Having been to many printer vendor service training sessions where it was
clearly outlined, it is no secret that they sell "printers" in order to have
a continual revenue stream of consumables including
paper/ink/toners/drums/transfer rolls etc. ("printers" means..any output
device that needs toner or ink, including those wonderful photo kiosks you
see at Retravision, Harvey Norman and other places that know jack #$%^ about
cameras and film...but I digress...)
I know one company a while back that offered a "free" colour laser printer
if you purchased the toner cartridges.
I have had several customers very annoyed that the cartridges for their $59
inkjet cost more than the printer. And that's MY fault??? ;-) The problem
is it is more expensive to repair than buy a new one so - off to the tip!
And then you have the trusty HP Laserjet 4M, the 2100 and a couple of others
still hanging around and still reliable. Like Daniel I try to keep them
going or pass them on. A bit like a lot of my "Mac" customers down here who
are still running their Apple Lisa and ClarisWorks.... hee hee (I was going
to insert the Deliverance duelling banjo's here... No offence to my Albany &
Denmark cousins....) :-)
As Daniel says, the consumer has driven what we have got. To steal an
analogy, we are all frogs in a slowly boiling pot and one day - when the
only shopping you can do is online, or down the road at the Coles or Woolies
"one stop to buy everything including your petrol, hardware, home theatre,
clothes, furniture, music, videos, toys, fishing camping, computers, ipods
and oh by the way we sell groceries too" shop..... - we'll wich it was like
the old days when the milko delivered the milk and the baker delivered the
bread. (sigh) I must be ready for bed..... ;-)
Cheers,
Stuart
T4 Technology
Down in the sticks
On 21/10/10 8:14 PM, "Daniel Kerr" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Hi Steven
>
> Without starting a flame war, and please realise I'm not making a dig at
> you, or anyone else for that matter,...
> But this first thing always bothers me with these printers.
> The amount of "good waste" that we all go through with new printers that are
> still good, but it's cheaper to buy a whole printer then cartridges. What it
> must be doing to our landfill and environment.
> It's unfortunate. And although we can't really lay blame. As consumer's
> we're always look for something cheaper, and so the manufacturer make
> something cheaper (then get us on the cartridges). It's the chicken and egg
> situation. Do we blame them for making cheaper printer, or do they blame us
> for asking for "cheap".
> I do remember not that long ago when I worked for RandomAccess (ok, yes that
> would be nearly 10 years,..omg that long!) when printers were in factor
> dearer and cartridges were cheaper. That didn't take long to change.
> And we see it happen with a lot of things these days.
> Quality used to be better and last longer. Now nearly everything is a throw
> away society.
> But I digress....
> I try and keep my printers as long as possible and get the most out of them.
> Or pass them off to family or friends that don't have a printer (or when
> dies). I look at it that way, that at least I'm doing something. ;o)
> But yes,..it does make it very hard they way printers and cartridges work
> now.
>
> Again, not trying to point fingers,..just wanted to mention my view on it ;)
>
> Kind Regards
> Daniel
>
>
> On 21/10/10 7:19 PM, "Steven Knowles" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I like your suggestion David. Sounds sensible to me ... my understanding is
>> that the manufacturers often lose, maybe break even, on the printer itself in
>> cunning anticipation of making fat margins on consumables thereafter. Your
>> move puts a bullet in that plan! :-)
>>
>> Daniel, after your Epson recommendation I'd probably take a closer look at
>> Epson, but I'm all out of steam looking at printers - head is spinning. Too
>> much choice.
>>
>> Marlene, I've had a mind change after taking a look at printers in a couple
>> of
>> stores today. I've moved from Canon to HP. I came across an HP Officejet Pro
>> 8500, and when lifting the lid noticed that the flatbed looked larger than
>> the
>> others. It is. The 8500 has a flatbed scanning size which accommodates
>> foolscap (legal) size paper. For me, that can be pretty handy at times. I
>> couldn't find any Canon's on display which went beyond the usual A4 size
>> flatbed. Bear in mind though that even if the flatbed takes only up to A4, I
>> think scanning via the document feeder allows you to scan longer documents.
>> My
>> fear with scanning via the document feeder is that if it's an important or
>> flimsy document, document feeders tear your original to shreds.
>>
>> The I spotted the newer 8500A. I assumed that must have a few extra features
>> than the 8500, however the 8500A on display had only an A4 size flatbed. The
>> Officeworks salesman claimed that that was a difference, and that if I wanted
>> the bigger flatbed, I had to run with the older 8500. Coming home I've
>> checked
>> the HP web site, and not surprisingly the Officeworks salesman had it wrong.
>> The 8500A comes in four different models ... the A910a, A910g & A910k (8500A
>> Plus), and A910n (8500A Premium). Seems what I was looking at was the A910a
>> because the A910g & A910n has the bigger flatbed. (Click here for other
>> differences between 8500A models).
