I've had a HP LaserJet 1012 for about 20 years, I've probably replaced the toner 3 or 4 times. I think it was about $200 new, so that's like $10/year, and it doesn't show any signs of giving up soon.
Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
111–120 of 131 posts
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#112Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes they’re great for low volume printing and the Linux support is great too. Newer models track the number of printed pages and nag to replace the toner. You can instead reset the page counter and continue printing. Exact steps vary by model but easily found online.
I'm sorry, but that's just not true, at least not in general. For many models, the Linux support is mediocre-to-none.
My luck must be better than. I’ve had no issues with the L2700 series.
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#113Brother laser printer. Then an HP Selphy for photo print.
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#114[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#115I'm reccomended FedEx,HP or Cannon :)
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#116If by "we are talking shipping labels here" you literally mean "I'm going to be using this to print shipping labels", it's hard to go wrong with a thermal printer:
https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Receipts-Barcodes-Parallel-Conn...
It checks your boxes:
- It'll do great with infrequent use
- There's no ink involved, so you don't have to worry about that
1000 4×6 labels (i.e. the kind you'd want to use for shipping) would net you less than $40: https://www.amazon.com/OfficeSmartLabels-ZE1400600-Thermal-S...
Direct thermal printers like the GK420d linked above do have a limited lifetime on the thermal head, but with infrequent use you're highly unlikely to hit that limit (it's more a problem for full-time shipping operations printing labels all day every day).
On that note, I would also recommend you not use a laser printer to print shipping labels unless that printer is specifically designed to handle labels. Nothing sucks more than having to clean up after a printer that bent the label sheet too tightly and ended up peeling the labels off into all sorts of crevices.
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#117I have an old LaserJet 1320 sitting in the garage and like you, I use it very infrequently. Unfortunately, it's not wireless and I didn't want to run a network cable just for that. So I bought a Raspberry Pi Zero W, connected it to the printer via a USB cable, installed cups and some other packages and now I can print wirelessly from either desktop or mobile. The printer has been very reliable.
I have two LaserJet 1320s.¹ Got 'em as e-waste from a hospital I worked at. They're handy.
¹: ...well, had. My grandpa's using them now (one in use, and the other for spare parts), since he needed a reliable printer for his book sales.
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#118Any base model brother laser printer, preferably any that support wifi printing. i’ve had one for 7 years, and replaced the toner exactly once.
+1
I have a DCP-L2540DW that is awesome (and has a flatbed scanner with feeder).
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#119You want a laser printer. Inkjets will clog up with infrequent use, but lasers won't. HP makes some interesting compact laser printers these days that could easily be stored away while you're not using them -- something like the HP LaserJet Pro M15w might be nice for infrequent use.
Actually they don't clog that isn't true. What inkjets do is pull ink and clean their heads on a semi-regular basis. This is actually one of the bigger costs associated with Inkjets that aren't used frequently as it wastes ink. Some models waste dramatically more ink than others and there are economical for long term inkjets available. At some point the laser will end up cheap on low use as the catridge doesn't get wasted but that pay back period is quite long verses a low ink usage inkjet.
Re: Ask HN: What printer do you recommend for rare printing?
#120Earlier quoted context omitted.
You’re not wrong that there’s the potential for conflict of interest. Many commenters on Wirecutter articles note that the options they choose are more expensive. But the articles are well-written and have saved me considerable time. They’ve done much of the work of comprising shopping for the reader. I have no qualms buying through their links when the linked product is the right balance of reliable and economical.
The best Wirecutter recommendations come from the comments, not the articles.
You’re definitely on to something here. The comments are half the value. There’s usually someone wanting to know why a given option was excluded or why a conclusion was reached by Wirecutter staff.