Posted by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/2/10 11:27pm
Msg #351412

Info on printer

I'm interested in buying an HP (not interested in any other brand) color laser printer with dual trays. Anybody have experience with such? If so, I'd appreciate your insights. Thanks.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 9/3/10 4:52am
Msg #351415

Curious why you'd want one?

I doubt you'll find much experience with a color laser here - maybe try a graphics art forum? Or, there's always the 'go to' for tech stuff reviews - cnet

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/3/10 5:35pm
Msg #351496

Re: Curious why you'd want one?

In a past life, I taught desktop publishing at Texas State University and computer editing at the University of Texas. I design and print all my stationery, business cards, brochures and other such material. I also print my own pictures.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 9/5/10 5:01am
Msg #351608

I was just curious because ...

since the color lasers are so pricey, and from what little I understand they're (supposedly) inferior when it comes to printing photographs - I just wondered what game you had going on with it. =)

Reply by CopperheadVA on 9/3/10 5:33am
Msg #351416

Hugh, I have an HP 2600n color laser but it only has one tray. I love it. When my kids were still in high school they would do reports with color graphics and teachers would comment about how nice the printer was. Toner is expensive but so far I've only had to replace the black, which I bought at LD products.

Reply by BobbiCT on 9/3/10 6:54am
Msg #351418

HP Color LaserJet 4600n

Have this HP at day office - everyone LOVES it.

Great workhorse if you plan to produce law firm client, excellent quality presentations, such as power point color-flow distribution charts (i.e., follow the green blocks down the chart to see what you [green] should receive after distributions and taxes).

Also good for color seminar handouts and marketing material.

Reply by Carolyn Bodley on 9/3/10 7:37am
Msg #351421

Hugh,
\My 3800n is three years old and I love it. I purchased the third tray which holds 500 sheets plus it has the smaller tray that holds 200 or so pages and then the manual feed. It is networked so every computer in the house can print to it. I can work outside and print to it. It has four toners that average $150 a piece, but their individual output is 10,000-11,000 copies.

To counter the question of why I'd want one, why wouldn't I?--loan signings are only a very small part of my life. I haven't paid to have photos commercially printed for years, and with glossy photo paper, the quality is much better than from a lab. I can also pick and choose the photos I want to print from the camera. I print emailed photos. The printer accepts a variety of paper, card stock, mylar, etc., so I create and print all my marketing materials. I print all my son's advertising material for his clothing store. I can't remember the last greeting card I purchased as I print my own one-of-a-kind. This is just a small inkling of what I use the printer for. I could have opted for automatic duplex, but when I want two-sided copies, I just flip the pages over manually.

If you want one that is going to withstand the use and abuse, the price tag will be pretty hefty--a couple thousand dollars, possibly more depending on accessories, memory, etc. If you have full intention of putting it to use, then the investment is well worth it.

Reply by James Dawson on 9/3/10 8:17am
Msg #351424

I have color printers because I do a lot of pre-painting work. I can photograph sketches, use photoshop to get variations of colors, cut N paste, move items around the painting for best results before I actually paint them.

B & W would be useless. Just get it and worry about it later.

Reply by Stoli on 9/3/10 10:04am
Msg #351432

James Dawson - I sent you a fax on Notary Rotary. n/m

Reply by James Dawson on 9/3/10 10:23am
Msg #351440

Yes THAT example is definitely a mistake! n/m

Reply by Frank/NC on 9/3/10 10:06am
Msg #351433

I have 4 printers, all HP. I think that one one the more important issues is the tech support that you get from the company. In addition, the HP printers replace the drum whenever you replace the cartridge, so there can be a savings there. Regarding their tech support, that can vary from terrible to excellent depending upon the knowledge of the person you are talking with. Personally, whenever I need the support, if I detect the person on the other end doesn't know enought to solve the problem, I ask for second level support which usually resolves the issue.
The other issue that you should be aware of is that when you call HP tech support, they now will take over control of your computer and then determine if you are using genuine HP cartridges. If not, they can deny any support even if you are under warranty. To that end, when you get a new printer and if you do use off-brand cartridges, immediately take the HP cartridges out of the printer and put them aside so that if you do need tech support you can, prior to calling HP replace the cartridges with HP ones.

Reply by Lee/AR on 9/3/10 10:27am
Msg #351441

Interesting info...and good advice, Frank. n/m