Is it time for a new printer?

Lestratcaster

I've been noticing faded ink quality on the recent prints on my HP Deskjet D2460. I've done all the cleaning and aligning cartridges, even cleaned the nozzle of it, but still not getting good consistent clear prints. Sometimes they print ok, but its a hit n miss thing.

On one printout of a prime cartridge page or alignment most of the ink didn't even print on it for me to see where the arrows where to see where they aligned to the edge of the page.

I think my printer must be about 15 years old! So I'm probably due an upgrade? Or is there anything else I can do to save this one?

VimFuego

apropos nothing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9wsjroVlu8

darthed1981

I'll watch with interest as currently printer-less after retiring my old Canon MP610 - would like to build some photo albums to flick through in my old age...

Emp_Fab

Inkjet printers cost next to nothing.  You won't get yours sorted for anything less than a sizeable chunk of the cost of a new one.  Even if you have the skill and patience to disassemble, clean and service your printer yourself (even if you could get the parts), it's probably a waste of time and money.  Bin it.  Buy a new one.

Sporky

By "bin it", I'm sure Emp means "recycle it responsibly".

15 years is a good run. 

Lestratcaster

Yeah I think I've done well to keep it well over a decade. I'll start the hunt for getting a new one then.

So what ones are good? Nothing fancy just boring black & white document printing most, if not all, the time. 

Sporky

For black and white text I'd go laser. Inkjets win for photos, laser for the rest, I'd say. 

Lestratcaster

Hmmm they cost considerably alot more than an inkjet, nothing I can see out there less than £100. Also they are bigger in size than an inkjet.

But I do take your point because I never print photos.

Sporky

If you print lots then laser will work out cheaper.

If you don't then it won't. 

Kittyfrisk

First search  https://www.currys.co.uk/computing/printers-scanners-and-ink/printers/laser-printers
£99 isn't bad 

Lestratcaster

Or this is better price wise, smaller size as well

Buy Brother HL-1112 Mono Laser Printer | Printers | Argos

Kittyfrisk

See, it is possible   

Lestratcaster

Lol. Is there a printer that's wired connection straight to my pc, no-frills no app bullshit just a basic simple device that's easy to use?

Danny1969

Epson Workforce WF2630

Runs on £3 cartridges so very cheap to run. I print around 100 pages a week and this has served me well for 5 years or so 

Grunfeld

Lestratcaster said:

Hmmm they cost considerably alot more than an inkjet, nothing I can see out there less than £100. Also they are bigger in size than an inkjet.

But I do take your point because I never print photos.

I hardly print anything these days but the great thing about a laser is that there's no ink to dry out.  It's just good to go.

Printers are still bloody annoying though. 

For some reason when I go down to see my partner the first thing my laptop does is chat to her printer, "Hi how you doing? Did you miss me babe?"  Weird.

Lestratcaster

Kittyfrisk said:

First search  https://www.currys.co.uk/computing/printers-scanners-and-ink/printers/laser-printers
£99 isn't bad 

Just read the system requirements and it says Windows 11 or later, I'm still using Windows 10 so will it still work?

Kittyfrisk

Short answer, possibly... 
I'd suggest going & asking the manufacturer's support groups for the particular printer that you are considering of getting.
As with here, the communities are usually a good source of information.

Smellyfingers

I don’t know how often you need to use your home printer. 

But being an infrequent printer, I dispensed with the whole notion of printers some time ago( changing the ink cartridges, worrying about paper getting stuck etc, tripping over leads etc)

Now I just save work to a dongle and go to my local print shop, who charge about 10p per A4 sheet. One less thing..

Emp_Fab

Sporky said:

By "bin it", I'm sure Emp means "recycle it responsibly".

15 years is a good run. 

Indeed I did.  

I would definitely go down the laser printer route if you can.  As has already been said, unless you have a particular need for colour, they are a fuss-free, more reliable, better quality option.

Inkjet printers that aren't used regularly are just a huge pain in the arse.  I have a mono laser and a colour inkjet and I hardly use either.  However, when I do, the laser turns on, smells a bit of dust for a moment, and prints.  The inkjet needs multiple sheets of paper and umpteen cleaning cycles, using half the bloody ink before it might churn out a page of what I asked for.

Lestratcaster

Kittyfrisk said:

Short answer, possibly... 
I'd suggest going & asking the manufacturer's support groups for the particular printer that you are considering of getting.
As with here, the communities are usually a good source of information.

Good call, need to look for some kind of HP/Brother forum somewhere.

Lestratcaster

Smellyfingers said:

I don’t know how often you need to use your home printer. 

But being an infrequent printer, I dispensed with the whole notion of printers some time ago( changing the ink cartridges, worrying about paper getting stuck etc, tripping over leads etc)

Now I just save work to a dongle and go to my local print shop, who charge about 10p per A4 sheet. One less thing..

Weekly I'd say, I run a small business and regularly have to print text documents.

I don't know if there's a print shop near me, suppose if there was I could use it temporarily til I get a new one, but its just the convenience of having it right there when you need it.