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I’m planning on buying a laser printer but concerned about the life cycle of toner in the machine
What will happen if i put colored toner in Black white laser printer cartridgeColor Printer: Laser vs InkjetBest way to save ink in inkjet printer when rarely used?Laser printer prints black perfectly but cyan magenta and yellow very badlyDo printer ink/toner refill kits work and are they safe?What causes the laser printer to print all pages with a washed out background?Epson XP-600 will not print properly with all new ink recently installedLaser printer pages covered with toner powder. What to replace first?Is any special maintenance required for an edible ink printer?Printer toner doesn't adhere well to the paper anymore
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I’m planning on buying a laser printer but concerned about the life cycle of the toner in the machine. I went to Brother’s website and and it says:
“The toner cartridge shelf life is 2 years if the protective bag is unopened or 6 months after the protective bag is opened.”
I print infrequently and only a few pages a month and was hoping the toner would last for years, but am I wrong?
Will it start to clump in the printer after 6 months? I was going to get a laser printer instead of an inkjet because inkjet printers clog often if not used every week or two and use a lot of ink in the cleaning cycles. But if the toner only lasts 6 months then I have a similar problem with the laser printer.
Can someone clarify which I should get for my infrequent printing needs? I only need to print black and white.
printer toner
New contributor
|
show 7 more comments
I’m planning on buying a laser printer but concerned about the life cycle of the toner in the machine. I went to Brother’s website and and it says:
“The toner cartridge shelf life is 2 years if the protective bag is unopened or 6 months after the protective bag is opened.”
I print infrequently and only a few pages a month and was hoping the toner would last for years, but am I wrong?
Will it start to clump in the printer after 6 months? I was going to get a laser printer instead of an inkjet because inkjet printers clog often if not used every week or two and use a lot of ink in the cleaning cycles. But if the toner only lasts 6 months then I have a similar problem with the laser printer.
Can someone clarify which I should get for my infrequent printing needs? I only need to print black and white.
printer toner
New contributor
2
@Attie - Laser. I print so infrequently I got totally sick of having to waste 10 sheets of paper cleaning up the ink jets every time I wanted to print something. The Laser just sat there, always on [very low power sleep mode], always ready to go. The newer one, an HP all-in-one, seems to be ready to do the same. It's a lot better functionally, so I might even consider buying new ink when it runs out ;)
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
3
Laser printers don't use "ink". They use toner.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
3
@MichaelHarvey - potato potato. Same end result.
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
9
If you are in a discussion about laser printers, and you talk about "ink", you will make people think you are talking about ink jet printers, and that you have made an error.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
2
The brother printer I use hs had its toner last years - and I live in a humid environment. I dont think toner clumping is likrly to be an issue.
– davidgo
14 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
I’m planning on buying a laser printer but concerned about the life cycle of the toner in the machine. I went to Brother’s website and and it says:
“The toner cartridge shelf life is 2 years if the protective bag is unopened or 6 months after the protective bag is opened.”
I print infrequently and only a few pages a month and was hoping the toner would last for years, but am I wrong?
Will it start to clump in the printer after 6 months? I was going to get a laser printer instead of an inkjet because inkjet printers clog often if not used every week or two and use a lot of ink in the cleaning cycles. But if the toner only lasts 6 months then I have a similar problem with the laser printer.
Can someone clarify which I should get for my infrequent printing needs? I only need to print black and white.
printer toner
New contributor
I’m planning on buying a laser printer but concerned about the life cycle of the toner in the machine. I went to Brother’s website and and it says:
“The toner cartridge shelf life is 2 years if the protective bag is unopened or 6 months after the protective bag is opened.”
I print infrequently and only a few pages a month and was hoping the toner would last for years, but am I wrong?
Will it start to clump in the printer after 6 months? I was going to get a laser printer instead of an inkjet because inkjet printers clog often if not used every week or two and use a lot of ink in the cleaning cycles. But if the toner only lasts 6 months then I have a similar problem with the laser printer.
Can someone clarify which I should get for my infrequent printing needs? I only need to print black and white.
printer toner
printer toner
New contributor
New contributor
edited 2 hours ago
JakeGould
32.7k10100142
32.7k10100142
New contributor
asked 18 hours ago
Frank H.Frank H.
613
613
New contributor
New contributor
2
@Attie - Laser. I print so infrequently I got totally sick of having to waste 10 sheets of paper cleaning up the ink jets every time I wanted to print something. The Laser just sat there, always on [very low power sleep mode], always ready to go. The newer one, an HP all-in-one, seems to be ready to do the same. It's a lot better functionally, so I might even consider buying new ink when it runs out ;)
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
3
Laser printers don't use "ink". They use toner.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
3
@MichaelHarvey - potato potato. Same end result.
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
9
If you are in a discussion about laser printers, and you talk about "ink", you will make people think you are talking about ink jet printers, and that you have made an error.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
2
The brother printer I use hs had its toner last years - and I live in a humid environment. I dont think toner clumping is likrly to be an issue.
– davidgo
14 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
2
@Attie - Laser. I print so infrequently I got totally sick of having to waste 10 sheets of paper cleaning up the ink jets every time I wanted to print something. The Laser just sat there, always on [very low power sleep mode], always ready to go. The newer one, an HP all-in-one, seems to be ready to do the same. It's a lot better functionally, so I might even consider buying new ink when it runs out ;)
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
3
Laser printers don't use "ink". They use toner.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
3
@MichaelHarvey - potato potato. Same end result.
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
9
If you are in a discussion about laser printers, and you talk about "ink", you will make people think you are talking about ink jet printers, and that you have made an error.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
2
The brother printer I use hs had its toner last years - and I live in a humid environment. I dont think toner clumping is likrly to be an issue.
– davidgo
14 hours ago
2
2
@Attie - Laser. I print so infrequently I got totally sick of having to waste 10 sheets of paper cleaning up the ink jets every time I wanted to print something. The Laser just sat there, always on [very low power sleep mode], always ready to go. The newer one, an HP all-in-one, seems to be ready to do the same. It's a lot better functionally, so I might even consider buying new ink when it runs out ;)
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
@Attie - Laser. I print so infrequently I got totally sick of having to waste 10 sheets of paper cleaning up the ink jets every time I wanted to print something. The Laser just sat there, always on [very low power sleep mode], always ready to go. The newer one, an HP all-in-one, seems to be ready to do the same. It's a lot better functionally, so I might even consider buying new ink when it runs out ;)
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
3
3
Laser printers don't use "ink". They use toner.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
Laser printers don't use "ink". They use toner.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
3
3
@MichaelHarvey - potato potato. Same end result.
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
@MichaelHarvey - potato potato. Same end result.
