I’m in need of a laser printer. I would like color capability but realizing it’s probable out of my price range of $500. What are some small reliable laser printer models you could suggest with network capabilities that has reasonable price toner refills? I would like the toner to be powder because I don’t us the printer much and my ink cartridges seem to dry out on me.

Would prefer all colors have a different cartridge if possible.

I think Laser Jet is like a HP thing. Like Laser jet 5200.

They are cheaper then 500 dollars here.

I have an older HP, an LJ4000 and it works great.  Never a problem.  

Brand new HP color laser printer for $400.

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=PRI10113

I kind of like the size and capabilities of the below models and see them around quit a lot in offices. Dues anyone have one?

HP Laserjet 1320tn

HP LaserJet 1320n

Color toner cartridges are super expensive.

I picked up a nice HP Color LaserJet 2600n (has an ethernet port built in) from Office Max right after Christmas for $299...

I dread the day the 4 (yes 4) toner cartridges start needing replacing, they will probably cost more than the printer

Lasers are only a good idea if you print a lot, and really really want to print at home (or at your business) instead of going to a commercial printer.

The smaller color lasers cost like $250-$300, but only print a hundred or so pages with the included (partially-filled!) toner cartridges. ALL the companies do this.
Then buying new [full] toner cartridges may easily cost you $400 or more (for both black and color) but will print 3000-4000-5000+ pages.

In the long run lasers cost a lot less per-page than inkjets, 8-10 cents per page is a typical laser print cost, where inkjets generally cost at least 3 or 4 times as much per page. Toner cartridges don't dry out either the way that inkjets tend to after a few months, but lasers definitely cost a lot more to get into, and some different materials are easiest to print with inkjet on.
~

Quoted: Lasers are only a good idea if you print a lot, and really really want to print at home (or at your business) instead of going to a commercial printer. The smaller color lasers cost like $250-$300, but only print a hundred or so pages with the included (partially-filled!) toner cartridges. ALL the companies do this. Then buying new [full] toner cartridges may easily cost you $400 or more (for both black and color) but will print 3000-4000-5000+ pages. In the long run lasers cost a lot less per-page than inkjets, 8-10 cents per page is a typical laser print cost, where inkjets generally cost at least 3 or 4 times as much per page. Toner cartridges don't dry out either the way that inkjets tend to after a few months, but lasers definitely cost a lot more to get into, and some different materials are easiest to print with inkjet on. ~

HP cuts a break on the 2600n, they are full toner cartidges...  Have printed tons of things since 12/05 and still at 96% or so on the toner (it has a built in web server, like the routers, so you can configure it from a web browser, and get printer status like toner remaining)...

I bought the cheapest name brand I could find when I was in college.  It paid for itself in what I saved on ink cartridges and time.    

Quoted: I bought the cheapest name brand I could find when I was in college.  It paid for itself in what I saved on ink cartridges and time.

I went to laser because I got tired of $35-$40 ink cartridges drying out or whatever happens to them...  I threw some away that stopped printing with lots of liquid ink sloshing around in them when I pulled them out...

I have an office that I fill with the Brother laser printers.  They are easy and are the cheapest to operate on price per page.  I have been using 5 - 10 of them for more than 5 years and I have had ZERO printer failures.  Yes there is a jam or something but none of the printers has died.  The Brothers also get some of the best reviews.

(cheapest name brand laser I could find)  

I'd suggest picking up a used workgroup-class printer (HP Laserjet 4 or one of the Apple-branded variants). They're ruggedly built to print millions of pages in an office environment, parts and repairs are easy to obtain (unlike most of the throwaway consumer-grade cheapies), and the print cartridges are cheap and readlily available (under $30 on ebay). Each cartridge prints around 7,000 pages at 5 percent coverage, so one cartridge can easily last you for many years. (You can also purchase toner for under $20 and refill your existing cartridge several times before throwing it away.)

LJ4s in good condition can be had for under a hundred bucks, often with a free toner cartridge thrown in. They accept cheap DIMMs for memory upgrades, and can also accept ethernet and postscript cards.

ETA: Also, unlike many current laser printer models, "vintage" printers like the LJ4 don't have a chip embedded in the cartridge that disables the printer if you attempt to refill the cartridge or use a generic replacement.

Quoted: I'd suggest picking up a used workgroup-class printer (HP Laserjet 4 or one of the Apple-branded variants). They're ruggedly built to print millions of pages in an office environment, parts and repairs are easy to obtain (unlike most of the throwaway consumer-grade cheapies), and the print cartridges are cheap and readlily available (under $30 on ebay). Each cartridge prints around 7,000 pages at 5 percent coverage, so one cartridge can easily last you for many years. (You can also purchase toner for under $20 and refill your existing cartridge several times before throwing it away.) LJ4s in good condition can be had for under a hundred bucks, often with a free toner cartridge thrown in. They accept cheap DIMMs for memory upgrades, and can also accept ethernet and postscript cards.

Ah yes, the Laserjet 4 Built like a brick shithouse...

