New Printer Needed Info Please

[nancyspeed]

New notebook just purchased: MBP 13.3/2.7GHZ/8GB/256GB.

I would like to purchase an HP printer. I've never had a wireless printer and remember reading that it is important for it to have some capability and I just cannot recall what that was, but only one or two had it.
I like HP because of the cartridges used. I really don't want to spend over $100 since I probably will use it only a few times a month. Speed isn't really that important. I have a scanner already and I don't need a fax.

I bought my HP 990 years ago and it still runs great. I can only use it on my desktop which is running Snow Leopard.

I did look up reviews but it just confused me more.

Should I get one with USB in addition to wireless?

 

[pigoo3]

I've never had a wireless printer and remember reading that it is important for it to have some capability and I just cannot recall what that was, but only one or two had it.

Seems like this may be a bit of a guessing game without more info. When you say "capability"…is this a WiFi related capability…or is a special ability of the printer itself (a printing related capability)?

- Nick

 

[nancyspeed]

It was something to do with wifi--maybe applescript? I'll try to go back to the site. It was on a review list.

 

[Dogbreath]

nancyspeed . . . I am an Epson man myself. A few years ago I bought a new HP 6500 series printer (that model had just been released). It was problematic almost from the start, HP never made things right, so I'll never buy an HP again. Lots of other people complained, too. I spent lots of time going around and around (on the phone and emailing) with HP trying to get some kind of results. That never happened. On the other hand, I gave my Mother an HP 992 I purchased in 2000 and it still works great. I just wanted to share my experience with HP...I am not trying to sway your decision.
Definitely buy a printer with a "hard" connection of some type...USB, Ethernet, etc. That way if your network goes down or the WiFi/Bluetooth/Bonjour isn't working you can still print. Some manufacturers suggest using a wired connection during set up until the wireless printing can be configured.

 

[firesidedog]

I have an HP Envy 4500 series that runs around that price. It takes two cartridges and is an easy set up. It's fairly basic but that's what I like about it.

 

[rshames]

You are probably thinking of AirPrint. It is a print protocol to allow printing from iDevices.

Food for Thought. I also print very infrequently, a few pages a month. I used to have an inkjet. Because of the lack of use, the cartridges would be dried out when I wanted to use it and I would have to load new cartridges. It was costing a fortune because I was averaging 5 pages per cartridge. I sprung for a color laser printer ($150 Samsung). I have had it for 6 years and have never had to replace anything. I am sure I will have to replace the toner cartridges sometime, but it hasn't needed anything yet. It has cost me far less than if I had an inkjet.

 

[pigoo3]

You are probably thinking of AirPrint. It is a print protocol to allow printing from iDevices.

+1 Probably a very good guess!

Food for Thought. I also print very infrequently, a few pages a month. I used to have an inkjet. Because of the lack of use, the cartridges would be dried out when I wanted to use it and I would have to load new cartridges. It was costing a fortune because I was averaging 5 pages per cartridge. I sprung for a color laser printer ($150 Samsung). I have had it for 6 years and have never had to replace anything. I am sure I will have to replace the toner cartridges sometime, but it hasn't needed anything yet. It has cost me far less than if I had an inkjet.

For years & years I've never had anything good to say about color laser printers. Not that they're bad or anything…just very expensive to replace those color laser print toners when the "starter" toners run out. But you've presented a very good argument IMHO for getting a color laser vs. a color inkjet printer! If someone is a low print-count/month sort of person…and the inkjet cartridges are drying out…a low cost color laser printer could be the way to go.

I might even suggest that for a low print-count/month sort of person…that the starter color toners of color laser printers could last a while. And when they run out…don't even bother purchasing & installing full-sized color laser toners (expensive)…just purchase another new color laser printer (with a new set of starter toners).

This may sound strange & wasteful to some folks…but probably more economical in the end. I just did a check…and for a $169 Samsung color laser printer…a set of replacement color toners is upwards of $300 (from B&H). Even more of a price difference if the printer is purchased on sale.

And for this exact same $169 color laser printer…the starter toners last approximately 1000 pages for the black, and 700 pages for the color toners. That's a lot of printing in my book from starter toners.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...kCFYIaHwodU7UCnA&Q=&ap=y&m=Y&is=REG&A=details

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=c1810w&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

http://www.brandsmartusa.com/pdfs/manuals/20189917.pdf

- Nick

 

[nancyspeed]

Thanks everyone for the info. The word I saw had "script" in it and had something to do with Macs and graphics. Probably for me that won't be as important.

My sis got an Epson with her Macbook Pro and it rarely runs because of ink problems. I guess the reason I like the HP is because it only has 2 cartridges. And I'd like it to run on ethernet too just in case.

 

[Slydude]

Could it have been postscript?

 

[chas_m]

Yes, he's probably thinking of Postscript. Very good advice ... from 20 years ago!

(not an issue anymore)

 

[nancyspeed]

Yes, it was Postscript. This is a couple of sentences from a Oct 2015 review in PCworld.

For any business that prints a lot of graphics, a printer with a PostScript driver (or at least, PostScript emulation) is a big plus. PostScript has been a staple of the graphic arts since its inclusion with the Apple LaserWriter launched the desktop publishing revolution in the mid-80s.

Yes, he's probably thinking of Postscript. Very good advice ... from 20 years ago!

(not an issue anymore)

I'm looking into a laser printer also. I agree the cartridge prices are just ridiculous.

Thanks to everyone!

 

[chscag]

I'm looking into a laser printer also. I agree the cartridge prices are just ridiculous.

They are ridiculously priced if you use the manufacturer's genuine ink cartridges. I've used refillable cartridges for years in all my inkjet printers and have never run into a problem with them. The outfits on line who sell refillable cartridges guaranty them and for the most part sell them for about one third the price of new ones. I also buy refillable toner cartridges for my HP B&W LaserJet and they outlast new ones from HP. A new toner cartridge from HP is around $60.00 and only $23.00 refilled. ;D