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
9
9
If you are in a discussion about laser printers, and you talk about "ink", you will make people think you are talking about ink jet printers, and that you have made an error.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
If you are in a discussion about laser printers, and you talk about "ink", you will make people think you are talking about ink jet printers, and that you have made an error.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
2
2
The brother printer I use hs had its toner last years - and I live in a humid environment. I dont think toner clumping is likrly to be an issue.
– davidgo
14 hours ago
The brother printer I use hs had its toner last years - and I live in a humid environment. I dont think toner clumping is likrly to be an issue.
– davidgo
14 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
7 Answers
7
active
oldest
votes
I flat out refused to buy a printer for a long time, but it's become more necessary for me in recent years. I decided against any inkjet technology (including HP PageWide / fixed head printers, which can be presented similarly to a consumer) for a number of reasons... critically:
- Idle Inkjet printers get "gunked" up very quickly - if you're not printing regularly, then the head quickly becomes caked in dried ink, which requires careful and expensive cleaning (ink is expensive) - potentially requiring hand cleaning or even a replacement head (or whole printer)
- Running costs: replacement ink is incredibly expensive, and DIY refills are becoming harder and harder due to DRM - Printer Ink is one of the most expensive liquids in the modern world - See "Ink Cartridges are A Scam".
- I've long maintained that "printing is the weak link in computing" - Inkjet printers have a habit of jamming, chewing on paper, wearing out... mechanically they are far from a sound idea
I purchased a Samsung Laser MFD (CLX-6260FW) over two years ago, and I've had no issues with it. It came with a set of "starter" toner cartridges:
- Black - 1503 impressions / 2000 page capacity
- CMY - 645 impressions / 1500 page capacity
About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong.
Toner cartridges can benefit from a good shake, which helps to redistribute the contents when they start to get low and show print issues.
With the price and size of laser printers now, I'd recommend that nobody purchases an Inkjet ever again (budget permitting of course, they are still a bit more expensive in the short term).
While laser printers are quantitatively worse for high-quality photo printing, I'd suggest that unless high-quality photo printing is a very important use-case for you, laser will be just fine. For occasional photo printing, use an online service.
To expand on the running costs of an Inkjet printer briefly, consider some random HP cartridges.
While the upfront cost is much higher, the running cost is significantly lower (probably better than ~50%).
HP Inkjet Black Ink Cartridge
HP "No. 45", claims a coverage of ~930 pages, for £44.95- 4.8p / page
HP "No. 300XL", claims a coverage of ~600 pages, for £36.73- 6.1p / page
An approximate ~5.5p / page of black and white only printing... completely ignoring the use for alignment, head cleaning, wastage due to being dried out, wastage due to re-prints, wastage due to DRM, etc...
HP Laser Black Toner Cartridge
HP 1500, claims a coverage of ~5,000 pages, for £100.50- 2.1p / page
HP 642A, claims a coverage of ~7,500 pages, for £206.23- 2.7p / page
HP 645A, claims a coverage of ~13,000 pages, for £320.95- 2.5p / page
An approximate ~2.4p / page of black and white only printing.
2
Regarding your suggestion to not buy inkjet. Im fairly certain the quality of an inkjet print is still substantially better than a laser. You can print reasonable photographs with inkjet, but not so much with laser.
– Matt
11 hours ago
3
"About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong." - I have found this. My Brother mono laser lasted 7 years (2008 - 2015) on its "starter" cartridge.
– Michael Harvey
11 hours ago
2
It was a Samsung CLX[can't remember the number] that I had for 10 years. It got a bit squeaky over time, but never failed. I just got a new one when the original toner ;) ran out, though they used to sell them with full cartridges, not part-filled like they do now.
– Tetsujin
8 hours ago
1
@Matt, ...there's a big difference if you're measuring "quality" by sharpness of black-and-white text, or "quality" by ability to reproduce colors. Laser printers have been reigning champions of the former category for a long, long time.
– Charles Duffy
2 hours ago
@Matt - indeed, though OP asked about black and white... I've added a statement about photo printing for completeness, but unless high-quality photo is your primary use, inkjet is generally still a poor choice (use an online service for photos)
– Attie
1 hour ago
|
show 1 more comment
I have had my printer, a Fuji Xerox CM305DF for more than 3 years. The cartridges (rated at 3000 pages) are still 3/4 full - I have only printed about 1500 pages. The toner seems to be perfectly OK.
In most laser printers, the toner is stirred whenever a print is made. This is true regardless of whether the cartridge and drum are together (as is the case for most mono printers), or when the cartridge is far removed from the drum (most colour lasers). As a result caking or clumping should not be a problem.
In general, I agree with your comment about inkjets. In many inkjets only 50% or less of the ink makes it onto the page. The rest is used in regular head cleans (e.g. every time it wakes up) or in emergency cleans (when the print quality suffers from a clogged jet). Inkjets also need to be used regularly. If you leave them switched off for a couple of months, you can expect to waste large volumes of ink to get the jets working properly again. Lasers do not have any of these problems.
Inkjets have a place if your main use is printing photos. On photo paper they do a far better job than any laser. On the other hand, on plain paper any laser will print better photos than an inkjet. When considering an inkjet for photos, make sure you include the cost of photo paper, which is something like 20c for 4" x 6". Including the ink, you'll be up for close to 50c per photo. If you get them printed at the nearest shop, the same photos will cost you 10c or less and the quality will be even better. Of course, it does mean you have to wait a couple of hours to get your hands on them.
1
I have had an HP colour laser (an M251nw) since May 2015, it came with "500 page" starter cartridges, the black lasted 3 years, and had done 500 pages when I changed it, it started giving warnings about the cyan about 100 pages ago, the page count says 708 pages, but still printing fine. I'll buy some colour toners when the output starts looking strange.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
add a comment |
Not to get dragged into a laser vs inkjet debate (laser was far superior.), I will simply add my experiences using lasers.
Do not be worried about the toner going bad. I have never had it happen, nor heard of it going bad.
I have a Brother H-2140 sitting next to me now, it was manufactured in January 2008. It gets little use. The toner in it now is over 2 years old (and that is only the second cartridge in its entire life). So using (very) old toner is not an issue.
There are a host of HP laser printers at work, all with mixed amounts of use, some with OEM toner others with cheap ebay toner. Some machines sit unplugged for long periods of time until needed, no issues with toner in any of them.
Under no circumstance would I consider buying an ink jet, especially for infrequent use. An inkjet will either use up all the ink sitting idle, or if you unplug the printer will ruin it. Tthe ink really can dry up and clog the print head, (have had it happen).
