Need to buy a simple HP printer
For basic home use. There are so many different models I have no idea where to start. I was going to buy a wireless one until a bunch of comments said it was hard to set up. I will be mostly using it with my desktop Mac.
Any suggestions?
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Do you need scanner/copier functionality?
Can you wait til Black Friday?
BTW: COVID has screwed with the supply chain and caused a shortage of printers.
Tree Lady
(12,205 posts)And thanks for reminding me, maybe I should wait for either Black Friday or cyber Monday.
Wounded Bear
(60,699 posts)does the basic stuff with minimal problems. I run it on USB and no setup problems. I'm Windows 10, though, so I can't comment on how easy it is to use with Macs. Decent color and B/W printing and reasonable speed for home use.
Cheap as they come. In fact I think the ink cartridges cost more than the printer did.
Tree Lady
(12,205 posts)From that.
Wounded Bear
(60,699 posts)original HP for just under $40. Color is higher by close to $10.
But at the time I needed the printer badly and it was basically the cheapest HP available. I have a weakness for HP.
markie
(22,926 posts)cheap HP Envy and it does everything I need... use it wireless and it has been great...
Freddie
(9,698 posts)Easy to use, very happy with it. Think it was $199.
brewens
(15,359 posts)pretty poor at Staples. I really like it though. I was hoping to get a cheaper one. It's black and white only and the salesman said it was the best deal for replacement cartridges too. If that's the case, I probably did okay.
One thing that was lucky. I had bought an external DVD drive for my laptop, but never used it. Turned out I needed that to run the install disk. Maybe you could work the installation another way, but that made it quick and easy to install.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)And yes, the selection is pretty poor now due to supply chain issues.
Also you can download almost all installation software from the manufacturer's websites these days.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)original toner. Love it.
Enter stage left
(3,823 posts)billh58
(6,641 posts)these, and particularly the all-in-one (scanner, printer, fax) HP6978 for $120.00 from Amazon. Most printers are both wireless and wired (USB) and you can choose either connection method.
https://www.cbr.com/best-printers-for-mac/
Good luck...
flying rabbit
(4,771 posts)The ink lasts, and doesn't dry up.
samplegirl
(12,101 posts)Im looking for a new printer. One that the cartridges dont cost an arm or a leg.
flying rabbit
(4,771 posts)I know there are cheaper ones out there. i havent had to buy ink for it yet, but I dont print a whole lot. I was tired of getting gouged by buying ink for my HP inkjet, and the ink not lasting.
samplegirl
(12,101 posts)To expensive and the ink dries up always having to have someone work on it.
Thank you I will take a look. Im not good with printers but many say a Brother.
flying rabbit
(4,771 posts)In fact I was kicking myself for not doing it sooner.
Response to Tree Lady (Original post)
AllaN01Bear This message was self-deleted by its author.
Skittles
(159,391 posts)black and white, with copy and scanning ability
MFP M29w
Recommended!
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)them in the last few years ended up in the trash. This is how low what was once a premier maker of electronic equipment has sunk.
Be that as it may, I happened to be wandering around Walmart one day and saw a multifunction Canon printer for $39.95 and grabbed it a spare. It's still in the box, but I trust it will work fine if and when I set it up. Only problem I see so far is the one color cartridge. If you run low on one color, you have to replace the whole thing. I'm also curious if the scanner is any good.
My absolute favorite printer, btw, is a Xerox color laser printer I got on sale for around a hundred bucks. It's been a workhorse for 3 years. Still haven't replaced any cartridges yet and hope I don't get killed on the price (if I can even find any).
Just about any HP will do. I find that the mid-priced printers are better. Just a bit more reliable, and a bit better on ink usage. Ive been using hp for 20 years and they very reliable. Ink usage has improved considerably. No question, replacing all cartridges is pricey, but even in my soho use its still only twice a year. And if youre not using a lot of ink, some hp printers have very cost effective ink replacement plans. I believe all come with wireless and wired choices. Go with wired.
blue sky at night
(3,305 posts)I like Epson because I worked on them as a tech, the Small in One is perfect...around 50 bucks and you are good to go, the cartridges are 12 bucks when you need them.
Tree Lady
(12,205 posts)They are $199 at Amazon. I see a few in Walmart for around $125 but it says All in One not Small.
randr
(12,480 posts)Their ink program is the cheapest way to run a home printer without ever running out. Also best tech help of all.
Grasswire2
(13,711 posts)The oldest one is two years.
All of them stopped working. All all-in-ones. The most recent one stopped working before even the second ink cartridge was used. A failed internal power module, support said.
I hate them. Pieces of junk.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(26,730 posts)Prints, scans, and photocopies. I'm very happy with it. I don't really do an awful lot of any of those. I think I paid only around $50.00 for it at the time.
Tree Lady
(12,205 posts)Why I haven't bought one yet. Half the reviews people like their printer easy set up, half think its a piece of crap, uses too much ink too fast.
I have some stuff I need to print out so will just grab a printer and take my chances.
HP used to be a good company, I lived next door many years ago to a guy who was a manager there.