5 ms·

Within the next couple years I'll likely be looking for a new printer. What are the best printers today that don't engage in this sort of nonsense?

pyrelight 3y ago
If all you need is B/W, get the legendary Brother HL-2280DW. There might be a newer version of it.
simcop2387 3y ago
If you don't need photos, I've been incredibly happy with a Brother Color Laser printer. I originally went with one because I go months without needing to print something, and then the printer will just be ready and working when I do. Unlike an inkjet there isn't anything to dry out or really fail with age the same way. Along with that, as far as I know Brother isn't even trying any of the shady stuff on their few inkjet printers like cryptographically signed cartridges (like HP), or subscription services (like HP), or any of the driver shenanigans where they include all kinds of unnecessary things (like most other manufacturers). That's not to say that I know they won't ever do those things, or that they have no plans to, but they at least right now seem to not be pulling this same kind of anti-consumer crap so far.
- detritus 3y ago
  I second this - I'm never buying another inkjet printer again, because my use of colours is fairly minimal these days and I have a box full of ink cartridges for two printers whose printheads are irredeemably clogged (not inexpensive models from Epson and Canon). Sod it. I've got a wee Brother laser B&W printer for 98% of my printing needs, and the email address for a local printshop who can slightly overcharge me whenever I need a photo (etc) printing.
- caf 3y ago
  Yes, I've been happy with the Brother HL-L3230CDW. Seems to work fine with Linux, Android, iOS and Chromebook clients on the same network as well, which is nice.
- hellweaver666 3y ago
  I have a Dell 1350cnw (which is a rebranded Brother laser). I bought it in 2010 and the damn thing is still trooping along today!
deepsummer 3y ago
You don't have to subscribe, you can also buy your own ink. I'm currently happy with our Epson EcoTank ET-5150. Ink prices are reasonable (no cartridges). There are subscriptions available for Epsons as well, and you can pay per page, but it's not required. Just click no.
- rideontime 3y ago
  Other comments on this page insist that OP's printer does, in fact, require a subscription.
  - deepsummer 3y ago
    I was referring to other prints, not that particular HP model.
- Gigachad 3y ago
  The ecotank still has a non user servicable waste ink pad. Once you hit a fixed page count, the firmware will brick the printer.
  - kalleboo 3y ago
    The EcoTank mentioned has a user-replaceable waste ink box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094H9SGYD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094H9SGYD
whynotmaybe 3y ago
Brother laser for small enterprises. I've bought several inkjet (hp, canon, epson) and even tried to refill the cartridge with a syringe only to discover that some inkjet printers are made to fail after a few hundreds page. I have the brother 9330 laser color since 2014 and it never failed. Printed 13k page and lost only 7 pages to jamming.
superzamp 3y ago
I figured that shipping labels or tickets were almost the only thing I printed these days, and hence bought a thermal label printer. Couldn't be happier with it. Reasonable price, never asks for ink, prints are instant, never stops working over random nonsense, small form factor.
bediger4000 3y ago
Kyocera seems to have some decent laser printers.
bluGill 3y ago
Do you even need a printer? Often there is a local print shop that you can print to. A lot more expensive if you print a lot, but most people don't print very much and $.25/page works out to $5/year - is it really worth it?
- massysett 3y ago
  > is it really worth it? Yes. I was traveling and staying in a house that had no printer. To print I would load PDFs onto a flash drive and drive to FedEx Office. It didn't cost much but it was quite a hassle. In my own house a printer is a must have item.
Double_a_92 3y ago
If you print a lot, get a laser one. If you don't print a lot ideally don't get any at all... Photos are cheaper to just print professionally, and documents you could maybe print at work?
poisonborz 3y ago
As the other commenter said, Brother Color (LED) laser printer is the only sance choice nowadays. Eats any third party ink happily. BUT don't expect classic color printer quality, it's made for printing document colors. Bitmap areas will have faded white lines and patterns overlaid. For photo printing: go to a shop.
- smegsicle 3y ago
  note that (to at least some models) brother pushed automatic updates that caused them to refuse third party toner
otherme123 3y ago
Whatever brand you buy, check first if there are un-branded ink cartridges or toners for your new printer, and what reviews does they have.

