print some color ink or do head purges while printing black only for long periods, so you may want to factor in color ink in your black calculations. note that each color sometimes has different amounts of pages & costs, especially black. that is a concern for inkjets & solid ink. for lasers this is not true, black is black, and you can factor in purely the cost of black only.
SOLID INK & LASERS: what is true for inkjets about color use is not true for these printers, black is black, and you can factor in purely the cost of black only.