>>
>> I came across the Officejet 7500A wide format model as well. Ability to print
>> to A3 is nice, but it doesn't provide a duplexing function (ie. double sided
>> printing & scanning), so that takes eliminates the 7500A for me.
>>
>> So, I'm about to go online and order the 8500A A910g from somewhere.
>>
>> Cheers, Steven
>>
>>
>> On 21/10/2010, at 3:47 PM, David Noel wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, I'm not an expert here, but the last time my (inkjet) printer started
>>> playing up, I got a Canon MP140 Pixma from Officeworks for about $50. It was
>>> one of their cheapest, and may have been a promotion. It's behaved very well
>>> really, the scanning software is pretty intuitive and flexible, there is an
>>> Omnipage facility for character recognition.
>>>
>>> I do remember a WAMUG member who said when his inkjet printer run out of
>>> ink,
>>> he just went and bought another machine, at $50 a pop you can do this! Every
>>> time I have got a new printer, the accompanying software has been a step up.
>>> So that is a possible strategy for you, go and get the cheapest Canon which
>>> does what you want, and if it plays up, get a new one!
>>>
>>> Cheers --
>>>
>>> David Noel
>>> 2010 Oct 21
>>>
>>> =====
>>>
>>> On 21 October 2010 12:44, Steven Knowles <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> Hi Marlene
>>>
>>> I've had a couple of recommendations. Apparently Choice ranked most highly
>>> the Dell V715w, followed by the Lexmark IntuitionS505. I hadn't even thought
>>> about those brands. I've looked at other reviews of the V715w - seems that
>>> it's ink-hungry, and there was some mention that Dells aren't Mac compatible
>>> or Mac friendly. Plus I read Dell-branded printers are made by Lexmark. Who
>>> knows, but too many negative review for me to get comfortable.
>>>
>>> What I've decided to do is run with Canon. Big name, big range, Mac-friendly
>>> I'm told, and generally positive reviews on most models. I don't know what
>>> model yet, Canon told me Harvey Norman have the largest range on show, so
>>> I'll drop into Harvey Norman today perhaps to see if I can find something
>>> which does what I need, including double-sided printing and scanning,
>>> wireless. Then I'l ring around for the best deal. Harris Technologies has
>>> always been very competitive. Don't know what it's like these days.
>>>
>>> From what I've read in reviews, the Canon Pixma range ranks highly, so I
>>> think you're on the right track.
>>>
>>> Cheers, Steven
>>>
>>>
>>> On 21/10/2010, at 12:08 PM, Marlene Oostryck wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Steven
>>>>
>>>> I'm glad you asked your "dumb" question as I too have been looking at the
>>>> shops recently with a view to purchasing a Multi-function printer - so I am
>>>> looking at the responses you get.
>>>>
>>>> There is just such a huge range out there and it is so hard to decide what
>>>> is right. All the retail "experts" have a different view! - and not many
>>>> know what works well with Macs.
>>>> I want my printer mainly for black and white text printing for home use -
>>>> (photo prints I do at Harvey Norman). I also want to scan and copy. Don't
>>>> need the fax. I will use usb connection.
>>>> The main concern is best value for ink useage and the recommendations seem
>>>> to be - go for a middle range (better value ink cartridges).
>>>> I know laser printers are better value re ink - but the footprint is too
>>>> large for my desk - so inkjet is the way I will go.
>>>> I'm considering a Canon Pixma MP560 - but would love some personal
>>>> recommendations from WAMUG users.
>>>>
>>>> Office Works have some good deals now, and JB Hi-Fi are offering 50% off
>>>> ink
>>>> (limit of 3) with a printer purchase.
>>>>
>>>> Good hunting, Steven!
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> Marlene
>>>>
>>>> On 20/10/2010, at 10:32 AM, Steven Knowles wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> At risk of asking a dumb question due to the multitude of options, I need
>>>>> to grab a (preferably wireless but can hook into TC if not) multifunction
>>>>> office printer / scanner. Not so bothered about a fax function - who uses
>>>>> fax these days - but it'll probably have that anyway.
>>>>>
>>>>> Printing volume will be minimal, so will scanning for that matter, but
>>>>> just
>>>>> need one around since my HP Officejet 7210 died.
>>>>>
>>>>> Interested in views on the best Mac-friendly brand available at the
>>>>> moment.
>>>>> Anyone know what Choice recommended in their Multifunction printer report?
>>>>> I'll buy it if not.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers, Steven
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
> ---
> Daniel Kerr
> MacWizardry
>
> Phone: 0414 795 960
> Email: <daniel @ macwizardry . com . au>
> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au>
>
>
> **For everything Macintosh**
>
>
>
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>
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Stuart Evans
T4 Technology
ALBANY
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