Post Script 3 printer - cheap?
Fall said:
I see there is a thread on lasers, but I only want to spend as little as possible...and it's only going to be printing a letter here, and a PDF there, something that can handle decent post scipt though of course.
I'm a graph designer, but only small atm, I'm concerned about the ability of cheap printers with small amounts of Level 3 Post Script I may need to be printing.
Since you have not completed your Profile (where you live on planet Earth, occupation, computer, signature, etc.) I have no idea where to send you at your locale, nor how to compliment your Mac.
Filling out your Profile
helps us help you. Also, you didn't tell us what you have, or have had, for a printer.
Suggestion:
Burn a CD of Post Script jobs, Graphs you like, and other files you want to print as a TEST. Take the CD with you to your favorite computer store - Fry's Electronics, MicroWorld, Apple Store, whatever. If you have an iBook or PowerBook, so much the better - take it and a USB printer cable with you to the store.
Things to look for:
1. Individual ink tanks - so if Yellow runs out, you don't have to buy a whole new "color cartridge". The more color tanks, the more likely it is "photo quality". In the long run, this saves you money.
2. Price - set a budget before you go; realistically, $80 to $300 is a good medium range. Over that, and you get 7 color tanks and double-letter size (tabloid). Less than that, you get all-in-one "color cartridge", and very cheap printers. If you don't do that much printing, you may not care.
3. Paper & Print Media - the range can be amazing. Make sure the kind of paper or media you like to print on is covered.
4. Photo quality - which has to do both with DPI resolution and the number of ink colors - usually 6 minimum. Run PRINT samples and compare.
5. Ask a salesman or company rep (they usually wear polo shirts with EPSON, CANON, HP, etc. on them. Remember, they are there to pitch their company's product).
CANON printers often have individual ink tanks starting with even low end (low cost) models. Very Mac friendly, sold in Apple stores.
CANON Photo Printers
b]EPSON[/b] has a wide range of printers, Photo Stylus printers, including printers that will print directly on blank CD and DVD media, that no one else does. These are great all around printers.
EPSON Photo InkJet Printers
HP has an excellent reputation for text printing - text can look very sharp. COSTCO usually has a good selection and price on HP printers.
HP InkJet Printers
Before you go shopping, run a Google on Printer REVIEWS for 2003 and 2004 done by Macworld, MacAddict, MacHome and whomever, especially where the writer is comparing 3 or more printers in a test group. Print it out and take it with you.
Look at what your local Dealer is selling at a clearance discount or specail deal, pay attention to warranties.
Find out and
price the Ink Cartridges like you have to replacement; look at the size of the ink tank. Compare costs among several printers. The initial cost of a printer is peanuts, a steal, and almost irrelevant -- they get you back when you buy the ink...
(It's like buying a razor - cheap; just wait until you have to buy a pack of 10 blades. Gilette or Shick will give away the razor so they can hook you into refill blades.)
Bottom Line: buy what you like and what makes you feel good.
I own a mobile CANON for its portability with my iBook and the great print job it does, but the cartrides are COLOR and BLACK, not individual, and expensive. No problem, I only use it on the road - office on wheels.
The EPSON is important because it prints directly on DVD and CD discs, which is important to me. For the price and capability, I like the $99 R200 and the R300 printers best. Instead of the mobile CANON, I use the EPSON to print ordinary inkjet jobs in the office.
I also have a XEROX/Tektronix color wax printer ($4000 range) that I use for daily printing up to 1200 dpi, and it is superb. However, WAX ink on paper does not auto-fed through a copy machine because they stick to the glass (requiring one at a time copying). InkJet masters flys through the copier, which is black & white anyway; it doesn't know from COLOR.
EPSON has some really great new individual tank printers that print photo quality and directly on CD/DVD discs for $150 to $300. Great all around printer.
CANON has some excellent $80 to $200 printers with individual ink tanks that produce some stunning prints.
In a dozen years, I've owned several HP laser printers, but none of their inkjets.
You don't need to go expensive, and you should probably avoid real cheap printers. The middle ground of ($99 - $200) is just loaded with lots and lots of good choices.
Where to buy? Local stores often charge full price, unless they have a sale or deal; and retail stores charge State/Local Sales Tax. However, it is "cash & carrry" - instant gratification.
Internet Price-Search, No Sales Tax for out-of-state buy, sometimes sale priced, watchout for the hidden cost of SHIPPING, which can exceed Tax and other savings, plus it takes TIME to get to you. Just do your homework. Look for Mail-in Rebates; check the Manufacturer's sites for special deals that trickle down to the dealers
Anything else?