New contributor
add a comment |
Unlike inkjet int which lasts at best a couple weeks opened/installed and unused, laser printer toner lasts years if not decades. Don't worry about it at all.
add a comment |
To add another data point, I have an inherited LaserJet 4250, and according to the supplies status page, the toner was first used in May 2008, just shy of 11 years as of this writing. The capacity and page counts are within limits, and it works perfectly fine.
This is backed up by the fact that HP has a warranty on laser cartridges that lasts until the printer reports the toner is consumed, and states
There is no expiration date for the use of HP toner cartridges.
This is in contrast to inkjet supplies which are marked with a end-of-warranty date.
add a comment |
This might be only anecdotical evidence, but I'm using my HP Laserjet P3005 maybe once a week for 3 years now on the same toner cardridge that was there when I bought it used, and it still prints like new. The same was with my previous Laserjet 2200 printer before I broke it — bought in 2009 used and it printed just fine on the same cardridge long into 2015. I wouldn't worry about durability of these cardridges, it's more likely that there will be a mechanical problem.
add a comment |
If your situation is that you need a printer for occasional use and it will sit idle for months, a laser printer is really your only practical option. There are some other technologies that have a long shelf life for the supplies, but they're a lot more expensive and generally aren't used for day-to-day printing requirements.
An inkjet will be problematic if it sits even a few weeks without use. Ink cartridges also have a real shelf life. Even unopened cartridges deteriorate in a few years. Once the cartridge is installed, its ink slowly dries out inside the cartridge and changes consistency. So besides the problem of drying on the print head, it can become unusable in a year or two.
I suspect the Brother guidance is a "best if used by" date. A shelf life of 6 months after opening simply isn't realistic. It gives them an out if a customer has a problem with an ancient toner cartridge, and some unsuspecting customers might buy more toner so it's "fresh".
Most of the toner content is plastic dust that survives almost forever. It's possible that over a really long time, some of the additives might deteriorate, or the toner could absorb some humidity. But the toner will still work for an extremely long time. If the toner clumps after sitting idle for 6 months, shaking the cartridge is a trivial fix.
I'll add another example of personal experience to the responses.
I bought an HP 1012 laser printer 15 years ago. HP discontinued it in 2006 because it was no longer compatible with Windows. It's still supported in Linux, so I kept it. It's connected to an old computer in a back room and gets used a few times a year. The toner cartridge is a dozen years old and still prints just fine.
add a comment |
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7 Answers
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7 Answers
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I flat out refused to buy a printer for a long time, but it's become more necessary for me in recent years. I decided against any inkjet technology (including HP PageWide / fixed head printers, which can be presented similarly to a consumer) for a number of reasons... critically:
- Idle Inkjet printers get "gunked" up very quickly - if you're not printing regularly, then the head quickly becomes caked in dried ink, which requires careful and expensive cleaning (ink is expensive) - potentially requiring hand cleaning or even a replacement head (or whole printer)
- Running costs: replacement ink is incredibly expensive, and DIY refills are becoming harder and harder due to DRM - Printer Ink is one of the most expensive liquids in the modern world - See "Ink Cartridges are A Scam".
- I've long maintained that "printing is the weak link in computing" - Inkjet printers have a habit of jamming, chewing on paper, wearing out... mechanically they are far from a sound idea
I purchased a Samsung Laser MFD (CLX-6260FW) over two years ago, and I've had no issues with it. It came with a set of "starter" toner cartridges:
- Black - 1503 impressions / 2000 page capacity
- CMY - 645 impressions / 1500 page capacity
About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong.
Toner cartridges can benefit from a good shake, which helps to redistribute the contents when they start to get low and show print issues.
With the price and size of laser printers now, I'd recommend that nobody purchases an Inkjet ever again (budget permitting of course, they are still a bit more expensive in the short term).
While laser printers are quantitatively worse for high-quality photo printing, I'd suggest that unless high-quality photo printing is a very important use-case for you, laser will be just fine. For occasional photo printing, use an online service.
To expand on the running costs of an Inkjet printer briefly, consider some random HP cartridges.
While the upfront cost is much higher, the running cost is significantly lower (probably better than ~50%).
HP Inkjet Black Ink Cartridge
HP "No. 45", claims a coverage of ~930 pages, for £44.95- 4.8p / page
HP "No. 300XL", claims a coverage of ~600 pages, for £36.73- 6.1p / page
An approximate ~5.5p / page of black and white only printing... completely ignoring the use for alignment, head cleaning, wastage due to being dried out, wastage due to re-prints, wastage due to DRM, etc...
HP Laser Black Toner Cartridge
HP 1500, claims a coverage of ~5,000 pages, for £100.50- 2.1p / page
HP 642A, claims a coverage of ~7,500 pages, for £206.23- 2.7p / page
HP 645A, claims a coverage of ~13,000 pages, for £320.95- 2.5p / page
An approximate ~2.4p / page of black and white only printing.
2
Regarding your suggestion to not buy inkjet. Im fairly certain the quality of an inkjet print is still substantially better than a laser. You can print reasonable photographs with inkjet, but not so much with laser.
– Matt
11 hours ago
3
"About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong." - I have found this. My Brother mono laser lasted 7 years (2008 - 2015) on its "starter" cartridge.
– Michael Harvey
11 hours ago
2
It was a Samsung CLX[can't remember the number] that I had for 10 years. It got a bit squeaky over time, but never failed. I just got a new one when the original toner ;) ran out, though they used to sell them with full cartridges, not part-filled like they do now.
– Tetsujin
8 hours ago
1
@Matt, ...there's a big difference if you're measuring "quality" by sharpness of black-and-white text, or "quality" by ability to reproduce colors. Laser printers have been reigning champions of the former category for a long, long time.
– Charles Duffy
2 hours ago
@Matt - indeed, though OP asked about black and white... I've added a statement about photo printing for completeness, but unless high-quality photo is your primary use, inkjet is generally still a poor choice (use an online service for photos)
– Attie
1 hour ago
|
show 1 more comment
I flat out refused to buy a printer for a long time, but it's become more necessary for me in recent years. I decided against any inkjet technology (including HP PageWide / fixed head printers, which can be presented similarly to a consumer) for a number of reasons... critically:
- Idle Inkjet printers get "gunked" up very quickly - if you're not printing regularly, then the head quickly becomes caked in dried ink, which requires careful and expensive cleaning (ink is expensive) - potentially requiring hand cleaning or even a replacement head (or whole printer)
- Running costs: replacement ink is incredibly expensive, and DIY refills are becoming harder and harder due to DRM - Printer Ink is one of the most expensive liquids in the modern world - See "Ink Cartridges are A Scam".
