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So, I am looking for recommendations for a decent cheap printer. Any tips?

Turns out my housemate has one she is not using, so I don't need to get one after all.

How cheap?

And what do you need to print? Color or B&W? Photos?

And do you need it to perform other functions? Copy, Fax, etc?

Ink, laser, pen, thermal...?

Ideally a colour printer that can scan and copy as well. I think laser printers are cheaper than ink from memory? I have no idea about pen and thermal printers.

Most important is it works, is reliable and not too expensive.

Colour not absolutely necessary. Scanning either, though it would be a big plus.

I bought a cheap HP deskjet that covers everything for around 30 pounds. Only problem is that two official ink cartridges costs more than the printer.

That's pretty much the deal nowadays.  Finding a cheap good printer isn't hard, they rape you with the printer ink though.

Don't need one in the end. Oops.

I would still like to hear recommendations if anyone has any printers they love to use. I am in the market.

Stay away from ink, go for laser.

I have a couple of color lasers that I think are pretty good for the most part, but their ability to reproduce pictures is suspect at best.  It may just be the brand (HP 2605dn), but my inkjets are much better for photos. 

We buy the Brother HL line at work. Its been very reliable.

My problem with inkjet printers is that I print things so rarely the ink cartridges always dry out long before I've actually used them up. Do laser toner cartridges have the same problem?

I use a venerable HP laserjet 5L, hasn't failed me yet so far. No fuss, and a [not too expensive] toner is good for a year+.

Inkjet printers are not a good idea imo; they are cheap, but ink is expensive and can dry easily if you don't use your printer at least once a week.


edit: I use my printer sporadically, and haven't had any cartridge issues. My parents and grandparents use inkjets, and they complain about cartridges all the time.

No, they don't.

Laser printers/toners are also not usually priced such that the toner is a ridiculous scam, so there's that going for them too.

I just buy a new inkjet when I run out of ink. Problem solved.

Fry's usually has one for sale for like $50.

Do you need a multi-function printer?

My business uses Brother color or black and white laser printers.

To cut down on laser cartridge costs we simply buy the toner in bulk and refill the cartridges manually now.
Cuts a $70 cartridge down to about $25 a pop.

The cheapest black-and-white HP laser printers are great. It's what HP was always known for, they're dirt cheap, the toner is cheap and lasts (and doesn't dry up), and you really don't need colour. And it's a fucking laser printer, it prints like a laser printer not a crappy inkjet. I've had one at home for years, and I discovered the TV newsroom where I work has one for portable use, and the technical producer says it's the most reliable printer he can remember.

As in scanner and such? Not really. But I could use it. I suppose I am more interested in image quality and ink type/cost. Our old HP, apparently they do not make ink for anymore.

While I disagree about needing color; I have an HP 6L monochrome laser at home. Got it when we ditched it for a networked printer at the library. It's a champ, and I can get the toner refilled at a buddy's shop.

We have the low end Brother desktop laser at home. It's great for I think $75. I use the not particularly expensive ($250?) 5250s for most of our offices at work. Fast and cheap duplexing.