General Discussion

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

93. The ones at CVS/Wallgreens/etc.

Mon Mar 2, 2015, 11:07 AM

Mar 2015

If you want a big picture that you can hang on your wall for a long time, no home printer comes remotely close to what professional equipment can do. So if it's an image that you want to look good for a long time, send it to one of the places that used to do one-hour-photo, and now print digital images.

If you just want to be able to change up your pictures every so often, either technology will work in the short run. Ink will yellow after a few years, toner won't. But both will need to be re-printed every few years to keep looking nice due to fading.

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I need HELP on computer printers! Hubby and I are technical doofuses and our inkjet [View all] CTyankee Mar 2015 OP

My personal bias is toward cheap inkjet printers. MineralMan Mar 2015 #1

I did look at Walmart and its prices were pretty good. CTyankee Mar 2015 #6

Walmart has lots of printers, too. MineralMan Mar 2015 #10

Make sure you can connect the printer with a USB cable. MineralMan Mar 2015 #13

I recently got an HP wireless printer that I was able to set up almost instantly. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2015 #28

my computer guy will tell me if I have USB cable...sounds familar... CTyankee Mar 2015 #29

Wireless are more and more common and really handy. NYC_SKP Mar 2015 #49

I guess we have cable since we have cable TV. How little I know about this stuff...LOL CTyankee Mar 2015 #69

LOL! No, I mean the physical cable from the computer to the printer. NYC_SKP Mar 2015 #71

Hopefully, my computer guy will open shop tomorrow and all this will be CTyankee Mar 2015 #75

My Epson wireless, w-3540, was remarkably easy to install. GeorgeGist Mar 2015 #32

Color laser and LED printers for $199. Far more reliable, lower cost per print than inkjet. NYC_SKP Mar 2015 #14

I don't really print anything important. MineralMan Mar 2015 #16

Agree! I'm not a fan of ink jets, cartridge price overtime is way too high IMO. n/t RKP5637 Mar 2015 #41

I have had mainly HP injets for several years-decades! And riversedge Mar 2015 #76

You can still pick up cheap new ink-jets for <$100. leveymg Mar 2015 #2

I use an HP print/copy/scanner CANDO Mar 2015 #3

same here but i get the off brands ink cartridges and riversedge Mar 2015 #77

I have tried umteen numbers of printer brands randr Mar 2015 #4

Don't hesitate Old Codger Mar 2015 #5

You're a little over my head here...I do need/want color. And we have only one CTyankee Mar 2015 #19

your are right. who faxes Laura PourMeADrink Mar 2015 #39

No, for other people. I know it sounds silly, but my husband has a weekly get together CTyankee Mar 2015 #45

It doesn't sound silly ! It's cool. Laura PourMeADrink Mar 2015 #94

Go to more brick-and-mortar stores to get a good idea of what you need. Buzz Clik Mar 2015 #7

I did go to brick and mortar stores...Walmart had bare shelves where the laser CTyankee Mar 2015 #40

I've read reviews up the wazoo. There's always an equal number of yeas vs. nays. Frustrating! WinkyDink Mar 2015 #79

Amazon has good ohheckyeah Mar 2015 #8

I have 4 lasers, will never buy another inkjet. I like Samsung and Brother, hate HP. LED printers! NYC_SKP Mar 2015 #9

How does inkjet differ from laser re: cost of replacement cartridges? TheCowsCameHome Mar 2015 #15

Toner cartridges Dr Hobbitstein Mar 2015 #20

I was told the toners on color lasers were about $70 each and there are 4 of them. CTyankee Mar 2015 #21

My HP 6510 was cheap enough, but TheCowsCameHome Mar 2015 #35

This is the one I have and I love it!. William769 Mar 2015 #11

It says this product is discontinued! CTyankee Mar 2015 #22

Oops. William769 Mar 2015 #23

Brother and HP are pretty good shenmue Mar 2015 #12

Laser is the way to go... Dr Hobbitstein Mar 2015 #17

How many in a toner cart? If it is $70 for one that is $280 if a cart is four toners. CTyankee Mar 2015 #24

