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Analysis | Printer ink is a scam. Here’s how to spend less. (wapo.st)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/technology@beehaw.org
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Washington Post: Americans waste $10 billion each year on name-brand ink. So we tested low-cost options including remanufactured cartridges, ink injection kits — and even making our own.

My advice: get a mono laser printer. Printing is handy but relatively infrequent for a lot of people these days. If that's your use case, mono laser is the way to go. Toner does not dry out or go bad.

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[–] 2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

Some of you should try

I think by "some of you" you mean "heavy printer users", and if so I agree.

The typical use case for most folks is infrequent (maybe print 100 pages 1 month and 1 page each month otherwise or less) and works when you want to use it.

The two features you describe do add value, but are anti features when an in

  • lots of ink paying for more than you need
  • sometimes gets clogged
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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago

    lots of ink paying for more than you need

    You pay less for an ink refil on an ink tank printer than you do a toner refil for a laser printer. This is despite the fact that the ink refil lasts longer.

    I agree with the idea that infrequent users should consider laser printers. The main issue I have with them though is the cost. A colour laser printer is more expensive than even a tank printer which is expensive to begin with. It also can't do photos very well which is something a lot of people use printers for. Greyscale laser printers are only good for text.

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