- I've long maintained that "printing is the weak link in computing" - Inkjet printers have a habit of jamming, chewing on paper, wearing out... mechanically they are far from a sound idea
I purchased a Samsung Laser MFD (CLX-6260FW) over two years ago, and I've had no issues with it. It came with a set of "starter" toner cartridges:
- Black - 1503 impressions / 2000 page capacity
- CMY - 645 impressions / 1500 page capacity
About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong.
Toner cartridges can benefit from a good shake, which helps to redistribute the contents when they start to get low and show print issues.
With the price and size of laser printers now, I'd recommend that nobody purchases an Inkjet ever again (budget permitting of course, they are still a bit more expensive in the short term).
While laser printers are quantitatively worse for high-quality photo printing, I'd suggest that unless high-quality photo printing is a very important use-case for you, laser will be just fine. For occasional photo printing, use an online service.
To expand on the running costs of an Inkjet printer briefly, consider some random HP cartridges.
While the upfront cost is much higher, the running cost is significantly lower (probably better than ~50%).
HP Inkjet Black Ink Cartridge
HP "No. 45", claims a coverage of ~930 pages, for £44.95- 4.8p / page
HP "No. 300XL", claims a coverage of ~600 pages, for £36.73- 6.1p / page
An approximate ~5.5p / page of black and white only printing... completely ignoring the use for alignment, head cleaning, wastage due to being dried out, wastage due to re-prints, wastage due to DRM, etc...
HP Laser Black Toner Cartridge
HP 1500, claims a coverage of ~5,000 pages, for £100.50- 2.1p / page
HP 642A, claims a coverage of ~7,500 pages, for £206.23- 2.7p / page
HP 645A, claims a coverage of ~13,000 pages, for £320.95- 2.5p / page
An approximate ~2.4p / page of black and white only printing.
2
Regarding your suggestion to not buy inkjet. Im fairly certain the quality of an inkjet print is still substantially better than a laser. You can print reasonable photographs with inkjet, but not so much with laser.
– Matt
11 hours ago
3
"About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong." - I have found this. My Brother mono laser lasted 7 years (2008 - 2015) on its "starter" cartridge.
– Michael Harvey
11 hours ago
2
It was a Samsung CLX[can't remember the number] that I had for 10 years. It got a bit squeaky over time, but never failed. I just got a new one when the original toner ;) ran out, though they used to sell them with full cartridges, not part-filled like they do now.
– Tetsujin
8 hours ago
1
@Matt, ...there's a big difference if you're measuring "quality" by sharpness of black-and-white text, or "quality" by ability to reproduce colors. Laser printers have been reigning champions of the former category for a long, long time.
– Charles Duffy
2 hours ago
@Matt - indeed, though OP asked about black and white... I've added a statement about photo printing for completeness, but unless high-quality photo is your primary use, inkjet is generally still a poor choice (use an online service for photos)
– Attie
1 hour ago
|
show 1 more comment
I flat out refused to buy a printer for a long time, but it's become more necessary for me in recent years. I decided against any inkjet technology (including HP PageWide / fixed head printers, which can be presented similarly to a consumer) for a number of reasons... critically:
- Idle Inkjet printers get "gunked" up very quickly - if you're not printing regularly, then the head quickly becomes caked in dried ink, which requires careful and expensive cleaning (ink is expensive) - potentially requiring hand cleaning or even a replacement head (or whole printer)
- Running costs: replacement ink is incredibly expensive, and DIY refills are becoming harder and harder due to DRM - Printer Ink is one of the most expensive liquids in the modern world - See "Ink Cartridges are A Scam".
- I've long maintained that "printing is the weak link in computing" - Inkjet printers have a habit of jamming, chewing on paper, wearing out... mechanically they are far from a sound idea
I purchased a Samsung Laser MFD (CLX-6260FW) over two years ago, and I've had no issues with it. It came with a set of "starter" toner cartridges:
- Black - 1503 impressions / 2000 page capacity
- CMY - 645 impressions / 1500 page capacity
About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong.
Toner cartridges can benefit from a good shake, which helps to redistribute the contents when they start to get low and show print issues.
With the price and size of laser printers now, I'd recommend that nobody purchases an Inkjet ever again (budget permitting of course, they are still a bit more expensive in the short term).
While laser printers are quantitatively worse for high-quality photo printing, I'd suggest that unless high-quality photo printing is a very important use-case for you, laser will be just fine. For occasional photo printing, use an online service.
To expand on the running costs of an Inkjet printer briefly, consider some random HP cartridges.
While the upfront cost is much higher, the running cost is significantly lower (probably better than ~50%).
HP Inkjet Black Ink Cartridge
HP "No. 45", claims a coverage of ~930 pages, for £44.95- 4.8p / page
HP "No. 300XL", claims a coverage of ~600 pages, for £36.73- 6.1p / page
An approximate ~5.5p / page of black and white only printing... completely ignoring the use for alignment, head cleaning, wastage due to being dried out, wastage due to re-prints, wastage due to DRM, etc...
HP Laser Black Toner Cartridge
HP 1500, claims a coverage of ~5,000 pages, for £100.50- 2.1p / page
HP 642A, claims a coverage of ~7,500 pages, for £206.23- 2.7p / page
HP 645A, claims a coverage of ~13,000 pages, for £320.95- 2.5p / page
An approximate ~2.4p / page of black and white only printing.
I flat out refused to buy a printer for a long time, but it's become more necessary for me in recent years. I decided against any inkjet technology (including HP PageWide / fixed head printers, which can be presented similarly to a consumer) for a number of reasons... critically:
- Idle Inkjet printers get "gunked" up very quickly - if you're not printing regularly, then the head quickly becomes caked in dried ink, which requires careful and expensive cleaning (ink is expensive) - potentially requiring hand cleaning or even a replacement head (or whole printer)
- Running costs: replacement ink is incredibly expensive, and DIY refills are becoming harder and harder due to DRM - Printer Ink is one of the most expensive liquids in the modern world - See "Ink Cartridges are A Scam".
- I've long maintained that "printing is the weak link in computing" - Inkjet printers have a habit of jamming, chewing on paper, wearing out... mechanically they are far from a sound idea
I purchased a Samsung Laser MFD (CLX-6260FW) over two years ago, and I've had no issues with it. It came with a set of "starter" toner cartridges:
- Black - 1503 impressions / 2000 page capacity
- CMY - 645 impressions / 1500 page capacity
About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong.
Toner cartridges can benefit from a good shake, which helps to redistribute the contents when they start to get low and show print issues.
With the price and size of laser printers now, I'd recommend that nobody purchases an Inkjet ever again (budget permitting of course, they are still a bit more expensive in the short term).
While laser printers are quantitatively worse for high-quality photo printing, I'd suggest that unless high-quality photo printing is a very important use-case for you, laser will be just fine. For occasional photo printing, use an online service.
