Keep old printer or get new one?

[aaroncgi]

My trusty Canon BJC-4000 has needed new cartridges for some time, and to replace them all would cost anywhere from $40-$80 depending on where I buy. Seems for that price, or just slightly over, you can get a new printer that kills mine in terms of performance, to go along with the ink cartridges. Mines only 5ppm black, 720 x 360 dpi black and 360 x 360 dpi color. And I paid $315 for it in 1994!

Do things really keep getting better AND cheaper, or is it the case where 'they don't make them like they used to' ?

My primary requirements are reliability, consistent print quality, and compact size, though I imagine photo quality output could be addicting once you try it..

Any recommendations?

TIA,

Aaron

[Taz]

The best colour Inkjet printer I've come accross is the Epson Sylus Colour 880, it has a print res of 2880dpi! In fact nearly all the Epson Sylus's are good print wise and they seem reliable as well.

[ayoub_ibrahim]

I've had trouble free & very good performance from my Epson 870!
great for printing photos.

[joelau]

Get a new printer.
My lessons learnt when using a BJC-4300 2 yrs ago:
1)Canon printer drink ink as if it's drinking water
2)If you do not use it often, the ink will eventually evaporate within 1/2 yr
3)After 3 new ink cartridges(original), the print head will be stuck and needs replacing.

Since then i had decided not to replace any more ink & move on to laser printer.

Regards.

[Indiana]

Quite easy:
If you want the best text: get a HP
If you want the best graphics: get an Epson

And if you're mainly printing images / photos you should definitely think about getting one of the Epson "Photo" models - the two extra colors do make a difference.
The new Epson Photo790 really does give superb printouts.

[Greebe]

But do the Epson inks still change yellow when exposed to ozone?!

I've been looking into getting a new printer to replace this POS Epson 600 (one of the worst printers on the planet!) and find the Epsons are no better at photo quality than the HP's currently out.

[Pace]

Aaron: Don't base everything on DPI like you've been told Take a look into PCWorld (or CompUSA ) and ask them to show you some printouts from some HPs and Epsons - make your judgement from there I'd say. I'd choose a HP, such as the 840C or higher up the 950C, but I like HPs give me

What do you want to do primarily? sharp letters/reports, draft copies of webpages etc, or high quality photos?

If speed is important then do either ask to see a printout being produced, or read a review of the printer. Just like most other things, don't take the manufacturers specification too strongly!

You will notice a boost in quality though whatever you choose.

Hope this helps,

Paul.

[Alfie]

Have used both and both are good.
As suggested,the best bet is to check them out at a store.
Best Buys,Office Max,etc.
They have them on display and you can print test pages.
In this way,you'll see the print quality and can choose the best one to fit your budget.
I currently have an Epson 580.
Got it at Best Buys for $49.95.
A usb model,ink is affordable and it suits my needs.
Is it the best? NO
but it's pretty cool and we're happy!

[cjolley]

Split the difference.
Unless you realy need great photo quality-
get a nice cheap color like the one above for web pages & stuff
and a Xerox P8 laser ($200) for your workhorse.
(Or for a little more a Brother laser)
Laser printers are MUCH cheaper per page than color
and a lot faster too.
chuck

[aaroncgi]

Wow, thanks for all the advice! Guess nobody likes the new Canon printers, eh? Will have to get a bigger desk, I suppose... anyhow.

I didn't even think about Best Buy, that's crazy! Our company just got bought out by Best Buy a couple months ago! No word yet on discounts between our two different lines of products though.. still, how can you argue with $49.95 ??

I've already come to the decision that I will someday get a laser for text use, say, memoirs or reports or a book or whatever, this printer will just be for miscellaneous stuff, an photo here or there, web pages, etc.. As someone mentioned, whatever I get will likely be a big improvement.

Thanks again! Guess I'll go browsing the stores...

Aaron

[Booker]

No one has obviously seen the superior quality and economical printing of the latest Canon range.
The BJC8200 has fantastic Photo Quality and also incorporates the individual ink cartridge replacements as does the 3000 and 6000 series.

Just my two cents.

[birdy]

I had a bjc4300 and frankly it sucked. Ink was something it was very fond of and ordinary paper was not. Any pictures printed on ordinary paper came out looking orange and the paper was sopping wet for about 3 million years (alright ten minutes). I traded up to an epson 460. Good printer, cheap cartridges but a little noisy. I have installed epson 480's, 580's, 680's an 875DC and an 880. The 880 and the 875 are both quiet and quick, the 680 is not so quiet or quick (and has a very weird paper tray), the 580 more so and the 480 even more so. The image quality of all the epson range is pretty good on standard paper, never tried photopaper, cant be bothered :-)

Avoid anything by lexmark or olivetti, or just buy a new printer everytime in runs out of ink :-)