[artlogic]

The first major purchase I made on eBay was a HP LaserJet 5P purchased in 2000 for $200. I still use that printer today, I think I've replaced the toner cartridge 3 times in the last 10 years. At $75/cartridge, it's been a bargain. On top of that, I purchased memory upgrades, the postscript SIM, and a used JetDirect external box for around $50. Now I have a network printer that doesn't even need drivers to work. On top of that, it's built like a tank. I'll be surprised if it breaks down in the next 10 years, given my relatively low usage.

Despite all the personal experience I have indicating a quality laser printer is a better long term deal, I still have yet to convince anyone else they should use this solution. Most folks believe color is too important. Even with the advent of cheap color lasers, most people aren't willing to make the upfront investment. Then they complain when their ink costs nearly $100 to replace.

If anything, one of the largest problems I've seen in modern society in the inability to think in the long term, and by extension make short term sacrifices for long term gain.

[mmagin]

I bought a LaserJet 6MP on ebay about 5 years ago and upgraded the memory to the maximum. It's served me well since for general text printing.

[Whippet]

I bought a LaserJet 4P when it was new for about $1,000

I know it seems like a lot, but like many of HP's products back then, it is bullet proof. Sure it's not very fast, but it prints text well and I replace the toner cartridge every 2 to 3 years.

I've had friends and family go through several printers in a row due to cheaper built quality. When we returned one (a HP inkjet, iirc) to the store, I asked if they send them back to the manufacturer. I was told it was not cost effective to do. They threw it away and gave us a new one.

If I do ever decide to buy a color printer, I think I'd go with Canon as some of my more technical friends have had good experience with them and Canon is not so anally retentive about 3rd party ink.

[lesterbuck]

After two ultra low end Brother laser printers in a row cratered on me, I went back to my trusty LaserJet 5MP/6MP class printers. Two years ago I picked up a 40K page LaserJet 6MP for $10.49, plus $26 flat rate shipping. It works flawlessly. Lately, I buy genuine HP toner cartridges from Image-Warehouse on eBay for $18 with free shipping. They come in plain brown boxes, but the cartridge itself is either a real HP C3903 or the best fake I have ever seen. Whatever, they work great and I've given up refilling at these prices. I print from Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X through an old, cheap JetDirect print server on my network.