Can someone recommend a printer

[mamasboy]

as title says, any recommendations on what is the best deal out there, ink cost vs purchase price....
Only used by 14yr old doing GCSE coursework so no need for anything mega

[SapperGB]

Kodak produce the most cost effective printers in relation to inks.

How often do you print? The problem with the cheap ink printers (epson/kodak/canon) is the ink is so cheap because thats it, thats all you buy, just ink. as for the others such as lexmark, H.P etc, the reason the reason the ink is expensive is because they also contain the print head, so when you buy ink you are replacing the head too.

Its important, if you go for the cheaper inks to print a page at least once a fortnight so th head doesnt get blocked. replacing a print head is expensive.

Now, if you look at the price of a printer, it is directly proportionate to the price of inks. So cheap printer means expensive inks. For what you are looking for any of the kodak ESP range will suit. Very cheap inks and damn impressive prints to boot.

Thought i best add that you can only use original inks with the kodak. Remember you can bring down costs by buying compatable or refilled inks. Its hard to reccomend an exact model, but ensure you chech out the ink costs and wether you can use third party inks.

I myself replaced my kodak ESP for a top of the range canon pixma qnd using third party inks means its almost as cheap as the kodak.

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by mamasboy

as title says, any recommendations on what is the best deal out there, ink cost vs purchase price....
Only used by 14yr old doing GCSE coursework so no need for anything mega

If your 14yo can manage with black and white, then B&W laser printers are the cheapest and most reliable option. I have several, but my main printer is a now ancient HP4000 ex- office printer with all of the options fitted (duplexer, network and extra memory), which I bought when an office was upgrading for £15.

Years later and it is still running on the cartridge which was in it when I got it. It can sit there unused for months, I don't have to use it regularly to keep inkjets clear, its print does not smudge and it is not fussy about paper.

I have the printers on a remote control power socket, all placed well out of the way, so I can turn them on remotely, all on the network and so accessible from any PC.

[MangoMan]

I agree with that, I have an old HP1220C Printer and you can just run it with the Black Cartridge, (which lasts for ages!) and the Colour one finished. A lot of printers will not do this, you have to have both inks full.

And another tip is to just have the settings on B&W and Proof... Saves a lot of time and ink and doesn't look much different!

[J1MBO]

Originally Posted by MangoMan

I agree with that, I have an old HP1220C Printer and you can just run it with the Black Cartridge, (which lasts for ages!) and the Colour one finished. A lot of printers will not do this, you have to have both inks full.

And another tip is to just have the settings on B&W and Proof... Saves a lot of time and ink and doesn't look much different!

Tend to agree, have an old HP3920 which I use in the same way - best £20 I ever spent.