Depends on the printer, what you print, etc. jeff47 Mar 2015 #33

Also, ink carts dry up during periods Dr Hobbitstein Mar 2015 #48

The last time my laser toner acted as if it needed replaced madokie Mar 2015 #70

Well, a 4 color won't use all 4 at once... Dr Hobbitstein Mar 2015 #47

Laser toner cartridges are good for a huge number of pages. backscatter712 Mar 2015 #54

Thanks. The ink jet refills TheCowsCameHome Mar 2015 #36

Is there a Micro Center near you? LiberalEsto Mar 2015 #18

Love MicroCenter! WillowTree Mar 2015 #25

I'm an HP girl. Just am. WillowTree Mar 2015 #31

What's the deal with PhotoSmart? Are they updated version of inkjets of the past? CTyankee Mar 2015 #42

They're a little better provisioned for photo paper etc. WillowTree Mar 2015 #46

That's a great place! I lived near one once. I'm a real techie, used to go there for just RKP5637 Mar 2015 #65

I lean to HP n/t GP6971 Mar 2015 #26

get two Ellipsis Mar 2015 #27

The only thing I can tell you is edhopper Mar 2015 #30

Yep, exactly! The printers are sold sometimes at a loss, because the loss is made up by the RKP5637 Mar 2015 #44

I bought a Brother All In One inkjet printer about 1 1/2 years ago and LOVE IT!! napi21 Mar 2015 #34

Toner cartridges cost 2 to 3 times more but print at least 10x pages. hobbit709 Mar 2015 #37

EPSON inkjet printers have been my fave for YEARS. We print photographs for framing and no one BlueCaliDem Mar 2015 #38

Thank you! This has helped me a lot! I need to replace my Canon and want nice pix printed from my WinkyDink Mar 2015 #80

Epson will get the job done for less, WinkyDink. BlueCaliDem Mar 2015 #92

Also check out reviews on Amazon.com. Just be sure you're not RKP5637 Mar 2015 #43

Look at costs of ink PumpkinAle Mar 2015 #50

From a *total* tech-doof here: Besides the cable situation posted above, check the DEFAULT UTUSN Mar 2015 #51

oh, dear god...that's gonna give me nightmares... CTyankee Mar 2015 #55

I like Lexmark. I don't know why they aren't more popular. Cleita Mar 2015 #52

My current printer is an Epson Stylus NX420, SheilaT Mar 2015 #53

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #56

That is a good use for a library. uppityperson Mar 2015 #57

I LOVE my library! I get free help from the research desk. CTyankee Mar 2015 #61

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #62

I once worked in a library... just for a summer in high school greatauntoftriplets Mar 2015 #73

How are the libraries in Chicago? William769 Mar 2015 #58

I hear they are excellent ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #64

I'll bet you've spent lots of time in a library. Terra Alta Mar 2015 #59

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #72

I have nothing against libraries Terra Alta Mar 2015 #82

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #83

I have an HP 1020 Laser printer that I've been using for years... steve2470 Mar 2015 #60

I have that one, too. Blue_In_AK Mar 2015 #84

I have an obsolete craptacular HP all-in-one. hunter Mar 2015 #63

I have an HP 6500 All in One SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2015 #66

If you decide on a particular brand you want, my techie son usually recommends mnhtnbb Mar 2015 #67

Check Consumer Reports on printers and their features... Sancho Mar 2015 #68

good idea. We get the magazine. CTyankee Mar 2015 #74

Thank you for asking! I'll add one: WHICH PRINTER IS BEST FOR PRINTING PHOTOS? WinkyDink Mar 2015 #78

by printing photos are you talking about downloading stuff from the internet? CTyankee Mar 2015 #81

No; I'm kind of forcing a digression in my excitement here. I want to print my own photos from my WinkyDink Mar 2015 #85

Oh, OK. It's not my issue. 35mm film seems like a distant memory... CTyankee Mar 2015 #86

The ones at CVS/Wallgreens/etc. jeff47 Mar 2015 #93

Hp inkjet matt819 Mar 2015 #87

good to know. I don't know what to do right now...will talk to computer guy tomorrow CTyankee Mar 2015 #88

Find something that has non-OEM cartridges available SusanCalvin Mar 2015 #89

+1 that is key -- shop the ink first GreatGazoo Mar 2015 #90

AND get auto duplex! SusanCalvin Mar 2015 #91