# Need advice on a new printer

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-a-new-printer/450880>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 28, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-a-new-printer/450880 "2008-05-28T14:55:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MovingTarget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@MovingTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovingTarget)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-a-new-printer/450880/1 "2008-05-28T14:55:07Z")

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Ok, here’s the deal, My wife is a scrapbooker and is just now getting into digital scrapbooking. I’m going to get a new PC set up for her with all the bells and whistles she’ll need, but I still need a printer. I would like to have an all in one printer, but this is not a deal breaker. I’m looking for opinions from the dopers here as to what might be the best printer for my buck. I’d rather not spend over about $150 on this either. So guys, let’s hear it, what’s your favorite printer for printing photos and really nice color pages?

Thanks in advance  
MT

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-a-new-printer/450880/2 "2008-05-28T15:39:26Z")

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If you can manage the up-front cost, it’s probably cheaper in the long run to get a dedicated photo printer and a laser printer.

Two years ago, I got the inkjet monkey off my back by buying a color laser printer. I was sick of spending $30 a month on ink cartridges, so I spent $350 for the laser, and two years later, I’ve finally had to replace the black cartridge. Net cost per page is half of what I was paying for ink.

However, it does a good job of printing “business graphics” but it’s fair to terrible at photos, so I’m thinking of adding one of those little dedicated 4x6" photo printers.

I can’t offer any advice on $150 inkjet printers, other than to say that the manufacturer has you on the hook for at least $500 one way or another - cheap printers tend to come with “starter” cartridges, so you’re soon shelling out $60-70 for a set of full cartridges.

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**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-a-new-printer/450880/3 "2008-05-28T15:46:22Z")

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I like my new Epsom. What I like best is the ink is pretty cheap and the colors are separate so if your yellow runs out first, just replace that and not throw away the red.