Best Home Printer For The Cheapest Ink?

[MrIncredible]

Need to replace our home printer (currently have a hp laser jet all in one (not working))

use it mostly for kids homework but occaisionally use for other stuff both colour and b/w.

I noticed Kodak seem to have the cheapest ink but no longer seem to be selling/producing printers!

Any suggestions greatly appreciated

[murraymints]

I have Kodak 3 in one ....are you sure about the provision ?

[Jeza]

I have an Epson 3 in 1. I have just bought a batch of ink for it. The ink is not Epson but I can't tell the difference. Ink price was £11.99 and free postage. For that I got 5 black and 3 of all the colours so 14 cartridges in all.

[ferlew]

Kodak went bust a couple of years ago, although ink is still available.
Epson XP202 here, ink is not cheap, but it lasts ages and ages.

[Daisybellemay]

Use something like HP Photosmart C5180 all-in-one.

I use this because it doesn't fuss when I use compatible/refillable inks. Buy the printer then buy empty cartridges and refill inks (search Ebay). It's a doddle and costs very little compared to the over-priced HP offers. Just follow the instructions. I have several printers including Epson large-format photo-printer, but use the HP as an everyday printer/scanner.

I bought this machine as advised by a (now retired) printer repair expert. He was right! No problems with this machine after many years of use. It's probably out-of-production now, but you could probably find one locally or on Ebay. My method is to find he cheap compatible cartridges first, then source the printer that uses them. Your children will be printing to their hearts' content without you going crazy!
NB. Remember to source good paper - it makes a huge difference between OK and great prints! Don't be fooled by advertising - I have found excellent stock at computer fairs and car-boots, I use this stuff professionally!

Hope this helps,

[cupotee2]

Same as Jezza nothing seems to compare with the price of those Inks.

[Hopkirk]

In my experience Epsons don't take kindly to 'compatible' cartridges. They give all sorts of printing problems if you don't use their ridiculously expensive cartiridges.

I am going to try HP next, as I have to ditch ours.

Hopefully is right that HPs are OK.

[Hopkirk]

Hopefully .... Daisy .... is right that HPs are OK.

[Nibble]

Have had a HP for the past 4 years, excellent for homework/office...

A good all round 3-in1 printer (IMHO)

[douglas9401]

I have an Epson XP-405. It has a quick start up and doesn't do that charging ink thing that their older models did.
Compatible cartridges are widely available on Ebay and work fine.

[Wak]

I bought an HP F4580 three years ago and refilled the initial cartridges for two years at a cost of about £5. Still gives excellent results.

[lucidity]

HP Photosmart C4480 All-in-One with XL cartridges works for me, well worth investing the extra in the XL cartridges - very happy.

[Wak]

Just noticed my entry above, the £5 covered the whole two years and not each refilling operation as could be implied.

[Daisybellemay]

Hello again,
Just to clarify:
I use a refillable cartridge system for my HP. Sourced online from Intelli-inks, but other makes available.
Switch off printer! Switch off computer!
You need to remove all the original cartridges (I tape over the ink-insert hole). Use the syringe to fill the new cartridges, replace them in the printer.
Computer back on then fire-up the printer - it'll clang away whilst it resets itself.
Go print!
I have NEVER had any problems using this system - I resent paying fortunes for ink, unless for artwork on my Epson (but I have been experimenting with long-life inks with a similar set up - don't know how long before the ink fades in sunlight at present!)
I do an enormous amount of printing, but advise careful selection of paper (which needn't be expensive) and being experimental with settings. I often do "strip-tests" to decide the effect I need.
I love my printers and couldn't do half the work without a system like this.

[Wak]

I know what you mean about paying a fortune for cartridges as I started refilling in 1999 with a Lexmark printer and they were quite expensive cartridges in those days.