Printing in color has been a total nightmare as long as I can remember.
If it wasn’t the initial cost, it was expensive replacement parts for a color laser printer. Then toner cartridge price went through the roof.
And let’s forget the dreaded “laser line” problem that often happens even with brand new toner…
Thankfully, there IS a solution: “Business-Class” Inkjets!
While technically these may have been around for awhile, it’s only recently that they seem to have taken their rightful place as the color printing solution of choice for the masses.
Let’s get crackin’
YouTube:
Rumble:
Bitchute:
Goodies in the video (affiliate links):
- Brother MFC-J5945DW color inkjet multifunction printer (the one I have)
- Brother MFC-J5845DW color inkjet smaller version
- Canon GX6020 All-in-One Wireless Supertank Printer (24 ppm!!)
- Epson EcoTank ET-2760 (with slower 5ppm print speed)
So there you have it: Color printing that’s fast, cheap, and reliable – FINALLY!!
Great video, Scottie! I had no idea that colour lasers had so many problems with them – and very happy to see there’s a better alternative! Who would have thought the humble inkjet would have a superpowered big Brother? 🙂
I’m confused!..Near the end you said “Bob’s your uncle” but earlier on you wanted to name one of the inkjets Bob. Shouldnt you have said…Bob’s your inkjet??!
Scotty – I have had good luck with Epson’s WF-7620 and then the WF-7840. Both are/were All-in-ones with 2 paper trays. Previously had a similar HP model but found that it was notoriously bad at paper handling, particularly when the humidity was high – even with high-quality 28lb color inkjet paper. All of these have/had print heads separate from the ink “tanks.” HP print heads were replaceable, the Epson print heads are not. The biggest drawback to these inkjet printers is when one of more of the tiny nozzles clog and the printer fails to clean them. Using the printer head cleaners found in the marketplace proved to be an exercise in futility. At that point it’s time for replacement.
Print quality for all of them is/was excellent (before the nozzles clog). I say is/was because the WF-7840 is my current model. I had to toss the HP because HP decided it would not update drivers to keep up with MicroSoft. The WF-7620 was tossed because of clogged print head nozzles (hence my experience with print head cleaners). I have no experience with all-in-one laser color printers simply because the cost of a unit with 2 paper trays + envelope tray + 11×17 printing/scanning capability was drastically more expensive than an inkjet.
FWIW I’m a consulting engineer, sole proprietor, working in a home office.
Hi Scotty
I always look out for your emails. Not sure you can advise on this one though. I have recently upgraded my destop and monitor. I have an old Epson Stylus Photo R360 and I think different drivers seem to have changed the settings? I cannot seem to change the printer preferences as before so I can’t seem to set to greyscale. It appears to be automatically printing in colour!! When I go to print it gives me the option of either colour or black and white but prints in colour anyway!! I know my printer is old now and can’t seem to safely find a newer printer driver and am reticent to buy a new printer. Hope you can help or anyone else please.
Thanks
Anne,
What version of Windows was current when your printer was new?
My experience with HP may be analogous. My Business inkjet (forgot the model #) was fine up to Win XP. The HP model used the same REPLACEABLE print heads and cartridges as the ever-so-popular HP 350 plotter – so supply options were good. Then when I evolved (always reluctant to move up) to Win 7 HP told me they were no longer updating drivers to keep up with MicroSoft. I tried various drivers from 3rd party and none worked. So I suffered with an HP printer that only printed on Letter size paper (the printer had duplexing and 3 paper sources – could only use one). Finally I got pissed off enough to buy my 1st Epson all-in-one. 3 paper sources, large format, duplexin and a copier/scanner. Loved it until the printheads started showed sign of clogged nozzles. A “printer head cleaning solution” found on Amazon was attempted – effed up the entire printer after I put everything back together. It worked, but the printheads were still crappy. “Retired” that printer. So on I’m on my 2nd Epson – WF-7840 (had a 7620 before). Same features as the WF-7620 except the max. scan size is a tad smaller. BUT (of course) Epson had to use different ink cartridges.
So what’s the point?
1 – I feel your pain
2 – I had to vent about my experience
3- It pisses me off that when a peripheral is working perfectly, Windows and the peripheral manufacturers have to leap-frog each other and forget they’ve got loyal users of the old stuff that ain’t broke and still going strong.
3 – Windows generic drivers are hardly worth it – they may work but never match the OEM’s drivers.
I hope you find a workable solution.