Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Good B&W only printer?

I would like to buy a small B&W toner based printer. I purchased a couple HP laserjet printers, but replacing the ink is too much work. The printer tries to align itself needlessly while with toner you just pop out a cartridge and pop in a new one.

What small toner based printers can yall suggest?

Benjamin, I am confused by your question. You state that you purchased a couple of LaserJet printers but did not like replacing the ink. Do you mean you had some Inkjet printers?

If so, then yes, Ink Jet is certainly outdated. They used to be much cheaper for color, but even LaserJet printers have caught up. They may still be better for some graphical work.

You mention HP, so it sounds like you don't want to go with them. But, in my mind, you just can't go wrong with HP. And, they offer so many good deals. I mean you can almost get a color LaserJet with good speed for both B & W and color. I, like you, probably don't need color, but just the same.

yeah I agree, you can get a laser printer cheap and the cartridges last a long time, but it prints a bit slower.

Brother makes a laser printer that you can buy for about $100. Just remember, when the drum goes just throw away the whole printer and get a new one, becasue the drum (not the toner cartridge) costs about $100.

Sorry Bert, I did mean to say that I purchased an HP Inkjet and would prefer a Laserjet. Changing toner cartridges is quicker than changing ink cartridges, because each time a cartridge empties the software practically forces me to align the color and black. Docs should not be asked to do that in a given day.

I saw some small HP Laserjets at Fry's for $110 and $125. And I'll look up the Brother. Now I just need to find out what resolution I need to avoid having to pay for security paper when we switch to AC v4.

Does anyone know what resolution is required? I'll post back when I find out what works for me.

PS I know HP has been making printers since, Xerox I guess, but I have seen two scanning drivers of theirs and both were non-functional; unlike the more simple Brother interface.

Ink or toner has been my limiting factor for printers - I have a great 400 color laser, but when you have to replace all of the toners it costs almost 400.00. TigerDirect often has inexpensive laser printers, but you have to really look to see that some don't have any toner at all. Watch your prices.

You also need to make sure that your state will accept the above mentioned security features - Washington said that those features are not actually CMS regulated, but are just one outside agency's interpretation and that they were not going to adopt them. My state actually said that to get rid of the confusion they were considering making the security paper mandatory for all scrips - when I told them that would be miserable for offices such as mine due to cost they really did not care. Currently I tell all my pt. that I fax and I only handwrite medicaid Schedule II -- I just am frustrated about having to buy a special printer or even special paper just to satisfy some bureacrat's rule.

Ink or toner has been my limiting factor for printers - I have a great 400 color laser, but when you have to replace all of the toners it costs almost 400.00. TigerDirect often has inexpensive laser printers, but you have to really look to see that some don't have any toner at all. Watch your prices.

You also need to make sure that your state will accept the above mentioned security features - Washington said that those features are not actually CMS regulated, but are just one outside agency's interpretation and that they were not going to adopt them. My state actually said that to get rid of the confusion they were considering making the security paper mandatory for all scrips - when I told them that would be miserable for offices such as mine due to cost they really did not care. Currently I tell all my pt. that I fax and I only handwrite medicaid Schedule II -- I just am frustrated about having to buy a special printer or even special paper just to satisfy some bureacrat's rule.

As far as all other office equipment, such as scanners, copiers, et al., HP doesn't own the market. But, you can't beat an HP printer. And, they practically give away the small ones for exam rooms.

I can't imagine that any decent printer especially an HP wouldn't have enough resolution.

I've used an inexpensive Brother network printer in the office for over a year. The Brothers have been great (I have a total of 3 Brother machines in the office)but I feel the operating cost is a little higher due to needing a new drum unit every 10,000 pages or so. However, they have been extremely reliable and generally trouble free (rarely jams).

The nonnetwork printer (HL2140) is frequently on sale for $59.99 at OfficeMax, Costco, and similar type stores. The networked version can usually be found for $99-$129. I've reduced my operating cost significantly by buying non Brother cartridges through a company called LD in California. Not quite as good of quality yet when you get 2 cartridges for the price of 1 name brand one you can't beat it, especially since you end up getting a new printer each time you need a new drum unit anyways.

PS: estimated per page cost is about 4-5 cents and cartridges are about $58 for name brand Brother and $26 for the LD one. You only get a starter cartridge with the new printer.

I stopped buying non-brother cartridges and drums because they would never work. Heck the toner cartridge leaded!! But Newegg.com has good prices on the real things so I buy from them.

Does HP have a little cheapo laser printer (wireless) to put in the rooms, or are those injet?

I recently bought a Samsung CLP-315 for $149.00 from Office Max. Color Laser Printer. Ink pops right in. Works like a charm. 16ppm (B&W) 4ppm (Color)

I like the Samsung mono printers and have used one at home for the last 2 years. Recently I upgraded to a duplex network mono printer for $89 (on a closeout) and really like it. I did buy another one for the office as well, and plan to replace my Brother machine when I run out of toner cartridges. Since I haven't used the Samsung in the office, I don't know how it will do with the volume (about 60-120 pages a day of prescriptions, orders, referrals and such). I believe it will be cheaper to operate due to the combined cartridge/drum unit, yet I won't know that for a while. The print quality of the Samsung is good, yet nothing spectacular.

Scott,

I use a Samsung CLP-610ND (Network and Duplex) in a start up practice. We print about 150 pages/day.