pyrelight 3y ago

If all you need is B/W, get the legendary Brother HL-2280DW. There might be a newer version of it.

simcop2387 3y ago

If you don't need photos, I've been incredibly happy with a Brother Color Laser printer. I originally went with one because I go months without needing to print something, and then the printer will just be ready and working when I do. Unlike an inkjet there isn't anything to dry out or really fail with age the same way. Along with that, as far as I know Brother isn't even trying any of the shady stuff on their few inkjet printers like cryptographically signed cartridges (like HP), or subscription services (like HP), or any of the driver shenanigans where they include all kinds of unnecessary things (like most other manufacturers). That's not to say that I know they won't ever do those things, or that they have no plans to, but they at least right now seem to not be pulling this same kind of anti-consumer crap so far.

detritus 3y ago
I second this - I'm never buying another inkjet printer again, because my use of colours is fairly minimal these days and I have a box full of ink cartridges for two printers whose printheads are irredeemably clogged (not inexpensive models from Epson and Canon). Sod it. I've got a wee Brother laser B&W printer for 98% of my printing needs, and the email address for a local printshop who can slightly overcharge me whenever I need a photo (etc) printing.
caf 3y ago
Yes, I've been happy with the Brother HL-L3230CDW. Seems to work fine with Linux, Android, iOS and Chromebook clients on the same network as well, which is nice.
hellweaver666 3y ago
I have a Dell 1350cnw (which is a rebranded Brother laser). I bought it in 2010 and the damn thing is still trooping along today!

deepsummer 3y ago

You don't have to subscribe, you can also buy your own ink. I'm currently happy with our Epson EcoTank ET-5150. Ink prices are reasonable (no cartridges). There are subscriptions available for Epsons as well, and you can pay per page, but it's not required. Just click no.

rideontime 3y ago
Other comments on this page insist that OP's printer does, in fact, require a subscription.
- deepsummer 3y ago
  I was referring to other prints, not that particular HP model.
Gigachad 3y ago
The ecotank still has a non user servicable waste ink pad. Once you hit a fixed page count, the firmware will brick the printer.
- kalleboo 3y ago
  The EcoTank mentioned has a user-replaceable waste ink box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094H9SGYD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094H9SGYD

whynotmaybe 3y ago

Brother laser for small enterprises. I've bought several inkjet (hp, canon, epson) and even tried to refill the cartridge with a syringe only to discover that some inkjet printers are made to fail after a few hundreds page. I have the brother 9330 laser color since 2014 and it never failed. Printed 13k page and lost only 7 pages to jamming.

superzamp 3y ago

I figured that shipping labels or tickets were almost the only thing I printed these days, and hence bought a thermal label printer. Couldn't be happier with it. Reasonable price, never asks for ink, prints are instant, never stops working over random nonsense, small form factor.

bediger4000 3y ago

Kyocera seems to have some decent laser printers.

bluGill 3y ago

Do you even need a printer? Often there is a local print shop that you can print to. A lot more expensive if you print a lot, but most people don't print very much and $.25/page works out to $5/year - is it really worth it?

massysett 3y ago
> is it really worth it? Yes. I was traveling and staying in a house that had no printer. To print I would load PDFs onto a flash drive and drive to FedEx Office. It didn't cost much but it was quite a hassle. In my own house a printer is a must have item.

Double_a_92 3y ago

If you print a lot, get a laser one. If you don't print a lot ideally don't get any at all... Photos are cheaper to just print professionally, and documents you could maybe print at work?

poisonborz 3y ago

As the other commenter said, Brother Color (LED) laser printer is the only sance choice nowadays. Eats any third party ink happily. BUT don't expect classic color printer quality, it's made for printing document colors. Bitmap areas will have faded white lines and patterns overlaid. For photo printing: go to a shop.

smegsicle 3y ago
note that (to at least some models) brother pushed automatic updates that caused them to refuse third party toner

otherme123 3y ago

Whatever brand you buy, check first if there are un-branded ink cartridges or toners for your new printer, and what reviews does they have.