Good budget printer?

**Wox** · 10-18-2007, 07:17 PM

Hi all,
my first visit to the Printer forum.

Not sure if this is the right place for recommendations.

Anyhow, my old Epson Photo 890 was acting up weird and I thought it's probably time to get a new printer. I need a budget one but it can't be crappy. Here are the reqs-

1. It has to be InkJet (duh!). Laser ink is too expensive.
2. It has to be a color printer.
3. It's ink shouldn't be too expensive.

Right now I'm looking at http://tinyurl.com/3929dd, which is a Epson Stylus CX4400 All-In-One Printer, for $60 (s&h incl.)

Anybody used this one before? Is it any good? Is the ink expensive?
Or is there a better one?

Thanks!!

**twajetmech** · 10-19-2007, 02:03 AM

Personally I like Epson printers (have an R200). I find the print quality good and the photo/cd printing excellent. The ink in many of the Epson printers is within 6 individual cartridges, which makes replacing the cart. quite economical (you only have to replace the one that's low !) typical prices run $17 for a black and $13 for a color cart. the only drawback with an Epson is that you cannot allow the printer cart to become dry or you'll clog the print head (pain to unclog)
the R280, R380, C88+ are all good, for an All in one..the CX8400 (same series as the 4400) are all rated well. As a note, most printer mfg's consider any printer nuder $100 as disposable ! if you step up to a more robust model like the 8400 or better then print quality and costs per print go down (the cheaper the printer the more expensive it is typically to run)

**Wox** · 10-20-2007, 11:07 AM

OK.. thanks for the advice. I also noticed how printer companies sell cheap printers to get customers and then sell expensive ink to earn the money back. Hmm..
Now, looked around and found another AIO.. Canon Pixma MP530. http://tinyurl.com/32nqbg. Anybody use it?
Now I'm not saying that I need an AIO, just that most printers I found that are reviewed are AIO's.

**bruiser** · 10-20-2007, 01:46 PM

Go to Canon's site and check their store. Sometimes they have some unadvertised deals.

What about Kodak? They now have a couple of printers out, and advertise low ink costs.

**kodi** · 10-20-2007, 01:56 PM

That canon is a good printer I was considering it when I bought my canon MP600r.
You will find that if you get a AIO you will start to use the features and very soon will wonder how you did without them
The carts are reasonable for that printer (the same ones as mine)

**Wox** · 10-20-2007, 02:27 PM

Thanks you guys!

10-18-2007, 07:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 638 OS: XP Pro SP2 My System	Good budget printer? Hi all, my first visit to the Printer forum. Not sure if this is the right place for recommendations. Anyhow, my old Epson Photo 890 was acting up weird and I thought it's probably time to get a new printer. I need a budget one but it can't be crappy. Here are the reqs- 1. It has to be InkJet (duh!). Laser ink is too expensive. 2. It has to be a color printer. 3. It's ink shouldn't be too expensive. Right now I'm looking at http://tinyurl.com/3929dd, which is a Epson Stylus CX4400 All-In-One Printer, for $60 (s&h incl.) Anybody used this one before? Is it any good? Is the ink expensive? Or is there a better one? Thanks!!

10-19-2007, 02:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
twajetmech I helped the forums. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: LGA, NYC Posts: 2,388 OS: XP-Pro Sp2 & XP-Pro Sp2 Tablet Edition, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Good budget printer? Personally I like Epson printers (have an R200). I find the print quality good and the photo/cd printing excellent. The ink in many of the Epson printers is within 6 individual cartridges, which makes replacing the cart. quite economical (you only have to replace the one that's low !) typical prices run $17 for a black and $13 for a color cart. the only drawback with an Epson is that you cannot allow the printer cart to become dry or you'll clog the print head (pain to unclog) the R280, R380, C88+ are all good, for an All in one..the CX8400 (same series as the 4400) are all rated well. As a note, most printer mfg's consider any printer nuder $100 as disposable ! if you step up to a more robust model like the 8400 or better then print quality and costs per print go down (the cheaper the printer the more expensive it is typically to run) __________________ PSU Selection/Info // Bench test // Thermal Paste // Memory Selection // Bios Beep Codes // CPU-Z// Posting System Specs

10-20-2007, 11:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
Wox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 638 OS: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: Good budget printer? OK.. thanks for the advice. I also noticed how printer companies sell cheap printers to get customers and then sell expensive ink to earn the money back. Hmm.. Now, looked around and found another AIO.. Canon Pixma MP530. http://tinyurl.com/32nqbg. Anybody use it? Now I'm not saying that I need an AIO, just that most printers I found that are reviewed are AIO's.

10-20-2007, 01:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,973 OS: xp	Re: Good budget printer? Go to Canon's site and check their store. Sometimes they have some unadvertised deals. What about Kodak? They now have a couple of printers out, and advertise low ink costs.

10-20-2007, 01:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,397 OS: Windows 7-Ultimate 64 Bit My System	Re: Good budget printer? That canon is a good printer I was considering it when I bought my canon MP600r. You will find that if you get a AIO you will start to use the features and very soon will wonder how you did without them The carts are reasonable for that printer (the same ones as mine) __________________ Brian

10-20-2007, 02:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 638 OS: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: Good budget printer? Thanks you guys!