OT: CHEAP HP Color LaserJets!

[Rip Rokken]

Sorry this is so off-topic, but these are a steal, and figured someone might be interested.

Our local Office Depot has the HP Color LaserJet CP1215 on sale for $99.00 after $200 in mail-in rebates, and the CP1518ni (network-ready, and with memory card slots) for $199.00 also after $200 in mail in rebates. These are a STEAL for this price, as a client of mine just paid $399.00 for the CP1518ni...

But I did check the cost of cartridges -- they take 4 (1 each black, yellow, red, blue) -- the black is $69.00/ea, and the color ones are $64.00/ea. The black holds much more toner than the color ones. So as predicted the cost of the consumables is high, but if you want a color laser, the qualiity is very good.

[Barb]

Thanks for supporting HP! I work there.

[Rip Rokken]

Thanks for supporting HP! I work there.

No prob! Can you get me a discount on color toner cartridges?

[Barb]

Thanks for supporting HP! I work there.

No prob! Can you get me a discount on color toner cartridges?

It's the old Gillette theory -- make the razors cheap and the replacement blades expensive. Not sure if you have a Costco in your area, but the cartridges are pretty cheap there.

[Rip Rokken]

It's the old Gillette theory -- make the razors cheap and the replacement blades expensive. Not sure if you have a Costco in your area, but the cartridges are pretty cheap there.

I've been noticing that trend towards focusing on the consumables ever since the Deskjet line came out, and it continues. These are really nice quality printers, though, and end up costing as little or less than the smallest B&W LaserJets.

[AlteredDNA]

I just wish printers didn't come with all the "extra" software - just plug it up, install the driver, and print to it.

This has caused much grief over the years for my clients that I write software for.

Also, totally agree about "giving away the razors and selling the blades". Ink cartridges cost too much for what you get out of them, IMO...

[Rip Rokken]

I just wish printers didn't come with all the "extra" software - just plug it up, install the driver, and print to it.

I'm 100% with ya there, and for that reason stay away from most all-in-ones. I really don't like them. I don't mind if a printer comes with some useful apps or utilities at all, but printers that are more software-suite dependent beyond a basic driver are not my thing.

[jrnyjunky]

I love HP printers, but you are right, the ink is expensive. I just up-graded to a Kodak EasyShare 5100 All-In-One printer. (Sorry Barb, I really do love HP products.) I don't need anything spectacular, just something to use at home for printing school papers for the kids and stuff like that. It also prints pictures and it does a really good job. The best part about it is I can get the color and the black and white ink for 22.00 for the 2 at Wal-Mart.

[Penguinpc]

Depending on how many pages you can get out of a set of cartridges, it could still be a good deal. At work we get 6,000-8,000 pages out of a cartridge. For home use that could last quite a while.