To expand on the running costs of an Inkjet printer briefly, consider some random HP cartridges.
While the upfront cost is much higher, the running cost is significantly lower (probably better than ~50%).
HP Inkjet Black Ink Cartridge
HP "No. 45", claims a coverage of ~930 pages, for £44.95- 4.8p / page
HP "No. 300XL", claims a coverage of ~600 pages, for £36.73- 6.1p / page
An approximate ~5.5p / page of black and white only printing... completely ignoring the use for alignment, head cleaning, wastage due to being dried out, wastage due to re-prints, wastage due to DRM, etc...
HP Laser Black Toner Cartridge
HP 1500, claims a coverage of ~5,000 pages, for £100.50- 2.1p / page
HP 642A, claims a coverage of ~7,500 pages, for £206.23- 2.7p / page
HP 645A, claims a coverage of ~13,000 pages, for £320.95- 2.5p / page
An approximate ~2.4p / page of black and white only printing.
edited 1 hour ago
answered 14 hours ago
AttieAttie
12.9k43548
12.9k43548
2
Regarding your suggestion to not buy inkjet. Im fairly certain the quality of an inkjet print is still substantially better than a laser. You can print reasonable photographs with inkjet, but not so much with laser.
– Matt
11 hours ago
3
"About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong." - I have found this. My Brother mono laser lasted 7 years (2008 - 2015) on its "starter" cartridge.
– Michael Harvey
11 hours ago
2
It was a Samsung CLX[can't remember the number] that I had for 10 years. It got a bit squeaky over time, but never failed. I just got a new one when the original toner ;) ran out, though they used to sell them with full cartridges, not part-filled like they do now.
– Tetsujin
8 hours ago
1
@Matt, ...there's a big difference if you're measuring "quality" by sharpness of black-and-white text, or "quality" by ability to reproduce colors. Laser printers have been reigning champions of the former category for a long, long time.
– Charles Duffy
2 hours ago
@Matt - indeed, though OP asked about black and white... I've added a statement about photo printing for completeness, but unless high-quality photo is your primary use, inkjet is generally still a poor choice (use an online service for photos)
– Attie
1 hour ago
|
show 1 more comment
2
Regarding your suggestion to not buy inkjet. Im fairly certain the quality of an inkjet print is still substantially better than a laser. You can print reasonable photographs with inkjet, but not so much with laser.
– Matt
11 hours ago
3
"About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong." - I have found this. My Brother mono laser lasted 7 years (2008 - 2015) on its "starter" cartridge.
– Michael Harvey
11 hours ago
2
It was a Samsung CLX[can't remember the number] that I had for 10 years. It got a bit squeaky over time, but never failed. I just got a new one when the original toner ;) ran out, though they used to sell them with full cartridges, not part-filled like they do now.
– Tetsujin
8 hours ago
1
@Matt, ...there's a big difference if you're measuring "quality" by sharpness of black-and-white text, or "quality" by ability to reproduce colors. Laser printers have been reigning champions of the former category for a long, long time.
– Charles Duffy
2 hours ago
@Matt - indeed, though OP asked about black and white... I've added a statement about photo printing for completeness, but unless high-quality photo is your primary use, inkjet is generally still a poor choice (use an online service for photos)
– Attie
1 hour ago
2
2
Regarding your suggestion to not buy inkjet. Im fairly certain the quality of an inkjet print is still substantially better than a laser. You can print reasonable photographs with inkjet, but not so much with laser.
– Matt
11 hours ago
Regarding your suggestion to not buy inkjet. Im fairly certain the quality of an inkjet print is still substantially better than a laser. You can print reasonable photographs with inkjet, but not so much with laser.
– Matt
11 hours ago
3
3
"About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong." - I have found this. My Brother mono laser lasted 7 years (2008 - 2015) on its "starter" cartridge.
– Michael Harvey
11 hours ago
"About 1.5 years after receiving it, the cartridges each showed as "0% remaining" and required "immediate user intervention" so I purchased more to be prepared (6k Black, 3.5k CMY), but a further ~7 months later they're still going strong." - I have found this. My Brother mono laser lasted 7 years (2008 - 2015) on its "starter" cartridge.
– Michael Harvey
11 hours ago
2
2
It was a Samsung CLX[can't remember the number] that I had for 10 years. It got a bit squeaky over time, but never failed. I just got a new one when the original toner ;) ran out, though they used to sell them with full cartridges, not part-filled like they do now.
– Tetsujin
8 hours ago
It was a Samsung CLX[can't remember the number] that I had for 10 years. It got a bit squeaky over time, but never failed. I just got a new one when the original toner ;) ran out, though they used to sell them with full cartridges, not part-filled like they do now.
– Tetsujin
8 hours ago
1
1
@Matt, ...there's a big difference if you're measuring "quality" by sharpness of black-and-white text, or "quality" by ability to reproduce colors. Laser printers have been reigning champions of the former category for a long, long time.
– Charles Duffy
2 hours ago
@Matt, ...there's a big difference if you're measuring "quality" by sharpness of black-and-white text, or "quality" by ability to reproduce colors. Laser printers have been reigning champions of the former category for a long, long time.
– Charles Duffy
2 hours ago
@Matt - indeed, though OP asked about black and white... I've added a statement about photo printing for completeness, but unless high-quality photo is your primary use, inkjet is generally still a poor choice (use an online service for photos)
– Attie
1 hour ago
@Matt - indeed, though OP asked about black and white... I've added a statement about photo printing for completeness, but unless high-quality photo is your primary use, inkjet is generally still a poor choice (use an online service for photos)
– Attie
1 hour ago
|
show 1 more comment
I have had my printer, a Fuji Xerox CM305DF for more than 3 years. The cartridges (rated at 3000 pages) are still 3/4 full - I have only printed about 1500 pages. The toner seems to be perfectly OK.
In most laser printers, the toner is stirred whenever a print is made. This is true regardless of whether the cartridge and drum are together (as is the case for most mono printers), or when the cartridge is far removed from the drum (most colour lasers). As a result caking or clumping should not be a problem.
In general, I agree with your comment about inkjets. In many inkjets only 50% or less of the ink makes it onto the page. The rest is used in regular head cleans (e.g. every time it wakes up) or in emergency cleans (when the print quality suffers from a clogged jet). Inkjets also need to be used regularly. If you leave them switched off for a couple of months, you can expect to waste large volumes of ink to get the jets working properly again. Lasers do not have any of these problems.