They don't make em like they used to...

Quoted: Quoted: I bought the cheapest name brand I could find when I was in college.  It paid for itself in what I saved on ink cartridges and time.     I went to laser because I got tired of $35-$40 ink cartridges drying out or whatever happens to them...  I threw some away that stopped printing with lots of liquid ink sloshing around in them when I pulled them out...

I've got an ultra-cheapo HP 3745 DeskJet inkjet printer, cost $60.  I don't know how much the cartridges are, because I bought an ink refill kit for $15 which has enough black ink in it (pretty much all I ever use) which will last me five years.

The only disadvantage compared to lasers, IMHO, is that the ink runs if it gets wet.

I bought an HP LaserJet from CostCo many years ago for about $400.  Around the one-year mark, right as the warranty ran out, it simply stopped working.  No reason.  It hadn't been dropped, it wasn't out of toner, it simply wouldn't power up any more.  $400 down the toilet.

Ma printerz gotz da beemz yo!

If doing alot of black and white copies, laser is the only way to go but with the color ones check the print speed of both color and B/W and see if that fits into your plans.

Thanks everyone! Keep the suggestions coming. I’m looking closer at the HP Laserjet 4, and HP 2600N I really haven’t decided yet but my ink is running out and don’t wont to fill them.

Quoted: I'd suggest picking up a used workgroup-class printer

+1

i found a lightly used Lexmark 1855 at the thrift store for $35.

hit ebay and maxed out the memory for $10
ebay again for a 500 sheet tray for a few bucks.
envelope feeder available, can add multiple 500 sheet drawers, and a duplexer if i want. duplexer would be very nice if you want to print your own e-books.

IIRC, one toner cartridge is rated for 17,500 pages, re-filled cartridges are just over $50 on ebay.

some of these printers seem to still be running with close to a million pages on them. mine only has a few thousand.

someone saud "they are only good if you print a LOT of pages".. i'dhave to disagree... i don't print much and my POS inkjet was always clogged up when i'd go to use it, wasted more ink cleaning it than printing with it.

I will not own any HP product due to the company's policy of supporting gun control at every opportunity!!!  


I purchased a Samsung ML-1740 laser printer for about $100 with a cartridge.  Black & white only, replacement cartridges cost about $80 for around 2000 copies.  It's speed is most accepable and it has been 100% reliable for the last 18 months.  Hell of a bargan!!!  

Quoted: i found a lightly used Lexmark 1855 at the thrift store for $35. hit ebay and maxed out the memory for $10 ebay again for a 500 sheet tray for a few bucks. envelope feeder available, can add multiple 500 sheet drawers, and a duplexer if i want. duplexer would be very nice if you want to print your own e-books.

Thrift stores are excellent prospects for laser printers. If you're lucky enough to live near a major city, there's probably a Goodwill Computer Store in your area. The one here in SA is currently running a "Manager's Special" on half a dozen HP 2100TN's for $75 each, pre-tested with cartridge.

Review this before purchasing, make sure you don't get a printer that is trackable 1984 style
http://www.eff.org/Privacy/printers/list.php



