Which all in one printer to buy?

[Retired]

Hi,

I really started something by asking an innocent question?

I thought it only right that I mention my dislike of Epson printers; not to wind Gary up because I know Gary likes Epson but I didn't want to put members to any trouble if they too liked Epson products; I would have been uneasy replying saying I dislike Epson if a member recommended one?

I couldn't agree more with you David and you put it into words better than I could. Ink is a rip off; if it wasn't people like David and I would be in the minority but the fact is ink prices are such a rip off it is being discussed at government level and just browsing the web confirms consumers are being had big style.

Canon; HP; Kodak; Epson etc are all new players when it comes to ink and although each make a lot of noise about their R&D regarding ink what a load of rubbish. How long has ink been around; slightly longer than these rip off printer manufacturers ; lets say hundreds of years in fact. Just look at the old manuscripts and books with their beautiful jet black crisp text and even colours including metallics.

Gary mentioned longevity of printed items but these manuscripts have stood the test of time not having gone through accelerated testing they went through the proper test in real time. The colours remain as the day they were produced so what really has changed in hundreds of years; we now have electronic printers both inkjet and laser but apart from speed what have we gained?

I've looked at websites where printer ink is described as more expensive than the best champagne; Russian caviar and as I mentioned one site referred to printer ink as liquid gold. Even if cartridge prices have not increased for a number of years please take into account the minuscule amount of ink now in the cartridges which has been diminishing over the years; manufacturers are supplying cartridges that as standard are perhaps half filled with ink but by paying a premium XL cartridges are available; these are the same cartridges but filled with ink; what a racket this is.

Ink is not a rare product; it's possible all the basic ingredients are sourced from the same place? I worked for a while many years ago at L B Holliday's here in Huddersfield; Hollidays manufactured dyestuff's which was sold around the world.

http://www.colorantshistory.org/HollidayDye.html

I titled this thread "Which all in one printer to buy" Gary because I wanted to avoid making the same mistake as I did when I bought my Epson all in one; after reading replies I thought yes; all I really need is a scanner but then checking scanners I found it just as cheap to buy an all in one and hopefully this would also allow me to print in colour if ever I needed to do so.

I've never stated I wanted the best printing or reproduction possible; all I want is to print in reasonable quality but without feeding cartridges into the printer.

I wouldn't consider or even expect an inkjet or even laser printer to re-produce top quality dials or transfers Gary. Your work in this field is exemplary Gary and much admired; your dials are of the highest quality as are your transfers; I know because you kindly gave me one of your radio transfers.

I believe you sub contracted the actual printing of both dials and transfers Gary even to the point of involving silk screen printing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPPdQPyw0BU

I don't want to produce top end documents or graphics; if I did I would expect to pay a great deal more than £99.99 for the equipment?

I had even considered buying a colour laser printer but I do very little printing so for my use it would be a waste of money.

A few years ago I dabbled a bit with transfers but inkjet printers are simply no good at least the affordable ones aren't; how many printers aimed at home use will print in white or metallics? Alps printers will but buying one would be wasted on me.

http://www.jcrocket.com/alpsdecals.shtml

I'm not even actually moaning about buying cartridges; my gripe is that these OEM cartridges are simply nothing more than a rip off and I'm not surprised so many more share my opinion. For Printer manufacturer's to go to the trouble in making the cartridges then only add a few drops of ink doesn't make sense; they then try to fire fight by chipping their cartridges rather than adding ink which after all is what these cartridges are supposed to contain? It wouldn't surprise me if the packing (Cartridge) doesn't actually cost more to produce then the ink therein contained? This is now further compounded by adding the chip? Just add the ink!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kind regards, Col