| Author |
Message |
Scott Whitney (66.82.9.68)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 4:51 pm: | |
There is some concern floating about that laser printers may have trouble, or even fry themselves, on Modified Sine Wave power. I was recently in need of a new printer and decided to spring for color laser. Wanting something that would work on my Heart MSW inverter, I considered the Okidata line of "laser" printers. The reason I put it in quotes is that the Okidata uses LED instead of laser technology. Anyway, today I tested it on MSW by printing off scads of stuff using inverter power. It didn't miss a beat. (I still bought the extra warantee, however)
Just an FYI in case anyone is looking for a very nice color laser for the bus. Print quality is very nice and it is quite speedy. I really like this printer: Okidata, C5150. It is about $500-$600 depending in rebates etc. It is also network ready so you plug it into your network and can print from any PC, wired, or wirelessly. Nice set-up.
Scott |
Nick Russell (66.82.9.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 8:34 pm: | |
I have lived and traveled fulltime, first in a stick and staple motorhome, then a bus, for over five years now. I publish a newspaper and books for RVers, and have used HP laser printers in our rigs, powered by modified sine wave inverters, since the very first day without a problem. |
Bob (Bobb) (216.232.250.26)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 10:35 pm: | |
I live where no power utility exists. I have used an HP 4 Laserjet on my Trace MSW inverter for over ten years now. I have added an HP Colour Laser, and a couple of inkjets over the years.. never a problem.
With the exception of clock radios not keeping time, I have not had one electronic device fail or malfunction in the ten + years using inverted power. |
Scott Whitney (66.82.9.80)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 10:56 pm: | |
Interesting. I wonder if the whole fried laser printer on MSW thing is an urban myth, then? Or is there some truth to it?
Scott |
BrianMCI96A3 (205.188.116.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 10:44 am: | |
I really love the reliability and print quality of HP printers, I've have an HP 5L Xtra and an HP 6L laser printer, and a HP 1120c Professional Series Deskjet printer(which can print legal sized color documents).
I think over the years I have had eight HP printers, all printed beautifully and only one gave me any problem...a 2100 Professional Series Deskjet(the print cartridges leaked for some reason)the rest were flawlessly reliable.
As you can see I am sold on HP printers, so it makes me happy to hear that HP Deskjets and Laser printers handle inverter power since I'll definitely be having one or both on my 96A3
Brian |
John that newguy (199.232.240.243)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 10:54 am: | |
HAR!!
"I love my brand refrigerator; I replaced twenty of them in my kitchen
over the past two years, and I'll get another one as soon as this one breaks"
(I still have the same Okidata LED Laser printer I started with eight years
ago. I'd replace it if I -ever- have to, with another Oki). |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 11:06 am: | |
Steady John--
Most of the HP Printers (Laser) that I have retired were still in working order when retired. they were retired because the newer printers have features that the users wanted. virtually every HP laser printer (Hundreds) that I have ever worked with are still in service somewhere.
On the other hand, I was an Okidata Service tech (As well as HP) when the LED page printers came out and in my opinion they are junk. I guarantee that every one of those I installed are in a landfill somewhere. Okidata was also a terrible manufacturer for a reseller to do business with/for.
Make sure you get that warranty.
so...while I'm bashing various printers, any Ink-jet-based printer is a terrible value and indisputible junk.
Now, If I haven't manage to piss off everybody, at least I gave it a good shot.
Gary |
BrianMCI96A3 (205.188.116.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 11:41 am: | |
I don't know much about the Tech side of printers,
but Gary is right about one thing, every single one of the HP printers (both Laser and Deskjet) I have had were still working fine when I either sold them with an old computer system or sold them outright. I still have three that I use, one laser printer I use here at home, one is at work and I use the Deskjet for color prints.
Gary, who obviously has the technical knowlege, doesn't like Deskjets but I have had good results with Deskjets overall in the last 10 years, though surely color laser printers are the way to go if you have the money.
I will say this an HP 1120c Deskjet (just like the one I own) was the main printer used by 20 mechanics on two shifts out on the floor of our diesel shop and it worked perfectly day after day printing out schematics, drawings, text documents timesheets and photos, through a case or two of cartriges for the 6 years it toiled there, covered in soot, concrete dust, sand and grime, it was NEVER covered.
