Changed to a laserprinter

Geo-TH,In · Jan 10, 2015

I got tired of ink jets drying out. Doing a poor and slow job. My son advised I try a refurbished Brother laser HL2240 from staples for $50 free delivery to my house too. It did a nice very fast job printing out my tax records to send to my CPA. Printer comes with same warranty as a new one, 1 year. I can return it the the store is it goes bad. It's just a black printer. My old office printer will still make me photo copies, which I rarely need. Maybe some day I'll take old HP office jet to the target range. Have some fun shooting it. Might feel good.
I later learned the starter toner cartridge has a 2 year shelf life. Not sure I will print off 700 copies in two years. What shelf life do you get out of a toner cartridge?
I also learned the Brother printer isn't made in China, it's made in Vietnam.
So has anyone had good luck with Brother laser?

Mike (WA) · Jan 10, 2015

I had one at my office several years ago- Printed fine, but after about 3 toner cartridges, the print quality was bad even with new cartridge. Called Brother, and they said you need a new drum every 3 cartridges or so. New drum was over $200.00. New HP Laser on sale was $150.00, and they don't have a "drum". So said so long, bro, and haven't had one since.

But it sounds like you don't do too much printing, so it might work out fine for you.

JMOR · Jan 10, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:26:31 01/10/15) I had one at my office several years ago- Printed fine, but after about 3 toner cartridges, the print quality was bad even with new cartridge. Called Brother, and they said you need a new drum every 3 cartridges or so. New drum was over $200.00. New HP Laser on sale was $150.00, and they don't have a "drum". So said so long, bro, and haven't had one since.

But it sounds like you don't do too much printing, so it might work out fine for you.

believe that you will find that the "drum" is internal to the hp CARTRIDGE.

bison · Jan 10, 2015

Smart move.
I had the same problem with the ink printers, every time i used it (maybe 3-4 times a year) i had to buy new ink cartridges.
I bought a new laser printer for less money than two sets of ink cartridges.
I have not had a problem since

Dave H (MI) · Jan 10, 2015

Doing what I do for a living, that would be a CPA, I sort of live off of laser printing. When professional tax software became the norm just over 25 years ago the HP laserjet was the industry standard. I worked thru all the models up to the Laserjet 4. Those last forever and I have a lifetime supply stacked up in the closet for parts, etc to run some of my older programs. For tax I bought a newer Laserjet that has higher page count per minute. I don't think there is a better laser printer out there than HP.

Sure beats how we did it before that.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 10, 2015

I went to college with my CPA back in the 70's. I remember when he passed his board test. I print off my business records the way his likes them. He said if everyone did their taxes the way I do mine it would make his life much easier. He retired from State Board of Accounts and has an office he works out of .

As for me, 20 years ago I bought ms works 4.0. My son built a computer for me when he was in HS. Got parts off internet. The computer is no good for internet use, but I still use it for keeping my business records. I have 20 years of records stored on that computer and on another one for back up. I like the spreadsheet on 4.0 better than today's spreadsheet.

I guess if the spreadsheet isn't broken why switch?

Mike (WA) · Jan 10, 2015

Not sure about the technology, just know that I didn't have to buy a separate $200 drum with the HPs. I don't remember that the Brother cartridges were much cheaper than HPs, if any.

Only complaint I've had about any of the HPs was an older one that fed paper down from the top. When it got a little worn, it would pull more than one sheet through. The newer ones pull it up from the bottom, and seldom have a problem.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 10, 2015

Mike, The $50 copier came with a starter toner, TN420. It says I can get 700 copies. So if the printer only makes 700 before it dies, that will work out to about $.07 per copy. No way will I spend $200 to fix a $50 printer.

My bigger concern is the toner, will it be good after 2 years? I like the laser over my old HP ink jet.

Jim from Pa · Jan 10, 2015

The toner will be fine. I have a Brother HL-5140 that I bought over 8 years ago. I rarely make copies and it still has the original toner cartridge. It prints very well.

Dave H (MI) · Jan 10, 2015

Exactly! I started my business 26 years ago and I still use the same accounting software. It is blindingly fast which allows me to make more money because I can do entry and processing easier and faster. Problem is...MSDOS. This new computer on the desk processes tax returns just fine but I have to keep an old laptop next to me to do accounting work. Working with a computer guy to sort that out now. I think we are going to take some of the old computers around here and build a "new" one that runs DOS. I keep the old Laserjet 4 around to do the printing because the old software does not recognize the USB ports. It's a pain, but there is nothing out there like my old program. Runs circles around the new ones.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jan 10, 2015

An additional advantage is that original toner cartridges for most older Laser printers can be bought pretty cheaply on Ebay, and I have found they are good much longer than their expiration date.

SweetFeet · Jan 10, 2015

Geo,

Have had two small laser black-only printers at two of my jobs... one a Brother and one an HP, both fine printers.

If you use a printer little enough that ink cartridges dry out - you will love a laser printer!

Not sure on pages printed-per-laser cartridge, but I'll bet a local office supply store employee can give you an answer.

CKain(MI) · Jan 10, 2015

I agree with HP LASER printers. My lifetime 'job' was repairing printers/copiers (and more), Dry toner really does not have a shelf-life, if kept away from heat. Should be 'shaken, not stirred' before consumption.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 10, 2015

Thanks for answering my question, nice to know. I think I'll just buy the smaller toner over the larger one. Could be 7 years or more before I use the small toner cart.

CKain(MI) · Jan 10, 2015

Yes that is true, a 'drum' is integral to the
'image unit' assy.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 10, 2015

My drum is only $25, half the price of a refurbished printer. So I guess when I need a new cartridge and durm, I'll just buy another $50 printer.
printer drum

PJH · Jan 10, 2015

We've had a Brother 2270 laser printer for a year or so, and we like it.

jimg.allentown · Jan 11, 2015

HP does not make laser printers. Each and every one is a re-badged Canon. I used to do a lot of repair work on them on the side. Once you open it up, the parts all have Canon part numbers.
BUT - I agree! they are the best printers out there.

jimg.allentown · Jan 11, 2015

The "shelf life" of a toner is just an arbitrary number that has little meaning in the real world. Toners will last indefinitely if stored properly. Properly only means protecting them from excessive heat/cold/humidity.
Also note that refilling the Brother toners is quite inexpensive and uncomplicated. Toner refill kits are readily available on eBay for under $20 for color, and even less for black.
Starter toners are simply regular toners with a "timing" gear removed. Also easily converted to a full toner. Again, many vendors on eBay selling the gears along with instructions on installing them.
While I am at it, the drums are also readily available for reasonable prices by almost ANY aftermarket ink supplier. If you go by Brother or Staples prices, a refill would cost more than you paid for the printer.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 11, 2015

$10-12 range, all are NON-oem.
$50 for brother toner, 2600 pages. That's what I
paid for the printer. I've been reading the starter
toner may print 700-1200 pages. This could very
easily a cheap throw away printer if I get 1200
pages on toner.

Changed to a laserprinter

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