Inkjets have a place if your main use is printing photos. On photo paper they do a far better job than any laser. On the other hand, on plain paper any laser will print better photos than an inkjet. When considering an inkjet for photos, make sure you include the cost of photo paper, which is something like 20c for 4" x 6". Including the ink, you'll be up for close to 50c per photo. If you get them printed at the nearest shop, the same photos will cost you 10c or less and the quality will be even better. Of course, it does mean you have to wait a couple of hours to get your hands on them.
1
I have had an HP colour laser (an M251nw) since May 2015, it came with "500 page" starter cartridges, the black lasted 3 years, and had done 500 pages when I changed it, it started giving warnings about the cyan about 100 pages ago, the page count says 708 pages, but still printing fine. I'll buy some colour toners when the output starts looking strange.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
add a comment |
I have had my printer, a Fuji Xerox CM305DF for more than 3 years. The cartridges (rated at 3000 pages) are still 3/4 full - I have only printed about 1500 pages. The toner seems to be perfectly OK.
In most laser printers, the toner is stirred whenever a print is made. This is true regardless of whether the cartridge and drum are together (as is the case for most mono printers), or when the cartridge is far removed from the drum (most colour lasers). As a result caking or clumping should not be a problem.
In general, I agree with your comment about inkjets. In many inkjets only 50% or less of the ink makes it onto the page. The rest is used in regular head cleans (e.g. every time it wakes up) or in emergency cleans (when the print quality suffers from a clogged jet). Inkjets also need to be used regularly. If you leave them switched off for a couple of months, you can expect to waste large volumes of ink to get the jets working properly again. Lasers do not have any of these problems.
Inkjets have a place if your main use is printing photos. On photo paper they do a far better job than any laser. On the other hand, on plain paper any laser will print better photos than an inkjet. When considering an inkjet for photos, make sure you include the cost of photo paper, which is something like 20c for 4" x 6". Including the ink, you'll be up for close to 50c per photo. If you get them printed at the nearest shop, the same photos will cost you 10c or less and the quality will be even better. Of course, it does mean you have to wait a couple of hours to get your hands on them.
1
I have had an HP colour laser (an M251nw) since May 2015, it came with "500 page" starter cartridges, the black lasted 3 years, and had done 500 pages when I changed it, it started giving warnings about the cyan about 100 pages ago, the page count says 708 pages, but still printing fine. I'll buy some colour toners when the output starts looking strange.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
add a comment |
I have had my printer, a Fuji Xerox CM305DF for more than 3 years. The cartridges (rated at 3000 pages) are still 3/4 full - I have only printed about 1500 pages. The toner seems to be perfectly OK.
In most laser printers, the toner is stirred whenever a print is made. This is true regardless of whether the cartridge and drum are together (as is the case for most mono printers), or when the cartridge is far removed from the drum (most colour lasers). As a result caking or clumping should not be a problem.
In general, I agree with your comment about inkjets. In many inkjets only 50% or less of the ink makes it onto the page. The rest is used in regular head cleans (e.g. every time it wakes up) or in emergency cleans (when the print quality suffers from a clogged jet). Inkjets also need to be used regularly. If you leave them switched off for a couple of months, you can expect to waste large volumes of ink to get the jets working properly again. Lasers do not have any of these problems.
Inkjets have a place if your main use is printing photos. On photo paper they do a far better job than any laser. On the other hand, on plain paper any laser will print better photos than an inkjet. When considering an inkjet for photos, make sure you include the cost of photo paper, which is something like 20c for 4" x 6". Including the ink, you'll be up for close to 50c per photo. If you get them printed at the nearest shop, the same photos will cost you 10c or less and the quality will be even better. Of course, it does mean you have to wait a couple of hours to get your hands on them.
I have had my printer, a Fuji Xerox CM305DF for more than 3 years. The cartridges (rated at 3000 pages) are still 3/4 full - I have only printed about 1500 pages. The toner seems to be perfectly OK.
In most laser printers, the toner is stirred whenever a print is made. This is true regardless of whether the cartridge and drum are together (as is the case for most mono printers), or when the cartridge is far removed from the drum (most colour lasers). As a result caking or clumping should not be a problem.
In general, I agree with your comment about inkjets. In many inkjets only 50% or less of the ink makes it onto the page. The rest is used in regular head cleans (e.g. every time it wakes up) or in emergency cleans (when the print quality suffers from a clogged jet). Inkjets also need to be used regularly. If you leave them switched off for a couple of months, you can expect to waste large volumes of ink to get the jets working properly again. Lasers do not have any of these problems.
Inkjets have a place if your main use is printing photos. On photo paper they do a far better job than any laser. On the other hand, on plain paper any laser will print better photos than an inkjet. When considering an inkjet for photos, make sure you include the cost of photo paper, which is something like 20c for 4" x 6". Including the ink, you'll be up for close to 50c per photo. If you get them printed at the nearest shop, the same photos will cost you 10c or less and the quality will be even better. Of course, it does mean you have to wait a couple of hours to get your hands on them.
edited 1 hour ago
answered 15 hours ago
hdhondthdhondt
2,8752910
2,8752910
1
I have had an HP colour laser (an M251nw) since May 2015, it came with "500 page" starter cartridges, the black lasted 3 years, and had done 500 pages when I changed it, it started giving warnings about the cyan about 100 pages ago, the page count says 708 pages, but still printing fine. I'll buy some colour toners when the output starts looking strange.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
add a comment |
1
I have had an HP colour laser (an M251nw) since May 2015, it came with "500 page" starter cartridges, the black lasted 3 years, and had done 500 pages when I changed it, it started giving warnings about the cyan about 100 pages ago, the page count says 708 pages, but still printing fine. I'll buy some colour toners when the output starts looking strange.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
1
1
I have had an HP colour laser (an M251nw) since May 2015, it came with "500 page" starter cartridges, the black lasted 3 years, and had done 500 pages when I changed it, it started giving warnings about the cyan about 100 pages ago, the page count says 708 pages, but still printing fine. I'll buy some colour toners when the output starts looking strange.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
I have had an HP colour laser (an M251nw) since May 2015, it came with "500 page" starter cartridges, the black lasted 3 years, and had done 500 pages when I changed it, it started giving warnings about the cyan about 100 pages ago, the page count says 708 pages, but still printing fine. I'll buy some colour toners when the output starts looking strange.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
add a comment |
Not to get dragged into a laser vs inkjet debate (laser was far superior.), I will simply add my experiences using lasers.
Do not be worried about the toner going bad. I have never had it happen, nor heard of it going bad.
I have a Brother H-2140 sitting next to me now, it was manufactured in January 2008. It gets little use. The toner in it now is over 2 years old (and that is only the second cartridge in its entire life). So using (very) old toner is not an issue.
There are a host of HP laser printers at work, all with mixed amounts of use, some with OEM toner others with cheap ebay toner. Some machines sit unplugged for long periods of time until needed, no issues with toner in any of them.
