For years, users have bemoaned the seemingly planned obsolescence built into inkjet printers by major manufacturers. They struggle with questionable universal ink formulations (which might destroy the printer header) and resort to illicit maintenance programs to reset (waste) ink tank counters.
Replacing components is either impossible or involves such high labor or part costs (printer head) that it results in a total loss. The European Union has responded indirectly with a repairability mandate. However, simply being repairable doesn't address the potential for spare parts to have built-in expiration dates.
I realize that millions are spent on development and the devices are financed by inks and spare parts - but today you can get even laser and 3D printers with highly complex mechanics for comparatively little money.
Does anyone know of equivalent alternatives to the major providers? I'm not talking about "fine art", but normal home-use stuff.
In my experience, it’s often not worth it.
I have settled on a monochrome laser printer from Brother. It’s very reliable. Buying a toner cartridge is not exactly cheap but not really too expensive either. They last quite long. The printer itself does what it should, without hassle.
At least for me, I rarely have the need for printing in colour. And AFAIK, inkjets need regular use to not “clog up”. So I’ve come to the conclusion that it doesn’t suite my common use-case.
In a situation where I must have color I can go to the office, or the local library. Or even a print shop if I need something really fancy. But honestly, I think the last time I printed something in colour was over five years ago.
Sometimes my wife print photos, but that can be ordered via Internet, so we haven’t found that to be a reason to buy an inkjet either.
Ink is open
Drivers are pretty open and full featured
Printers often have quite a bit of open features for accessing directly.
I used to think print heads were pretty common and learned otherwise when looking at apps like Qimage Pro to get different usage out of it
Add to that, the market model is mostly a "razors and blades" model where you sell the hardware at or below cost and charge more for the ink and everyone hates you for it.
Also, don't ignore the used market. The price of a used printer can be low enough (if you are somewhat patient) that new printers are either an impulse buy or a very carefully researched one. (ie., not in the middle).
I have two of the aforementioned Brother laser printers (older generation), $20 each. If I see another using the same cartridges for a similar price I'll grab it and toss everything except the toner unit and the tray (no space for three printers).
Edit: if you go this route you should be somewhat familiar with the age of the tech (so, you aren't absolved of some research). For me, it's a bit simpler for now, I already have consumables for the TN420, so I just look for that. At some point it'll be old and I'll have to do the roadwork for something newer.
I have owned tons of printers in my life, but never an inkjet.
They're lower resolution, slower, nuch less reliable, and more expensive than any laser in the long term. Are the colors better than a color laser? I've never compared them.
This is same business model as with game consoles, PS5 is also sold much cheaper than cost it's hardware on free market, but people than buying games and paying for subscriptions and Sony earn money from fees.
Unfortunately, game console hardware is not cheap to produce and the same with inkjet printer hardware - they are really complicated.
Counterfeit money