Colour laser printer

[Nod]

Posted in this section rather than the printing one since it's purely for documents rather than for photos.

Mrs Nod is after a colour laser printer (d'oh!) to do small posters (up to A4) and other short run printing for her business. Since it'll be short runs only (20 at most), ultimate speed isn't important. Her wants/needs are listed below.
Needs:-
Cheap per print
WiFi
Small footprint
Easy to set up and use

Wants:-
Automatic duplex
Quiet

Anybody bought one recently and very happy with it (or equally, anyone got horror stories about a particular model!)?

 

[sep9001]

Hi

Have a look at the dell laser printers. The carts are about £24/for a full set.

I have a Dell C1760NW which has all you need apart from automatic duplex.

 

[RIR]

Hi

Have a look at the dell laser printers. The carts are about £24/for a full set.

I have a Dell C1760NW which has all you need apart from automatic duplex.

I have the same one, from IJT Direct. Can't fault it.

 

[Nod]

Thanks, both. Looked at that on Amazon and the main complaints seem to be with the ease of set-up, especially for WiFi. What were your experiences, if you don't mind sharing them? Also, which of the many compatible toner sets have you used and would recommend (or avoid like the plague!)?

 

[bcjames]

Do the posters need to be full bleed?

 

[sep9001]

Thanks, both. Looked at that on Amazon and the main complaints seem to be with the ease of set-up, especially for WiFi. What were your experiences, if you don't mind sharing them? Also, which of the many compatible toner sets have you used and would recommend (or avoid like the plague!)?

I have not had any issues with wifi setup or general setup. I have not as yet had to buy the refills as I am still using the same ones which are still over half full.

 

[JonathanRyan]

Xerox Phaser.

Bought mine on some stupid discount so it was about £100. I pay per print and Xerox send me "free" ink when I run out. If anything goes wrong they send an engineer out to fix it.

Amazing quality and the only printer I've ever been happy subbing a 200 run double sided job to and walking away knowing that if there's enough paper in it, it will do it right without my help.

It's not very noisy but it is quite big and heavy.

 

[Nod]

Do the posters need to be full bleed?

Not really but wouldn't complain if the printer did it!!!

I have not had any issues with wifi setup or general setup. I have not as yet had to buy the refills as I am still using the same ones which are still over half full.

Thanks, Kev. Not a technophobe but do get easily frustrated by crappy instructions and unnecessary hassles.

Xerox Phaser.

Bought mine on some stupid discount so it was about £100. I pay per print and Xerox send me "free" ink when I run out. If anything goes wrong they send an engineer out to fix it.

Amazing quality and the only printer I've ever been happy subbing a 200 run double sided job to and walking away knowing that if there's enough paper in it, it will do it right without my help.

It's not very noisy but it is quite big and heavy.

Is that discount available to Joe Public or only trade? Mrs Nod can provide pukka business credentials but isn't VAT registered. How much are prints per copy and does the cost depend on colour/B&W? How big and heavy is it? I see there are several models, which one do you recommend specifically?

 

[RIR]

USB, Ethernet, and WiFi setup was a doddle. If you buy from IJT Direct (I have no affiliation; it's part of Morgan Computers), you get three sets of toners.

 

[JonathanRyan]

Is that discount available to Joe Public or only trade? Mrs Nod can provide pukka business credentials but isn't VAT registered. How much are prints per copy and does the cost depend on colour/B&W? How big and heavy is it? I see there are several models, which one do you recommend specifically?

1. I think it was supposed to be trade only but I'm not VAT registered for this business. If you can find a deal then I bet a vendor will be happy to sell it to her. Mine is via a firm called Xeretec who are, quite frankly, a shambles. But they charge me money every quarter and Xerox send the ink so it doesn't really matter. The type of deal is called a "page pack" where you get free ink and pay per page.

2. Can't find the latest bill but roughly colour prints are 10p per sheet and B&W are about 2p. Doesn't matter how much colour or B&W there is on the page and double sided counts as 2 prints. That's all up - I get all consumables apart from paper and maintenance included in that cost.

3. About 60cm X 40 X 35 high. Don't know the weight but I remember carrying it up a flight of stairs and being glad it wasn't 2 flights. Probably more awkward than terrifyingly heavy. Google suggests it may be 30 kilos or so.

4. Mine is an 8560. I believe the different models have different features (paper drawers etc) but the print quality is the same. Looking at the range, the 8570N looks suspiciously similar.

One thing to know about them.....they use a fair bit of ink when you turn them on. The printer has to melt some of the wax to get going and if you pay for the ink yourself it can become pricey. Xerox advise leaving the printer on all the time to minimise ink use. Since I pay for the electricity and not the ink I leave it turned off until I need it. I suspect Xerox are making a big loss on me.....

But mostly, the quality is staggering. Occasionally I'll get a really well printed letter in the post and I realise it's been done on a Phaser.

 

[Nod]

Cheers for the detailed replies, Jonathan - what makes the place so good!

All food for thought (and I like food!!!)