It was replaced by a newer printer about 6 months ago, but it was still working perfectly.
Brian |
John that newguy (199.232.240.243)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 11:54 am: | |
(I don't care; I love my Oki) |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 11:57 am: | |
the "Pro" series of deskjets (Like the 1120c) seem to outlive the "Three digit" ones, however, my big issue is the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).
Cost of inkjets are generally higher than one thinks, because of the ink required, special paper (Depending on what you're doing) and all.
Your opinion will change based on your own situation (Same as anyting else in Bus conversions) but for me, supporting a minimum of 50 users, inkjets suck.
I'll admit, for some, Inkjets are OK, just not for me. I just threw that in because they are a pet peever for me.
Gary |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 11:59 am: | |
Hey John,
I hope the Oki holds up to your expectations.
Gary |
John that newguy (199.232.240.243)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 12:18 pm: | |
It does Gary. I'm printing this on my Oki right now. As you can see, it looks great!
I forgot.. I do have a Compaq A3000 for normal stuff. But I do love that Oki! |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 12:30 pm: | |
You know how to tell there's been a blonde using your computer?
There's whiteout on the screen.
gary |
FishbowlBrian (Fishbowlbrian) (67.165.212.171)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 2:45 am: | |
I'm with Gary on this one. Inkjets and their cartridges will bleed you dry. It's no secret that the printer companies literally give them away to sell the high-buck cartridges.
I've had a color Minolta laser for over a year now and haven't replaced any toner yet. My model costs less than $800 now. It's got a network interface where I can just plug it into my home LAN and print, check print jobs, even check my toner status by typing in its IP address.
In actual photo quality, some of the higher-priced inkjets can beat it ... BUT at like $1 page vs. my nickel or two. Real photos should be printed by a digital one-hour lab on real photo paper anyways... for 30 cents a 4x6, or a couple bucks for an 8x10.
FBB |
madbrit (67.136.90.6)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 7:30 am: | |
Gary,
Thanks for the info on the white-out, I thought it was where the cat had sneezed.......... LOL.
Peter. |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 11:36 am: | |
OK, while we're ranting about inkjets--No two use the same cartridge! (Another Peeve) So if you have an office with a dozen inkjets, you're carrying a grand worth of cartridges in inventory. It doesn't take much spreadsheet knowledge to prove to management that a color laser isn't that much money. Now If I could only get my users to stop printing their Emails to the color printer....
I have an HP4500DN at home. (D is for Duplex, prints on both sides...)
If I get a ream of good quality ($) glossy stock, and print a 640X480 Digital photo, it's hard to tell it from an emulsion-based photo.
Gary |
cjm (63.158.197.215)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 1:44 pm: | |
I have been using the Stratitec inkjet refill kit from Sam's Club in my Cannon S9000 for 2-3 years. I use it to print photographs. I can't see any difference between it and the Cannon ink except the price, around $17 for the kit instead of $11 per cartridge. The kit refills the Cannon cartridges about 10 times each including the photo colors. No clogs and the prints last as long as the ones made with Cannon ink. YMMV, John |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.95.100)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 9:35 pm: | |
Thanks for the info on the Stratitec kit, John. I got that exact one a year ago and have never messed with it yet. I usually run the carts until you can hardly see the ink I care so little for paper of any kind, on any printer! ;) Most of my household nightmare has to do with paper clutter and it AIN'T GONNA FIT IN THE BUS, so keeping from generating *new* paper is paramount!
Nice flame war, boys. ;)
Ya know, Gary, that never happened when you were out in CA.
|
Scott Whitney (66.82.9.54)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 9:23 pm: | |
When I ran ink jet, I'd buy the made-in-China or made-in-mexico inks. You can find them on eBay and they are a whole lot cheaper. (like three color and two b&w for the price of a normal single ink)
I don't know about early Oki's, but so far this one rocks. I bought the extra warrantee only to cover my ass about the chop chop inverter power.
I am not supporting 50 employees. Just me and my office in my bus. But I have so far printed scads of color documents. They almost look like offset print. Kinda glossy like. No complaints so far.
Scott |