Under no circumstance would I consider buying an ink jet, especially for infrequent use. An inkjet will either use up all the ink sitting idle, or if you unplug the printer will ruin it. Tthe ink really can dry up and clog the print head, (have had it happen).
New contributor
add a comment |
Not to get dragged into a laser vs inkjet debate (laser was far superior.), I will simply add my experiences using lasers.
Do not be worried about the toner going bad. I have never had it happen, nor heard of it going bad.
I have a Brother H-2140 sitting next to me now, it was manufactured in January 2008. It gets little use. The toner in it now is over 2 years old (and that is only the second cartridge in its entire life). So using (very) old toner is not an issue.
There are a host of HP laser printers at work, all with mixed amounts of use, some with OEM toner others with cheap ebay toner. Some machines sit unplugged for long periods of time until needed, no issues with toner in any of them.
Under no circumstance would I consider buying an ink jet, especially for infrequent use. An inkjet will either use up all the ink sitting idle, or if you unplug the printer will ruin it. Tthe ink really can dry up and clog the print head, (have had it happen).
New contributor
add a comment |
Not to get dragged into a laser vs inkjet debate (laser was far superior.), I will simply add my experiences using lasers.
Do not be worried about the toner going bad. I have never had it happen, nor heard of it going bad.
I have a Brother H-2140 sitting next to me now, it was manufactured in January 2008. It gets little use. The toner in it now is over 2 years old (and that is only the second cartridge in its entire life). So using (very) old toner is not an issue.
There are a host of HP laser printers at work, all with mixed amounts of use, some with OEM toner others with cheap ebay toner. Some machines sit unplugged for long periods of time until needed, no issues with toner in any of them.
Under no circumstance would I consider buying an ink jet, especially for infrequent use. An inkjet will either use up all the ink sitting idle, or if you unplug the printer will ruin it. Tthe ink really can dry up and clog the print head, (have had it happen).
New contributor
Not to get dragged into a laser vs inkjet debate (laser was far superior.), I will simply add my experiences using lasers.
Do not be worried about the toner going bad. I have never had it happen, nor heard of it going bad.
I have a Brother H-2140 sitting next to me now, it was manufactured in January 2008. It gets little use. The toner in it now is over 2 years old (and that is only the second cartridge in its entire life). So using (very) old toner is not an issue.
There are a host of HP laser printers at work, all with mixed amounts of use, some with OEM toner others with cheap ebay toner. Some machines sit unplugged for long periods of time until needed, no issues with toner in any of them.
Under no circumstance would I consider buying an ink jet, especially for infrequent use. An inkjet will either use up all the ink sitting idle, or if you unplug the printer will ruin it. Tthe ink really can dry up and clog the print head, (have had it happen).
New contributor
New contributor
answered 1 hour ago
DavidDavid
1313
1313
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
Unlike inkjet int which lasts at best a couple weeks opened/installed and unused, laser printer toner lasts years if not decades. Don't worry about it at all.
add a comment |
Unlike inkjet int which lasts at best a couple weeks opened/installed and unused, laser printer toner lasts years if not decades. Don't worry about it at all.
add a comment |
Unlike inkjet int which lasts at best a couple weeks opened/installed and unused, laser printer toner lasts years if not decades. Don't worry about it at all.
Unlike inkjet int which lasts at best a couple weeks opened/installed and unused, laser printer toner lasts years if not decades. Don't worry about it at all.
answered 1 hour ago
R..R..
6831617
6831617
add a comment |
add a comment |
To add another data point, I have an inherited LaserJet 4250, and according to the supplies status page, the toner was first used in May 2008, just shy of 11 years as of this writing. The capacity and page counts are within limits, and it works perfectly fine.
This is backed up by the fact that HP has a warranty on laser cartridges that lasts until the printer reports the toner is consumed, and states
There is no expiration date for the use of HP toner cartridges.
This is in contrast to inkjet supplies which are marked with a end-of-warranty date.
add a comment |
To add another data point, I have an inherited LaserJet 4250, and according to the supplies status page, the toner was first used in May 2008, just shy of 11 years as of this writing. The capacity and page counts are within limits, and it works perfectly fine.
This is backed up by the fact that HP has a warranty on laser cartridges that lasts until the printer reports the toner is consumed, and states
There is no expiration date for the use of HP toner cartridges.
This is in contrast to inkjet supplies which are marked with a end-of-warranty date.
add a comment |
To add another data point, I have an inherited LaserJet 4250, and according to the supplies status page, the toner was first used in May 2008, just shy of 11 years as of this writing. The capacity and page counts are within limits, and it works perfectly fine.
This is backed up by the fact that HP has a warranty on laser cartridges that lasts until the printer reports the toner is consumed, and states
There is no expiration date for the use of HP toner cartridges.
This is in contrast to inkjet supplies which are marked with a end-of-warranty date.
To add another data point, I have an inherited LaserJet 4250, and according to the supplies status page, the toner was first used in May 2008, just shy of 11 years as of this writing. The capacity and page counts are within limits, and it works perfectly fine.
This is backed up by the fact that HP has a warranty on laser cartridges that lasts until the printer reports the toner is consumed, and states
There is no expiration date for the use of HP toner cartridges.
This is in contrast to inkjet supplies which are marked with a end-of-warranty date.
answered 24 mins ago
user71659user71659
1563
1563
add a comment |
add a comment |
This might be only anecdotical evidence, but I'm using my HP Laserjet P3005 maybe once a week for 3 years now on the same toner cardridge that was there when I bought it used, and it still prints like new. The same was with my previous Laserjet 2200 printer before I broke it — bought in 2009 used and it printed just fine on the same cardridge long into 2015. I wouldn't worry about durability of these cardridges, it's more likely that there will be a mechanical problem.
add a comment |
This might be only anecdotical evidence, but I'm using my HP Laserjet P3005 maybe once a week for 3 years now on the same toner cardridge that was there when I bought it used, and it still prints like new. The same was with my previous Laserjet 2200 printer before I broke it — bought in 2009 used and it printed just fine on the same cardridge long into 2015. I wouldn't worry about durability of these cardridges, it's more likely that there will be a mechanical problem.
add a comment |
This might be only anecdotical evidence, but I'm using my HP Laserjet P3005 maybe once a week for 3 years now on the same toner cardridge that was there when I bought it used, and it still prints like new. The same was with my previous Laserjet 2200 printer before I broke it — bought in 2009 used and it printed just fine on the same cardridge long into 2015. I wouldn't worry about durability of these cardridges, it's more likely that there will be a mechanical problem.
