Cheapest type of printer

[Shimano105]

All I want is the ability to print off half decent copies of invoices.

Any fancy printing I would farm out anyway so I am fed up with having to fork out £30 for 2 teaspoons of ink in plastic boxes.

Inkjet refills & the like have never worked for me, so are there any suggestions of avoiding the mainstream printer rip off?

Hell, even a dot matrix would do if I could get one to work!

[HairyArsedBloke]

e-mail the client a pdf version and let them print it off - I do.

[Shimano105]

Good, like the thinking, but a printer is useful for courier labels and such like so still after one...

[Sysman]

I invested in a cheap'n'cheerful mono laser printer. The first cartridge lasted 15 months. It isn't just the cost, but the confidence to print a hundred page document knowing that I won't have to replace a cartridge half way through.

It's worth it for the lack of stress.

[DaveB]

You can pickup a refurbished HP LAserJet 4 for around £60 with a toner cartrige. New cartridges cost around £20.

HP 4's were built to last, I have one that I picked up 5 years ago now and it's till going strong.

[xoggoth]

Damn! I Chucked away an old dot matrix Centronics serial printer last year. You should have said earier.

[Shimano105]

This could be the answer. I reckon a toner cartridge should last a damn sight longer than a piddly inkjet cartridge.

[blacjac]

This could be the answer. I reckon a toner cartridge should last a damn sight longer than a piddly inkjet cartridge.

I would avoid the cheaper end Samsungs, I bought one last year and it was piss poor quality, and the toner lasted less than 3 months of light usage. Wish I'd spent the extra up front (about 100 quid) for a comparable HP, much better print quality and the toner lasts a lot longer (as well as being cheeper to buy).

[Clippy]

I would avoid the cheaper end Samsungs, I bought one last year and it was piss poor quality, and the toner lasted less than 3 months of light usage. Wish I'd spent the extra up front (about 100 quid) for a comparable HP, much better print quality and the toner lasts a lot longer (as well as being cheeper to buy).

As someone who has an entry level Samsung mono laser printer I would tend to agree.

It can be a little slow in warming up and doesn't always seem to line up the paper correctly - but this may be the way I have it setup.

I only bought it because it was mis-priced by Staples so got it for £40 instead of £70.

It's not a bad printer for the money I paid so am going to stick with it but if I was in the market for a new printer, I'd look to buy an entry level HP one and one that could do automatic duplexing.

[Moscow Mule]

You can pickup a refurbished HP LAserJet 4 for around £60 with a toner cartrige. New cartridges cost around £20.

HP 4's were built to last, I have one that I picked up 5 years ago now and it's till going strong.

Good shout. I've been meaning to get one of those for myco for a while.