Colour Laser printer recommendations?
contentcreative (7 points) | Tue, 2005-11-15 19:12Hi, small home-based design shop here and I'd like a colour laser printer because inkjets are eating my lunch! Finding reviews on the web is a little confusing so I thought I'd ask the pros here ;)
Need:
network (ethernet)
postscript rip
easy to find cartridges (obsolescence is a concern)
Like:
tabloid size paper option
price at $1000 or less
Not a big concern:
duplex
speed
Anyone got any recommendations/caveats?
"He who has never envied the vegetable has missed the human drama."
E.M. Cioran
Are you on Mac or PC?
Mac OS X primarily, OS 9 secondarily, XP teritiarily
"He who has never envied the vegetable has missed the human drama."
E.M. Cioran
The only ones that I would recommend are the QMS/Magicolor models. As far as I am concerned they are by far the best lasers on the market. The more you spend the better the quality too. I have used the predecesssor to the 7300 and the output was comparable to modern digital print presses.
I would at least go for a 5000 series as the spec for them looks good for the money. Don't think your getting a bargain by getting a $400 laser printer, you will probably be better off with an inkjet for that sort of money.
Also much more economical than Xerox or HP equivilants.
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http://mijlee.com
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hey thanks for that - checked it out and found a dealer nearby. Looking forward to seeing it in action. cheers
"He who has never envied the vegetable has missed the human drama."
E.M. Cioran
I'm looking for a color laser printer and came across this forum but its kind of old. I was wondering if anyone has any updated suggestions? I've been looking at aXerox Phasers 6180n and the other brands i've been told to check out are Ricoh, Canon, and Brother but I haven't been told any models. I'm looking to spend around 500 for it on a MAC platform. Thanks :)
I've had fantastic success w/ the HP Photosmart Pro B8350 Photo Printer. It meets and beats all your needs. I am a photographer though, so our needs may differ.
I don't see anywhere that your looking for a printer for commercial needs. So this is a very cost effective answer unless your going to hammer down on this printer. Then go w/ something else. I only use my printer to make contact sheets then my clients pick shots to be printed in a lab by pro's. I used to try printing all my own stuff. It gets really old really fast.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=printers&category=photosmart_printers&orderflow=1&a1=Price+after+rebate&v1=Over+%24300&product_code=Q8492A%23ABA&catLevel=2
I'm looking to use it for a side business invitation/card business i'm starting. I would be printing all of them from there, although I don't have many clients yet. I'm also not looking for this to be a ft job type thing doing a ton of jobs. I would like to spend no more than $500.
If your going to do commercial printing as you mentioned. Budget in a new printer every 6 mo. to a year so you don't get in a jam. You'r talking about constant output w/ is pro model, not consumer. Consumer model printers shouldn't be a viable option for you. The simple truth of it. Low end printers are designed to break so you buy a new one every year or so. This may not be the case in the design community since it's a tool of our trade and we usually treat our gear w/ kid gloves.
The choice is more do you want to spend more money now or later. You can buy a "cheap" printer today and spend up to 2k in 2 years on service/replacement. Or you can shell out the 2k(ish) now for a good printer that you'll have for 5+ years.
I'll talk to some of my old print head buddies and see what they recommend.
That would be great. I really don't have the 2k to shell out right now....lots of other expenses at the moment as well....which is what i'm hoping this business can help take care of in the long run :)