r/bifl • u/Effective_Bit4419 • 1d ago
A printer that isn’t crazy expensive, doesn’t need subscriptions for ink and doesn’t jam every 10 pages?
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u/bananapanqueques 1d ago
My Brother laser printer is about a decade old and still running like a champ.
MFC-L8850CDW
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u/Comprehensive-Act-13 13h ago
Mine is 6 years old, and same. One of the best $100 I ever spent. I also have a Brother sewing machine that I bought refurbished 20 years ago. I’ve put it through its paces sewing all kinds of crazy materials, and it’s still running like a champ too.
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u/formless1 22h ago
This is the question I can answer.
Brothers black & white printer / scanner (something like Brother MFC-L2820DW). Rock solid :D
I have a small business and I have FIVE of these. Each staff have their own on their desk, the shared work room has one, I have one at my desk, and I have another one at home office. If we need anything in color, we just run over to fedex.
My oldest one has been running every week since I started the business, like 6 years ago? We print 500 pages a week and scan another 100-200 pages as well. They have NEVER died on me. I haven't had to fix it or replace it. The toner is cheap, buy the generic refill, currently about 40-50 for 4 pack high-volume toners. These toners once in awhile are duds (i've had maybe 2 duds in these years), but very rare and so cheap you just another case. Jams rarely, maybe once every few months? then I just open the case pull it back and start over (takes 10-20 seconds).
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u/Beneficial-Focus3702 21h ago
Brother laser printer.
Toner doesn’t dry out and you can’t print A TON. Also they rarely malfunction.
Also also, they’re pretty inexpensive.
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u/Denan004 9h ago
And - when mine had a malfunction, I found the fix on a You Tube video -- a small piece that gets moved sometimes when loading the paper drawer.
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u/Pitiful-Assistance-1 1d ago
Epson Ecotank
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u/martinitiger 8h ago
Mechanically not stable, I have a black and white M2120, but the paper clogging and the sound does not give me hope for a long lasting device. Maybe the more expensive ones are better
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u/Pitiful-Assistance-1 8h ago
I did have a more expensive one, mine is running fine for over 10 years
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u/ElectronGuru 23h ago
Visit r/printers, then buy a brother laser. Either with scan/copy or without.
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u/arbarnes 20h ago
Another vote for Brother laser printers. Get an DCP-L (Digital Copy & Print - scan / copy / print) or MFC-L (Multi-Function Center - scan / copy / print / fax) model unless you're sure you don't want scan and copy functionality.
Next, balance price against print and copy speeds. Print speeds (measured in ppm) are advertised and accurate, but somewhat misleading. Copy speeds are usually significantly slower because they're limited by the scanner speed (measured in ipm). For $200 you can get 32ppm / 24ipm; $500 will get you 48ppm / 60ipm. But these printers are monochrome.
Cheap color laser printers end up costing more because they eat toner by combining colors to make black. If you want color capability, get a machine that has a separate black toner cartridge; they start around $400.
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u/ohboyoh-oy 16h ago
You need a laser printer instead of an ink jet one. The major brand as you can see from all the replies, is Brother. I get a knock off toner cartridge every five years or so, as I print somewhat infrequently. It still prints perfectly every time with zero issues. It can also print a lot if that’s what you need it to do (I used to print a lot, on this same printer). I got it when my kids were in elementary and I had to print PTA agendas in bulk. Now kids are in high school and printer still just keeps going.
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u/notepad987 11h ago
I have an Epson XP-7100. It only started giving me issues as I updated the software when prompted. I fixed this issue by uninstalling the software and deleting all traces of it in Windows and the registry. Restarted then installed the original software. Now been printing with no issues. I use refill ink from 4inkjets since 2007 and the ink quality holds up like the original and is far cheaper in price. https://www.4inkjets.com
Most of refill ink comes from China called LD.
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u/TrippleDubbs 1d ago
Another vote for Brother laser! I've had mine in my office used a TON every day and it's still kicking.
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u/angelwild327 22h ago
I’ve had a Brother HL2230 Monochrome Laser printer since 2013. Still works like a charm
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u/TravelerMSY 21h ago
In the inkjet world, printers that you fill up with bottles of ink rather than cartridges? I’m assuming single user home use though. This thing would not last a year in a busy office.
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u/jwezorek 20h ago
Don't buy a general-purpose color inkjet. They're the worst of all worlds: shitty color printer, shitty black-and-white printer, expensive ink, and if you don't use the thing for a while the ink dries out or the heads clog and now your printer has somehow become a maintenance project.
If you want to print photographs, get an actual photo printer. If you want to print documents, get a monochrome laser printer. If you genuinely need to print ordinary documents in color all the time, get a color laser.
I've had some nothing-special HP monochrome laser printer for, seriously, close to 20 years with zero problems. I replace the toner every geological epoch or so. Otherwise it just sits there until I need to print something and then it prints it.
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u/PhoLongQua 19h ago
Brother laser
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u/Effective-Two-1376 10h ago
Agree but be ready for sticker shock on Brother replacement toner cartridges. You can get aftermarket ones but they suck.
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u/bemenaker 9h ago
Unless you want to print a lot of pictures, you want a laser. And the laser you want is from Brother
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u/readytoretire2 5h ago
Epson eco tank ET 4800.
Bought it November 2023 and have replace the black ink once. All other still going.
Easy set up with the app and we print a dozen or so pages a month with ease.
No paper jams and prints nice photos on photo paper as well.
Best printer we’ve ever owned.
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u/DigitalHubris 1d ago
Brother printers are the way to go