What to use/do when you don’t print that often?

[DisraeliGears]

I got an HP B&W Laser when I left for college in 2007. I bought a new toner cart for it like 7 years ago, but still works fine. Drivers on Mac are a bit funny at this point, but with a bit of poking it still goes.

If you need color, you don't actually need color. If you're printing photos, take the job to a shop. If you're printing too much for that, open your own shop haha.

 

[millerj123]

Yeah, Black and White laser, although my wife got an Epson eco tank for color prints. It doesn't seem to have the same issue with clogged nozzles.

 

[bob_stan]

Buy a low-cost laser printer.
You can leave one off for a month or two, and it will still print fine.

Of course, you don't get color, but this is a choice you have to make for yourself.

I like Brother. Quality printing and a long lifespan.

I also like the cheap Brother lasers. Probably not a factor for this purchase but Brother announced they will cease making laser printers in 2025 and transition completely to ink jets for environmental reasons.

 

[Isamilis]

Inkjet is never worth it. Get a laser. B&W is fine. Rarely is color needed.

I've had both monochrome and color laser printers. B&W is nice in that you only have the one toner cartridge to keep track of and it lasts forever. I've been happy with the Brother models, especially with how well they implement AirPrint. No need for drivers, any iOS or macOS device can just print directly.

Final pro tip, don't get a regular color printer for photos. It doesn't look good. Either print photos at a convenience store or get a separate dye sublimation printer. I recommend the Canon Selphy.

tl;dr: never buy inkjet.

Second this, I have brother as well. It just sit nicely & solid (I bought around 2 years ago).

 

[Weaselboy]

I also like the cheap Brother lasers. Probably not a factor for this purchase but Brother announced they will cease making laser printers in 2025 and transition completely to ink jets for environmental reasons.

Epson quitting laser printers doesn’t address its bigger sustainability issue

Epson will sell only inkjet printers as of 2026.

arstechnica.com

You sure you are not confusing Brother with Epson who announced they are quitting the laser printer business? I searched and did not see any articles about Brother quitting. Maybe I missed it?

 

[Donfor39]

I purchase Ink every 2nd or more years only when required.
This has mostly worked well especially recent years job seeking and medical info.
Official ink lasts, fake ink fails far too soon.

 

[xraydoc]

but Brother announced they will cease making laser printers in 2025

Epson.

Edit: Weaselboy beat me to it. However, I have to say that my laser printer has produced way less solid waste than my inkjets have. Went through so many half-used cartridges because of ink clogging and drying. In 5 years, I've replaced the toner modules once in my laser printer. Perhaps it uses more electricity, but I've got solar panels that produce 2/3 of all my power needs, so I'm less concerned about that for my own household.

 

[bob_stan]

Epson quitting laser printers doesn’t address its bigger sustainability issue

Epson will sell only inkjet printers as of 2026.

arstechnica.com

You sure you are not confusing Brother with Epson who announced they are quitting the laser printer business? I searched and did not see any articles about Brother quitting. Maybe I missed it?

I may have been mistaken. Sorry.

 

[Weaselboy]

I may have been mistaken. Sorry.

No problem friend... I had not heard the news about Epson, so I learned something.

 

[satcomer]

In small business it best to keep most of your stuff on NAS! So the Linux open standard in Synology+models and QNAP jumped on it and created smart home NAS devices for the home! I feel networked laser still has a places in western tax system and on Mac PDFS for quarterly tax days! The black onwhite legal paper and the laser comes in handy!

 

[Fishrrman]

Weaselboy wrote:
"I had not heard the news about Epson, so I learned something"

Same here.

Seems like a strange business decision. Then again, lasers might not be a large percentage of Epson's printer business?

In any case, I would think a competing company like Brother would double-down on this, and emphasize to folks that they will continue to produce lasers...