Manufacturer      Model Dots? Comments
Brother
HL-2700CN no EFF test
HL-4200CN yes EFF test
Canon
CLC 1000 yes EFF test
CLC 2400 yes EFF test
CLC 3002 yes EFF test
CLC 4000 yes EFF test
CLC 5000+ yes EFF test
CLC-iR 3200-C1 yes EFF test
Color imageRUNNER C2570 yes EFF test
Color imageRUNNER C3100CN yes EFF test
Color imageRUNNER C3200 yes EFF test
Color imageRUNNER C3200N yes EFF test
Color imageRUNNER C3220 yes EFF test
Color Laser Copier 1150 yes EFF test
Imageclass MF8170C yes EFF test
LBP 2410 unclear faint dots; could be artifacts
Dell
3000CN yes EFF test
3100CN yes EFF test
5100CN yes EFF test
Epson
AcuLaser C900 yes EFF test
AcuLaser C1100 yes EFF test
AcuLaser C1500 yes EFF test
AcuLaser C1900 yes EFF test
AcuLaser C3000 yes EFF test
AcuLaser C4000 yes EFF test
Fuji: see Xerox
Hewlett-Packard
Color LaserJET 1550L yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 2250LN no (??) EFF test
Color LaserJET 2500 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 2500N yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 2550 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 2550L yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 2550N yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 2600N yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 2680 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 2840 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 3500 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 3550 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 3600DN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 3700 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 3700DN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 3700N yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 4500 no EFF test
Color LaserJET 4500DN no EFF test
Color LaserJET 4500N no EFF test
Color LaserJET 4550 no EFF test
Color LaserJET 4550N no EFF test
Color LaserJET 4600 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 4600DN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 4600HDN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 4600N yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 4650 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 4650DN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 4650DTN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 5M no EFF test
Color LaserJET 5100CN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 5500 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 5500ATN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 5500DN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 5500HDN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 5550 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 5550DN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 5550DTN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 8500 no EFF test
Color LaserJET 8500DN no EFF test
Color LaserJET 8550 no EFF test
Color LaserJET 8550DN no EFF test
Color LaserJET 8550GN no EFF test
Color LaserJET 9500 yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 9500HDN yes EFF test
Color LaserJET 9500MFP yes EFF test
IBM
Infoprint Color 1454 unclear dithering?
Infoprint Color 1464 PS3 yes dithering?
Konica
  (Konica/Minolta)
Bizhub C350 yes EFF test
Colorforce 1501 yes EFF test
Colorforce 8050 yes EFF test
DialtaColor CF 2001 unclear dithering?
DialtaColor CF 2002 unclear dithering?
Ikon CPP500E yes EFF test
Magicolor 2 Desklaser no EFF test
Magicolor 2200 DL yes EFF test
Magicolor 2210 yes EFF test
Magicolor 2300 DL yes EFF test
Magicolor 2300 W yes EFF test
Magicolor 2350 yes EFF test
Magicolor 2350 EN yes EFF test
Magicolor 2400 W yes EFF test
Magicolor 2430 DL yes EFF test
Magicolor 2450 yes EFF test
Magicolor 3100 yes EFF test
Magicolor 3300 yes EFF test
Magicolor 5450 yes EFF test
Magicolor 7300 yes EFF test
Kyocera
FS-C5016N yes EFF test
FS-C5030N yes EFF test
FS-C8008 yes EFF test
Mita KM-C2230 yes EFF test
Lanier
LD238C yes EFF test
LP125CX/LP126CN yes EFF test
Lexmark
C510 yes EFF test
C720 unclear retest
C752 yes EFF test
C752N yes EFF test
C760 yes EFF test
C910 yes EFF test
C912 yes EFF test
Minolta: see Konica
OkiDATA
   (Oki)
C5100 no EFF test
C5150 no EFF test
C5150N no EFF test
C5200 no EFF test
C5300 no EFF test
C7200 no EFF test
C7350 no EFF test
C7400 no EFF test
C7400N no EFF test
C9200 no EFF test
C9300 no EFF test
C9400 no EFF test
MIP C5540 no EFF test
OkiLAN 8100E no EFF test
Panasonic
Workio KXCL-500 yes EFF test
Ricoh
   (see also Savin)
Aficio 1224C yes EFF test
Aficio 1232C yes EFF test
Aficio CL 2000 yes press report
Aficio CL 3000 yes EFF test
Aficio CL 3000E yes EFF test
Aficio CL 6010 yes EFF test
Aficio CL 7000 yes EFF test
AP 206 yes EFF test
Infotec/Danka ISC 2838 yes EFF test
Samsung
CLP-500 no EFF test
CLP-510 no EFF test
CLP-550 no EFF test
CLP-550N no EFF test
Savin
C3210 yes EFF test
CLP35 yes EFF test
Tektronix: see Xerox
Toshiba
eStudio 210c yes mfr. statement
eStudio 211c yes mfr. statement
eStudio 310c yes mfr. statement
eStudio 311c yes mfr. statement
eStudio 2100c yes mfr. statement
eStudio 3100c yes mfr. statement
eStudio 3511 yes EFF test
FC15 yes mfr. statement
FC15i yes mfr. statement
FC22 yes mfr. statement
FC22i yes mfr. statement
FC25P yes mfr. statement
FC25Pi yes mfr. statement
FC70 yes mfr. statement
Xerox
 (Tektronix)
DocuColor 12 yes EFF test
DocuColor 40 yes EFF test
DocuColor 1521 yes EFF test
DocuColor 1632 yes EFF test
DocuColor 2000 yes mfr. statement
DocuColor 2045 yes EFF test
DocuColor 2240 yes EFF test
DocuColor 3535 yes EFF test
DocuColor 6060 yes EFF test/mfr. statement
Phaser 560 no EFF test
Phaser 740 no EFF test
Phaser 750 (Z750V) no EFF test
Phaser 750P no EFF test
Phaser 790 yes EFF test
Phaser 850DP no EFF test
Phaser 860DP no EFF test
Phaser 1235 no EFF test
Phaser 6100 no EFF test
Phaser 6200 no EFF test
Phaser 6200DP no EFF test
Phaser 6250DP no EFF test
Phaser 6350DP no EFF test
Phaser 7300DN no EFF test
Phaser 7300DT no EFF test
Phaser 7700 no EFF test
Phaser 7750DN no EFF test
Phaser 8200DP no EFF test
Phaser 8200DX no EFF test
Phaser 8400 no dithering?
Phaser 8400B unclear dithering?
Phaser 8400DP unclear dithering?
Phaser 8400DX unclear dithering?
Phaser 8400N unclear dithering?
Phaser 8440DP unclear dithering?
Phaser 8550 no EFF test
Phaser 8550DP no EFF test
WorkCentre M24 yes EFF test
WorkCentre Pro (all models) yes mfr. statement