woolybear Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I am finally tired of avoiding programs/cds/free things online because it requires too much printing. My approach in the past has been to do it, but only print a little at a time so that I don't have a huge ink cost at once. I often wouldn't do the printing later, hence the program wouldn't get done! I need to print up front, have items in hand, then I will use it. Then, I finally stopped doing much that required extra printing. This year I have some things I really want to use (free or cheap online, plus some Homeschool in the Woods items). I don't want to avoid printing anymore. So, would I be better off buying a new/better printer and saving on ink that way. Or just trying to buy cheaper ink? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 You may do better with a BW laser printer. They are fast, and it takes almost forever to run out of ink. I know nothing of the quality, but here is one for $59.00! http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/386583/Brother-HL-2240-Monochrome-Laser-Printer/?Channel=Google&mr:trackingCode=2C8F4961-B5C1-DF11-98FF-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Googlepla-_-Technology+Printers_Scanners_Copiers_Faxes-_-386583&mr:keyword={keyword}&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=19996818596 We use the color printer/copier... but we bought our model specifically for the cheap ink. (DH buys it online... will find out later and post link) Now I want to go buy that laser printer! I blew through a 430 cartridge just printing out samples to help me decide on a history program. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted August 11, 2012 Author Share Posted August 11, 2012 I think I really want color....:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I believe the same Brother laser printer, the 2240 is the same price at Staples. There is also a $5 coupon that you can use. It's $59.98. There is also the higher model that is $99. I am really tempted to go buy this since new ink is going to cost me $60 for my HP. I just bought color and B & W in June (the XL) and they are both dry. We aren't even doing school! Waste of money but I do like having the option of color. When I looked online the replacement toner was $68. Is this the cheapest or can you buy a different toner for this printer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I don't know if there is such a thing as a color printer that doesn't use much ink. I just bought a new printer today since my five year old Canon MP600 (which has been leaving the occasional ink blob for a while) is now literally spitting ink out. :svengo: I figure if my new printer was $120, the company is going to make that up somehow. :001_unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara H Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 In my opinion, a BW laser printer is a good investment for homeschoolers. We print a ton and change the ink rarely. We have a cheapo color printer for the rare time we need to print in color, but it really isn't that often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 In my opinion, a BW laser printer is a good investment for homeschoolers. We print a ton and change the ink rarely. We have a cheapo color printer for the rare time we need to print in color, but it really isn't that often. I guess that is true, I could keep the color printer on hand. Just use the laser for most of my printing. I just can't believe it sucked it dry that fast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I guess that is true, I could keep the color printer on hand. Just use the laser for most of my printing. I just can't believe it sucked it dry that fast! I think that's what I'll break down and do. I have a color copier/scanner inkjet that I'd keep and then also get a b/w laser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allearia Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I got the Brother 2270dw from Amazon last week, $89.99. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00450DVDY/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00 Just black and white but wireless and does duplex, which I decided I had to have. I do still have my inkjet if I need color but will try to keep it to a minimum. I love being able to print all this stuff in duplex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs.m Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I believe the same Brother laser printer, the 2240 is the same price at Staples. There is also a $5 coupon that you can use. It's $59.98. There is also the higher model that is $99. I am really tempted to go buy this since new ink is going to cost me $60 for my HP. I just bought color and B & W in June (the XL) and they are both dry. We aren't even doing school! Waste of money but I do like having the option of color. When I looked online the replacement toner was $68. Is this the cheapest or can you buy a different toner for this printer? Toner is cheaper through Amazon. You probably want the one that is $99. It duplexes and is wireless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeLovePassion Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I got an HP 8600 pro Colorado jnkjet. The newer style cartridges are rated for the same number of pages as most laser ones for half the price. Just a thought for anyone looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 Just to clarify....duplex means to make double sided copies, right? :001_smile: They had toner for the Brother 240 at Wal-Mart for $40 something. I might have been closer to $45 but I don't remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs.m Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 Just to clarify....duplex means to make double sided copies, right? :001_smile:They had toner for the Brother 240 at Wal-Mart for $40 something. I might have been closer to $45 but I don't remember. Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carpe Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 We buy cheap ebay knock-off ink. We buy it 5 sets (colour and black) at a time and after shipping it works out to about $10 per set (as opposed to ~40 locally) I was going to get a laser, but this was cheaper and has worked well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 We buy cheap ebay knock-off ink. We buy it 5 sets (colour and black) at a time and after shipping it works out to about $10 per set (as opposed to ~40 locally) I was going to get a laser, but this was cheaper and has worked well. Do you have a good source for this on ebay? I hadn't thought of buying on ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carpe Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I use sourceofink http://stores.ebay.ca/sourceofink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 You may do better with a BW laser printer. They are fast, and it takes almost forever to run out of ink. I know nothing of the quality, but here is one for $59.00! http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/386583/Brother-HL-2240-Monochrome-Laser-Printer/?Channel=Google&mr:trackingCode=2C8F4961-B5C1-DF11-98FF-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Googlepla-_-Technology+Printers_Scanners_Copiers_Faxes-_-386583&mr:keyword={keyword}&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=19996818596 We use the color printer/copier... but we bought our model specifically for the cheap ink. (DH buys it online... will find out later and post link) Now I want to go buy that laser printer! I blew through a 430 cartridge just printing out samples to help me decide on a history program. :glare: The Brother 2140 was my first laser printer (looks exactly the same as the 2240). It is a GREAT little printer. I bought it 3 years ago and it still works fine. Last year DH bought another Brother laser printer for work that he only needed a couple months then he gave it to me. It is the Brother 2280 (prints, auto-duplex, scans, and copies). It is awesome, I love it. I think I really want color....:001_smile: I thought I would want color too. I kept my old inkjet so I could print in color if I wanted to. I think I've probably used it once in the last year. You could try looking for cheaper ink but some inkjets will not accept replacement ink. My HP inkjet will simply not print without an original HP cartridge. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisN in NY Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 One thing that will help cut ink usage is to print everything in "draft" mode. For the most part, and especially for the kids, you can't really tell the difference, and your ink will last much, much longer. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 One thing that will help cut ink usage is to print everything in "draft" mode. For the most part, and especially for the kids, you can't really tell the difference, and your ink will last much, much longer. HTH I have never seen anything that says draft mode. Is on the printer itself or on the computer when you schedule a print? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 (edited) I have never seen anything that says draft mode. Is on the printer itself or on the computer when you schedule a print? Thanks! It may not say "draft", but maybe "fast" or there might be a setting to set it to lower quality. It's the same general idea. ETA: On mine, when I go to print something, I first select the "properties" button. Then under print quality I have these choices: high, standard, fast and custom. Fast being draft, standard being the default choice. My printer is a Canon. Edited August 12, 2012 by darlasowders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs.m Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Usually it is in the "properties" when you click print on your computer and not on the printer itself except for photocopies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Thank you! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Has this already been mentioned? CIS? Continuous Ink System. Best advice I ever received at a homeschooling conference! (Ok, well, maybe not the best, but a close second after WTM!) Sue Patrick (the workbox lady) recommended this and it's been a life saver for us. Google your printer type and CIS or Continous Ink System. Amazon sells them, and a few other places. It looks a little strange, and takes some set up time, but it's so much less expensive! Basically, it's a little ink system that sits beside your printer, with tubes to feed the ink into your printer. For about the cost of replacing your ink once on the printer, you get the entire system. And it lasts and lasts and lasts and... Seriously. We ordered ours in 2010 (summer), and I am just now ordering ink refills. I think I paid $50 originally. I print a LOT, so this has been a huge savings for us! Now I'm just trying to figure out how to order refills. The one drawback is that I think some printers state that using a CIS will void the warranty. They want you to buy their ink. ;) Oh, and keep the system out of reach of babies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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