This might be only anecdotical evidence, but I'm using my HP Laserjet P3005 maybe once a week for 3 years now on the same toner cardridge that was there when I bought it used, and it still prints like new. The same was with my previous Laserjet 2200 printer before I broke it — bought in 2009 used and it printed just fine on the same cardridge long into 2015. I wouldn't worry about durability of these cardridges, it's more likely that there will be a mechanical problem.
answered 3 hours ago
lioriliori
2,5641835
2,5641835
add a comment |
add a comment |
If your situation is that you need a printer for occasional use and it will sit idle for months, a laser printer is really your only practical option. There are some other technologies that have a long shelf life for the supplies, but they're a lot more expensive and generally aren't used for day-to-day printing requirements.
An inkjet will be problematic if it sits even a few weeks without use. Ink cartridges also have a real shelf life. Even unopened cartridges deteriorate in a few years. Once the cartridge is installed, its ink slowly dries out inside the cartridge and changes consistency. So besides the problem of drying on the print head, it can become unusable in a year or two.
I suspect the Brother guidance is a "best if used by" date. A shelf life of 6 months after opening simply isn't realistic. It gives them an out if a customer has a problem with an ancient toner cartridge, and some unsuspecting customers might buy more toner so it's "fresh".
Most of the toner content is plastic dust that survives almost forever. It's possible that over a really long time, some of the additives might deteriorate, or the toner could absorb some humidity. But the toner will still work for an extremely long time. If the toner clumps after sitting idle for 6 months, shaking the cartridge is a trivial fix.
I'll add another example of personal experience to the responses.
I bought an HP 1012 laser printer 15 years ago. HP discontinued it in 2006 because it was no longer compatible with Windows. It's still supported in Linux, so I kept it. It's connected to an old computer in a back room and gets used a few times a year. The toner cartridge is a dozen years old and still prints just fine.
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If your situation is that you need a printer for occasional use and it will sit idle for months, a laser printer is really your only practical option. There are some other technologies that have a long shelf life for the supplies, but they're a lot more expensive and generally aren't used for day-to-day printing requirements.
An inkjet will be problematic if it sits even a few weeks without use. Ink cartridges also have a real shelf life. Even unopened cartridges deteriorate in a few years. Once the cartridge is installed, its ink slowly dries out inside the cartridge and changes consistency. So besides the problem of drying on the print head, it can become unusable in a year or two.
I suspect the Brother guidance is a "best if used by" date. A shelf life of 6 months after opening simply isn't realistic. It gives them an out if a customer has a problem with an ancient toner cartridge, and some unsuspecting customers might buy more toner so it's "fresh".
Most of the toner content is plastic dust that survives almost forever. It's possible that over a really long time, some of the additives might deteriorate, or the toner could absorb some humidity. But the toner will still work for an extremely long time. If the toner clumps after sitting idle for 6 months, shaking the cartridge is a trivial fix.
I'll add another example of personal experience to the responses.
I bought an HP 1012 laser printer 15 years ago. HP discontinued it in 2006 because it was no longer compatible with Windows. It's still supported in Linux, so I kept it. It's connected to an old computer in a back room and gets used a few times a year. The toner cartridge is a dozen years old and still prints just fine.
add a comment |
If your situation is that you need a printer for occasional use and it will sit idle for months, a laser printer is really your only practical option. There are some other technologies that have a long shelf life for the supplies, but they're a lot more expensive and generally aren't used for day-to-day printing requirements.
An inkjet will be problematic if it sits even a few weeks without use. Ink cartridges also have a real shelf life. Even unopened cartridges deteriorate in a few years. Once the cartridge is installed, its ink slowly dries out inside the cartridge and changes consistency. So besides the problem of drying on the print head, it can become unusable in a year or two.
I suspect the Brother guidance is a "best if used by" date. A shelf life of 6 months after opening simply isn't realistic. It gives them an out if a customer has a problem with an ancient toner cartridge, and some unsuspecting customers might buy more toner so it's "fresh".
Most of the toner content is plastic dust that survives almost forever. It's possible that over a really long time, some of the additives might deteriorate, or the toner could absorb some humidity. But the toner will still work for an extremely long time. If the toner clumps after sitting idle for 6 months, shaking the cartridge is a trivial fix.
I'll add another example of personal experience to the responses.
I bought an HP 1012 laser printer 15 years ago. HP discontinued it in 2006 because it was no longer compatible with Windows. It's still supported in Linux, so I kept it. It's connected to an old computer in a back room and gets used a few times a year. The toner cartridge is a dozen years old and still prints just fine.
If your situation is that you need a printer for occasional use and it will sit idle for months, a laser printer is really your only practical option. There are some other technologies that have a long shelf life for the supplies, but they're a lot more expensive and generally aren't used for day-to-day printing requirements.
An inkjet will be problematic if it sits even a few weeks without use. Ink cartridges also have a real shelf life. Even unopened cartridges deteriorate in a few years. Once the cartridge is installed, its ink slowly dries out inside the cartridge and changes consistency. So besides the problem of drying on the print head, it can become unusable in a year or two.
I suspect the Brother guidance is a "best if used by" date. A shelf life of 6 months after opening simply isn't realistic. It gives them an out if a customer has a problem with an ancient toner cartridge, and some unsuspecting customers might buy more toner so it's "fresh".
Most of the toner content is plastic dust that survives almost forever. It's possible that over a really long time, some of the additives might deteriorate, or the toner could absorb some humidity. But the toner will still work for an extremely long time. If the toner clumps after sitting idle for 6 months, shaking the cartridge is a trivial fix.
I'll add another example of personal experience to the responses.
I bought an HP 1012 laser printer 15 years ago. HP discontinued it in 2006 because it was no longer compatible with Windows. It's still supported in Linux, so I kept it. It's connected to an old computer in a back room and gets used a few times a year. The toner cartridge is a dozen years old and still prints just fine.
edited 2 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
fixer1234fixer1234
19.3k145082
19.3k145082
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2
@Attie - Laser. I print so infrequently I got totally sick of having to waste 10 sheets of paper cleaning up the ink jets every time I wanted to print something. The Laser just sat there, always on [very low power sleep mode], always ready to go. The newer one, an HP all-in-one, seems to be ready to do the same. It's a lot better functionally, so I might even consider buying new ink when it runs out ;)
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
3
Laser printers don't use "ink". They use toner.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
3
@MichaelHarvey - potato potato. Same end result.
– Tetsujin
14 hours ago
9
If you are in a discussion about laser printers, and you talk about "ink", you will make people think you are talking about ink jet printers, and that you have made an error.
– Michael Harvey
14 hours ago
2
The brother printer I use hs had its toner last years - and I live in a humid environment. I dont think toner clumping is likrly to be an issue.
– davidgo
14 hours ago