HP set for laser printer revamp

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The problem is consumables and their cost...

I agree with the service aspects of HP. There is none better.

But the consumables?

I was going to get a LaserJet 2600N. Cost was $399. Came with starter cartridges, and replacements for each color were like $80 EACH and they only lasted 2000-2500 pages.

Worse yet, from what I've read the way they designed the 2600 printing system it takes a print count off of EVERY cartridge instead of, say, just the black if it's a black <ocument. So printing a b/w document also uses up a page count from the color cartridges (all of them) even though they weren't used.

And toner usage is not measured by true usage. It's measured by print count.

Bah, humbug! If this is all true, that's one hell of a way for a company to guarantee consumable sales.

And, of course, the 2600 is chip-locked so you can't fight the system, nor use third-party cartridges.

Instead I found that Dell had their 3100CN on sale for $349 including free shipping.

Comes with full cartridges that last 4000 pages each.

It's a full work-group capable printer, not a lightweight personal-printer type. That has it's issues though, as it's HUGE. About 2 feet tall, 15" square and weighs around 100 pounds fully assembled. Has Ethernet of course.

So you just set it up and leave it alone

The Toners are cheaper and last longer. However, you do have to replace the drum every 44,000 imprints at a cost of around $170. It still works out cheaper than the HP. If I remember correctly, the TOTAL print cost for consumables was 1c per page b/w and something like 7 or 9c per page Color (at typical print coverages).

The 3100CN does have a few quirks in it's software (you can't save print driver settings directly into the printer), but they are minimal.

Finally, every review I read on the 3100CN stated it had one of, if not the best, color outputs for photo's of any Color Laser. I agree, but it does NOT replace an InkJet for truly wonderful pictures.

In short, the 3100cn is a true workgroup class Network Printer that:

Holds far more paper (400 Sheets)
Has far larger cartridges (4000 prints)
Has cheaper cartridges (but requires drum rep at 44k imprints)
Has a workgroup class NIC
Has a workgroup class page-per-month duty cycle
Has ONSITE warranty (1 yr standard, 3yr optional)

What I don't like:

I'm not a huge fan of Dell at all. But, a good deal is a good deal!

The Dell Gray color has got to be the ugliest color for computer products that has ever been invented.

The drivers do not automatically update the printer firmware settings when you change something. If you make a paper size change in the driver, you ALSO have to make the same change at the printer, or connect to it via web browser and make the change. This is, without a doubt, the stupidist thing I've ever seen.

That's about it. Nothing to prevent me from taking advantage of the deal.

One more thing I do not like about recent HP printers. The "Instant On" fuser feature brings some bad baggage with it in the form of Mylar Tubes in the fuser. These things are as tender as potato chips, and all it takes is a wrinkle in a piece of paper to tear one. HP will NOT sell you the $2 Mylar tube individually, and I've not been able to find them aftermarket either. You have to buy the ENTIRE fuser at a cost of several hundred dollars. HP will NOT cover torn mylars under warranty, even if the printer is 2 days old. It's considered a consumable item.

If any of this has changed, by all means correct me. I welcome it.

Posted by: BitTwiddler   Posted on: 04/14/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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