My main requirements are it works with color, cos we sometimes photo print for personal use, and that it's possible to refill rather than spend big buck on new toners, so either they don't have chips faking the fill level or are easy to reset.
Scanner optional but appreciated.
Do y'all have any tips for me? I'm so so done with flaky inkjets and I've read some nightmares about some more modern printers.
Thanks in advance!
Which color laser printer to buy for occasional/rare use?
Good reasonably priced color laser printer for home use. (Or something similar.) - Hardware & Infrastructure - Spiceworks Community
Recommend me a color laser printer | MacRumors Forums
Best color laser printer for photos (was: HP Color LaserJet M856x (review)) | MacRumors Forums
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Will a Laser Printer Cost More or Less Than a Comparable Inkjet?
As surprising as it may seem, a laser printer can be less expensive in the long run than a comparable inkjet. You really have to look at the total cost of ownership to figure that out, though.
A common complaint about lasers is that laser toner cartridges are expensive compared with inkjet cartridges. For inexpensive models, the cost can even exceed the cost of the printer, particularly for color lasers if you need to replace a full set of cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toners). But if you compare the cost per page, rather than the price per cartridge, you'll find the running cost for cartridge-based lasers is actually less than for comparable cartridge-based inkjets. In addition, most lasers are designed to last longer than most inkjets, so you can amortize the initial cost of the printer over more pages as well.
Be aware that tank-based inkjets can beat lasers on running cost, which complicates any broad-brushstroke comparison of costs between the two technologies. The tank-based models cost more than equivalent inkjets that use cartridges, but they let you use far cheaper ink, which you typically pour from bottles into large tanks in the printer. There are also a few lasers that take a similar approach, selling toner in bulk "injectors" rather than in cartridges.
Ultimately, focusing on initial price only or on running costs only when comparing printers is likely to lead to the wrong conclusion about which will be cheaper. You need to take both into account by estimating the total cost of ownership over the printers' lifetimes. How to Save Money on Your Next Printer: Weighing the Cost of Tank vs. Cartridge Ink gives a step-by-step example of how to compare tank and cartridge inkjets. The same approach will work with any two printers. And don't forget to factor in the possible savings from ink subscription plans if any are available for a printer you're considering.
What Kind of Connectivity to Look for in a Laser Printer?
Almost any printer will include a USB Type-B connector for a direct wired connection to a single PC. (USB connectors supporting the faster USB 3.0 protocol are showing up with increasing regularity.) And even if that's the only connector, Windows will let you share the printer on a network. But the easiest, and most efficient, option for connecting to a network is an Ethernet port, which all but the least-expensive lasers generally include as well. Connecting with Ethernet is usually as simple as plugging in the cable.
Most lasers today also offer Wi-Fi for network connection, either as an alternative to Ethernet or as the only choice. Wi-Fi lets you put the printer anywhere without having to worry about stringing cables, but it is sometimes tricky to set up. AIOs with fax functionality will add a phone-line interface (RJ-45), unless they use cloud-based faxing.
Support for Wi-Fi Direct is also common, though sometimes that feature comes under a different name. It lets you establish a direct peer-to-peer connection between the printer and a computer or mobile device. However, you don't actually need Wi-Fi Direct to print wirelessly. If the printer is attached to a network, using either a wired or wireless connection, and you can connect to the network by Wi-Fi from a computer, phone, or tablet, you can print over the network. Just check to be sure that the manufacturer offers a free downloadable app for printing (as well as for scanning, for an AIO) that your phone or tablet can use. Another option that is less common is support for Near-Field Communication (NFC), which lets you initiate the wireless connection to a mobile device by simply tapping the device on a specific spot on the printer.
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I know I hear a lot about Brother laser printers but are they the best option for rare to occasional use? I just want something simple that I can count on to work for the times I do need it, and strongly prefer it to be color. I don't need any bells and whistles.
I was looking at this one because it seems to be basically the least expensive option HL-L3220CDW but there's a specific Amazon review that is worrying. (The review is for HL-L3210CW so not sure if that variation makes a difference). The review states that the printer locked him out because the printer thinks the black toner is empty, even though it's not empty. It won't even allow him to print in color and there is apparently no way to manually reset the toner status on this printer, unlike previous versions.