Cheap printer required - any recommendations?

I'm off to university very soon, and since there will naturally be a lot of printing of essays, reports, assignments, dissertations etc, I require a printer.

The requirements for this printer are as follows...

*Cheap-ish to buy, so under 50 ideally
*Compact
*Capable of printing A4 documents, but not fussed about photo printing as I don't intend to do a lot of this
*Cheap to run
*Not interested in an all-in-one, just a printer

Above all though, the printer needs to be frugal on ink. Various review websites and online shops on the Internet are very clever at not giving out figures like how many documents per cartridge, so I can't even play with an average figure. I don't intend to print any photos at all, so not fussed on what photo quality if like. And nor am I interested in an all-in-one.

I debated over using university printers for this purpose, but at 5p per black-and-white A4 sheet I think I can do better, plus for one year of my degree I will be on a work placement and two years I might not even be living on campus!

Any recommendations and advice will be most welcome. Oh, and any recommendations where I can get a student discount on will be most welcome too. [;)]

We managed to pick up a Canon Laser (yes laser..) for a reasonable 50ish quid, it was on offer about 10 months back. LBP2900.
Worth looking at for document printing, as most high street printers are aimed at doing everything photos/faxing/copies etc etc. and priced accordingly.

If its just B&W documents you want a worthy consideration - however have been having trouble syncing with recent change to Mac's ...

We managed to pick up a Canon Laser (yes laser..) for a reasonable 50ish quid, it was on offer about 10 months back. LBP2900.
Worth looking at for document printing, as most high street printers are aimed at doing everything photos/faxing/copies etc etc. and priced accordingly.

If its just B&W documents you want a worthy consideration - however have been having trouble syncing with recent change to Mac's ...

Originally posted by northernhenry
If its just B&W documents you want a worthy consideration - however have been having trouble syncing with recent change to Mac's ...

I have a Windows laptop, so Mac compatibility won't be an issue.

Some of the reviews for that Canon you recommend look good. Is it frugal?

Originally posted by northernhenry
If its just B&W documents you want a worthy consideration - however have been having trouble syncing with recent change to Mac's ...

I have a Windows laptop, so Mac compatibility won't be an issue.

Some of the reviews for that Canon you recommend look good. Is it frugal?

We've found it ok, numerous papers and articles printed off and don't know the full £/document, but we've not even changed the cartridge yet (there was an offer for a 2nd cart on purchase, from canon, which we sent off for. Not needed to change it yet).
Run on network with separate photo canon if need colour stuff or photo's. or if we need to print from the Mac's (hoping to get this resolved...)

We've found it ok, numerous papers and articles printed off and don't know the full /document, but we've not even changed the cartridge yet (there was an offer for a 2nd cart on purchase, from canon, which we sent off for. Not needed to change it yet).
Run on network with separate photo canon if need colour stuff or photo's. or if we need to print from the Mac's (hoping to get this resolved...)

[mitchja]

PC World are selling that LBP 2900i printer for £39.99 at the moment.

They are also selling new toner cartridges for the same printer for £56.99!!

Regards

[mitchja]

PC World are selling that LBP 2900i printer for 39.99 at the moment.

They are also selling new toner cartridges for the same printer for 56.99!!

Regards

Sounds like the deal for that extra cartridge was good value at the time...

Sounds like the deal for that extra cartridge was good value at the time...

Originally posted by mitchja
PC World are selling that LBP 2900i printer for £39.99 at the moment.

They are also selling new toner cartridges for the same printer for £56.99!!

Regards

Guess where the money is in 'printers' then.

I once saw a Lexmark ad, buy a set of cartridegs and get the printer free.

Originally posted by mitchja
PC World are selling that LBP 2900i printer for 39.99 at the moment.

They are also selling new toner cartridges for the same printer for 56.99!!

Regards

Guess where the money is in 'printers' then.

I once saw a Lexmark ad, buy a set of cartridegs and get the printer free.

I have a brother laser printer at home... the last time I checked prices for toner cartridges, they were about £17 each, and seem to last forever. I've still not had to actually replace it! It's an HL-1470N although they don't make them any more, but I'm sure an equivalent model wouldn't be too expensive.

I have a brother laser printer at home... the last time I checked prices for toner cartridges, they were about 17 each, and seem to last forever. I've still not had to actually replace it! It's an HL-1470N although they don't make them any more, but I'm sure an equivalent model wouldn't be too expensive.

Originally posted by mitchja
PC World are selling that LBP 2900i printer for £39.99 at the moment.

They are also selling new toner cartridges for the same printer for £56.99!!

Or you can refill the toner for £15...or less

Originally posted by mitchja
PC World are selling that LBP 2900i printer for 39.99 at the moment.

They are also selling new toner cartridges for the same printer for 56.99!!

Or you can refill the toner for 15...or less

The LBP 2900i does sound an interest proposition. However I am thinking to myself whether the lack of colour prints from it will be an obstacle in the long-term.

I am actually in two minds over the Canon PIXMA iP2600 or the HP Deskjet D2460, as they're both cheap printers that won't cost the earth to buy. It's just economy I'm unsure on, and owning two HP printers at home the HP cartridges aren't exactly cheap, and at the moment I'm swinging more towards the Canon as the cost per B&W page equates to 3.02p according to TrustedReviews.com's review.

The LBP 2900i does sound an interest proposition. However I am thinking to myself whether the lack of colour prints from it will be an obstacle in the long-term.

I am actually in two minds over the Canon PIXMA iP2600 or the HP Deskjet D2460, as they're both cheap printers that won't cost the earth to buy. It's just economy I'm unsure on, and owning two HP printers at home the HP cartridges aren't exactly cheap, and at the moment I'm swinging more towards the Canon as the cost per B&W page equates to 3.02p according to TrustedReviews.com's review.

a laser is definitly a better bet, the initial outlay may be higher - £40/£50 but bearing in mind you will get around 1500 pages (even more if u use economy modes) from it & you can get refill kits of ebay for under a tenner which will give you another 5000 pages atleast it's really a no brainer...

beware, they are larger so if space is an issue?!...

a laser is definitly a better bet, the initial outlay may be higher - 40/50 but bearing in mind you will get around 1500 pages (even more if u use economy modes) from it & you can get refill kits of ebay for under a tenner which will give you another 5000 pages atleast it's really a no brainer...

beware, they are larger so if space is an issue?!...