Color Laser Printer
 

I am seriously considering a color laser printer for some work-related projects.

Here's what I require:

1) Under $1000.00
2) I *must* be able to refil the toner with powder (no way I can spend $600 each time I need to change out all the carts.)
3) Serious quality

I am leaning toward the HP 3800 right now, only because my HP 4M has treated me like a king for almost 15 years now.

I need to see the 3800 with a picture to really know for sure, but I'd be interested in hearing what you guys think. It really won't be used for black and white stuff since the 4M is great for that.

Thought I throw it out there,

Pete

Color printers
 

If it's for printing photographs, get an Epson inkjet. They're hard to beat. I haven't seen a color laser that doesn't have a banding problem. Inkjets will give you much better tonal gradations than a laser. If all you want is color graphics (solid colors as opposed to graduated color transitions), then a laser is probably fine.

I have an HP 2840 color laserjet all-in-one and it does not have a banding problem. Aside from having a rather dull finish, color photos are excellent. Once mounted under glass, they're difficult to tell from photo lab prints.

This printer replaced a Xerox ink jet and my main beef with that printer was that the ink cartridges clogged all the time. If I didn't use it for a couple weeks, the cartridge would have to be replaced at $50 a pop. So the dry toner for the laserjet is much more economical.

Gotta - be aware that color lasers in this class are kinda slow. They make a pass over the drum with each color separately, and then run the paper through. Get a demo at an office supply store to see if you can live with it.

Thanks Rick! Long-time-no-talk.

I know I don't want an ink jet. I have a PhotoPrinter (HP) and the inks go bad if you don't use the printer. (It's a paper weight at the moment.)

Laser is great because I don't think it *ever* goes bad... I had a laser in the garage for about 5 years... gave it to my father and it works like a gem. Same toner.

I don't know if the "dry ink" thing is the same or not...

:) Pete

I have one of these...

http://www.samsung.com/in/products/laserprinterslaserbasedmfps/colorlaserprinters/clp_510.asp


I'm sure there is better...but it does very nice for the price.

I have an old HP Color laserjet 5M that has the individual bins that you dump the toner into. It works great and is very inexpensive to run, I can get toner bottles for around $5 each on e-bay. The only drawback is that due to the high fuser temperatures it cannot do photo quality prints, I use my Epson inkjet for that.

I'm supprized that they still make color laserjet printers with the refillable toner bins.