HP has had the market for reliability as well as production for years. Although I have two HP's, inkjet and laser and a Lexmark (multi function including fax), I like Kodak not for just fidelity of color but the fact they price their ink at about half of everyone else. I find the ink cost outrageous, so my next inkjet will be a Kodak.
For what they charge for ink, the mfgrs ought to pay one to buy their printers. I used to refill a friend's HP for $5 a pop -- when HP was charging $44 for the cartridge. Then they redesigned to make refill very difficult. Their cartridges can be refilled 5 times, then the print head starts to go so one needs to replace for time No. 6.
After the horrible experience I have had with HP customer service, you could not pay me enough to own an HP product. The printer I got when I got my computer never worked and I got ignored then jerked around by HP customer service until the warranty ran out, then so sorry can't help you, it's out of warranty. It NEVER WORKED, but they got my money and I got screwed.
Epson is my preferred brand--started out in the early 80s with a dot matrix then upgraded to an ink jet and wore that out and now have another Epson.
I did get a free Canon printer/scanner with the iMac and after many wasted prints with too much ink or off colours I switched back to my trusty Epson. Canon customer service is an oxymoron.
Stay away from HP...............Epson is probably an outstanding choice. Canon and Apple play together really well. There is a very tiny Canon that has gotten numerous 5 star reviews. The small compact Pixma. That would be my personal San Francisco Treat.
For three years I have gotten away from actually needing a printer.
posted by pond
over 2 years ago
To balance things off, I have 2 HP Photosmart 2610 models, 4 years old, and work fine. However, I've never needed customer service assistance.
I've read that Kodak is quietly making inroads, and they advertise that their ink costs are materially lower than the competition.
In addition to the the rock-steady performance that the HP's have given me, the other reason I prefer them is the location where the paper tray is placed. It's probably "me" but I can't stand the printers with the paper feeding from behind; the paper will unnaturally curl while resting there.
I don't print photo stock, but I do a ton of scanning, so my requirements may not be the same as everyone else.
Pete
posted by PM1948
over 2 years ago
i like whatever printed is set up at work.
i prefer not to pay for ink cartridges.......
EW...I had a Canon that gave out on me so my son and DIL decided to buy me an HP. I was horrified because the ink cartridges just cost too much money, even at Costco. Well, the thing never worked right, thank God, so I thanked them and decided to get an Epson Stylus 4800 printer, scanner. The Epson seems to be lasting longer than other printers we've had plus my husband gets ink inexpensively at a computer store. The Canon still scans so I kept it because it processes negatives as well. We got a free Canon printer when I bought the computer and I gave it to my son. He doesn't use it much....he uses mine.
I had a Lexmark that lasted for years...got my money's worth. Bought an HP and have had no trouble at all. I bought it at Wal Mart and if it had been a lemon would have gotten my money back. Simple. My next one will be a Xerox, however. Expensive, but worth it.
I use a Lexmark X5495 all-in-one. It's fine except it's an ink hog and ink cartridges are expensive. That's how Lexmark hooks a customer in - inexpensive printer (usually around $100) and then you're stuck paying for with those ink cartridges!
I have a Canon Pixma 3-in-1 machine that I bought about 4 years ago. When I got it I had a PC. I got Mac 1.5 years ago and the same printer is still going strong. I agree the ink cartridges are pricey. Costco has the best prices I've seen.
A note about Canon tech support: early on, I had trouble with this machine. It wouldn't print red correctly. I was about to send it back but decided to give Canon Tech Support one last chance. A tech there quickly diagnosed the problem as a bad print head, sent me a new one, and I've never had a problem since.
