HELP we need a new printer and urgently as I print everyday. My Epson which has always been touchy about paper feeding how says NO to anything.
I print a lot, I use a lot of ink. Read a review of the Epson I was about to buy which said they have fixed it so you can’t use non Epson ink anymore (and a set of ink from Epson costs as much as a new printer !!).
Is it better to pay for a more expensive printer / cheaper ink combination.
Urgent advice and suggestions needed… I have an invoice to print tomorrow and can’t !
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I use an HP but always use the proper inks. Where I worked for a few months they always tried to cut corners and use refill ink. Caused no end of problems with the printers.
The HP I use the auto refill ink facility which is very good.
Printers need to be bought for what you need it for, as I do a lot of digital printing found the HP very good.
I have a Canon printer with a top feeder tray as well as the bottom feeder tray. I find a top feeder is far less fussy about the paper used.
I buy compatible inks from a company called INKredible on line and find them very good for what I need which is mainly printing out my Folksy orders and other online stuff/emails. I have a set of proper canon inks to use if I need them for something like printing out photographs.
When you buy your printer it should accept any ink cartridges, but if it does an update it may well switch on a function to stop you using these. My hubby disabled the updates so that doesn’t happen.
I use a canon printer for colour, a laser HP for black & white and a Zebra for postage labels. The HP cartidges last for ages, and the Zebra is thermal.
The canon cartidges are not too expensive and the non-brand ones work well too in my experience.
It’s cumbersome to have more than one for sure, but I found it wasn’t economical to print black and white on a colour printer. Not sure if that is just Canon?
I opted for a black and white laser printer (Canon) when my Epson colour printer died. Haven’t regretted it for a moment, it’s been very reliable and saved me a fortune in ink. On the rare occasions I need a colour print I can just stick the file on a USB and take it to our local printers - which hardly every happens!
Thanks Caroline… I’m deciding between HP and Canon Pixma. Have had both in the past but not for a number of years, had Epson most recently. The Hp installed so much bloat ware on the pc it became a problem and the Canon printed colours oddly as I remember it but going to be one or the other. The now defunct Epson will not be replaced with an Epson. Bought in in an emergency also when the previous one suddenly decided it had reached its print limit and couldnt be persuaded to print ever again. I don’t need a printer like that. It also won’t take tracing paper (the sort I’ve been using for the last 10 years and which the previous Epson did), is fussy about normal paper quality and prints different sized images according to where I print from… can be a puzzling issue when I’m printing my patterns !!
Thanks I’ve always used ‘other’ inks without a problem. The Epson, after I’ve replaced one (frequent !) makes me confirm I know I am using non-Epson. I was reading the review of one I thought of buying and there was a warning about it no longer allowing it which would be dreadful as a ser of Epson inks costs as much as a cheap printer ! I never do do the updates and thanks for the warning will make sure I never do whatever I buy 
I print half and half black and white, colour. My patterns are on the computer and I always print two for each piece I make in black and white. My order paperwork I print in colour. I don’t think Bob is going to agree to one of each so all I have to do is decide Canon or HP. Going to have make a quick decision or I won’t be able to make any glass without a pattern. I drew a brand new one up today and it gave up the ghost, after a lot of grumbling about printing any at all, after the second copy of the pattern. Phew. Unfortunately I spent so long shouting at it and threatening to throw it through the window that I didnt finish my nice new piece before the light went !!
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That sounds like a brilliant idea but I can’t use your option for colour printing. My order paperwork is in colour and some of my patterns have a coloures image on them so I do need a colour one.
Bob had chosen a Canon and I was considering it then realised it was black and white.
I must get back to Amazon and make a decision (I always choose via Amazon as I like the reviews though may have to go out to actually buy one as need one rather urgently )
I have a Cannon Pixma and it’s been really reliable since I had it a few years ago now - really easy to use and prints really well. I always get my inks from Amazon- a good price and last for ages.
I had problems with my Canon Pixma just out of warranty, I did love the fact I could print card stock up to 300gsm but the colours never printed true and when it developed it’s horizontal lines I threw in the towel with it.
We have a very simple HP deskjet now, doesn’t do card stock but will print everyday stuff perfectly ok.
Thank you everyone. I’ve just ordered a Canon Pixma from Amazon which will arrive on Tuesday so fingers crossed. Will get compatible ink as soon as I know it works.
And the Epson… through the window it will go !!
Just to say Joy - I’ve had two Canon Pixma’s over the years and have been very happy with both of them. I do use original ink as I print photos for scrapbooking but often pick up original cartridges on eBay for cheaper. I hope you are happy with your printer when it arrives.
Thanks Julie. It’s due to be with me by 10pm tomorrow !!
I had to Hand Write two order address labels today and had to use my very very best pen and handwriting as I actually write so infrequently. My fingers are far more adept at typing nowadays.
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Thanks all. New Canon Pixma TS something or other arrived today and is now up and running and has sorted 3 problems I have had with my stupid Epson since we’ve had it.
- it Will feed and prnt on tracing paper… so useful when drawing new patterns when I want a computer generated circle not handdrawn !
- It Will feed and print on my better quality glossy photo paper - fortunate as I’ve had a 100 sheet packet waiting to use for a year
- It Will print my patterns the same size whether from the laptop or the desktop( the size difference puzzled me for ages when comparing the size of two suncatchers of the same design ! )
Off now to buy a set of compatible inks at as cheap a price I can find.
Joy xx
Joy I think I’ve still got some ink for my old Canon Pixma TS something 
you can have it if you’d like it. Just let me know and I’ll go rummage for it.
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