I need a printer ASAP

[crystalbella77]

I need a printer stat. I am going to do hybrid next year. That's my goal...lmbo! I have zero printer though which is problem. lol I have ordered stuff to start a hybrid-ish journal and now I am onto the next step!

So what printer do you guys use?

Does it go through ink crazy fast?

Is the ink super expensive?

Thanks girls!! I want to get it this weekend so I would love any help!! <3

[lovely1m]

HP makes the best printers IMO. I don't go through a ton of ink, just a new one every few months.

[scrapperjade]

I hate HP printers! My parents have nothing but trouble with theirs and the ink is super expensive (in my opinion, lol).

I've owned a Lexmark (NEVER GET ONE), HP's (slightly better than Lexmark but still not great), a Canon (which was great but crapped out very suddenly and was picky about paper), and now an Epson.

I LOOOOOOOVE my Epson!! The print color and quality is amazing! I've had it for 3 months now and I've printed with it quite a bit using the highest quality print setting and it still has lots of ink left out of those sample inks that came with it. I love the fact that it will print beautifully on my Canon photo paper - something my Canon could hardly handle, lol! So yeah, in 3 months, I haven't had to replace my ink cartridges, it scans & prints perfectly and prints pretty fast. I have zero complaints about it!

[pewtertm]

DH and I both have HP printer/scanners and haven't had any problems. Epsons are really good too.

Lexmark...we've both had them...them came free with the desktops. The printers themselves are good, but their ink is outrageous. It was literally cheaper to replace the printer (which came with ink) than to buy a new cartridge.

[jenn7]

I would LOVE one of the Epson large format printers - they are supposed to be the best... and Crystal, I may join you in attempting some new hybrid in the new year. I'm about to tackle organizing the scrapbook supplies I haven't touched in 4 years!

[newfiemountiewife]

I have an HP 3 in 1, and I LOVE it. I thought it cost a lot in ink, so we went and bought a Lexmark for the same price as the 2 ink cartridges for the HP. Well, it's the biggest piece of crap ever, the cartridges might be cheaper, but I go through them twice as fast! No savings for me, and the printer sucks!

I am going to hook my HP back up once I run out of the ink I have in the Lexmark, I hate it that much!

ETA We've had the HP for at least 3 years, it's printed a TON.

[digideb]

We bought a new Kodak & LOVE it! The ink is cheap ($24.95 for color/black combo) and we've had it for about 6 months & have only replaced the ink once! It prints beautifully!!

[Andrea Gourley]

I have an Espon, it's really good but I use the cheapest compatible inks I can find as I use stacks of ink - literally truckloads!! But I make lots of cards and crafty items and every piece of paper I use gets printed. I also have an HP colour laser printer and that is truly the best thing I have ever spent money on. If it broke tonight I would be straight out to buy the very same one in the morning as it's great

Watch out for news on hybrid stuff soon

[Sharon Kay]

I absolutely L-O-V-E my Epson Stylus Photo 1400 ... uses Clari Hi-Def inks ... and if used on Epson papers is good for 100-200 years! Talk about archival! I only use Epson inks because I care about archival quality.

Nice thing about my printer is it will print up to 13x19" ... how about that for hybrid projects? I love the quality of the prints I get. It uses individual cartridges so that you only buy whatever color you run out of.

[ColleenSwerb]

I bought an Epson R340 almost 4 years ago now, and I love it. It has individual ink carts, so I can replace whatever color is necessary, instead of 1 expensive cart. The inks are a lil on the expensive side, but they LAST. I spend about $120 a year on ink. 1 order for $60 every 6 months or so. Considering how much I print, $10 a month on ink is a great price to me. I print all my hybrid stuff at home and maximize every piece of printed paper I can. I also print photos occasionally, and print regular stuff too.

[jessica31876]

Ive only ever had Lexmark printers and loved them til I moved to Vista on my new(ish) computer. Ive had the computer for like two or three years now but there were serious issues getting a Lexmark printer to work because the drivers were not compatible for Vista. Now they work but I am out of ink. Ive also heard that Epson are nice because the cartridges are seperate for each color (not sure because I never owned one though)

[tlcaudle]

I have to recommend Canon. I have a combination printer/fax/scanner/copier. I bought it at best buy about a year or so ago and only paid about $120 for it. It does double sided printing, which takes the hassle out of thinking of how to arrange pages, flipping etc. I have printed alot and I think I have changed each cartridge out maybe once or twice. I really love the way it prints.

I have had HP printers and I DO NOT LIKE them! I always had issues and the prints always seemed grainy. I don't have that problem with my Canon.

Good luck on your search!!

[crystalbella77]

so many different recommendations! lmbo!!! I have no clue still..lol! Decisions decisions!! lol

[rach3975]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

I bought an Epson R340 almost 4 years ago now, and I love it.

That's my printer, too, and I love it. I go through a lot of ink (double what Colleen does), but it's because I print all of my LOs at home. I feel like I get a lot of printing done with the cartridges. It works beautifully with the Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte (formerly Matte Heavyweight), and I know a lot of people use that for hybrid projects. Normally by the time I've had a printer this long I'm thinking about upgrading, but I still love this printer and have no interest in upgrading.

[crystalbella77]

eek! ok..so I have been looking at printers like all friggin weekend. lol!! It seems like it's all really subjective! Some people swear by their HP's and some swear by Epson! Then there some that Loooooove there Canon's or Kodaks. Seriously. It's mind boggling!

I still don't know what I am going to get! I am leaning towards an Epson..cause I think their stats are impressive for the prices on Amazon...though I have no idea what most of them mean!

[newfiemountiewife]

Crystal, I've heard nothing but good things about the Epson, when I need a new one, it's what I'll be getting. But for now, I love my HP, hate my Lexmark LOL

[crystalbella77]

ok! I bit the bullet and got one! YAY! I went with Epson cause I read a million and half reviews and I found one that always was in the top lists. It was 30 dollars off at Staples and then I googled to find a coupon for another 25 off so I got a pretty good deal! Thanks so much for all your help girls!! you are the best!

[LovelyMissKait]

Originally Posted by crystalbella77

ok! I bit the bullet and got one! YAY! I went with Epson cause I read a million and half reviews and I found one that always was in the top lists. It was 30 dollars off at Staples and then I googled to find a coupon for another 25 off so I got a pretty good deal! Thanks so much for all your help girls!! you are the best!

So, which one did you end up getting? Inquiring minds want to know!

[crystalbella77]

I got the Epson NX 515



Nothing super duper fancy, but it had awesome reviews.

[ColleenSwerb]

Crystal, go to the epson online store and sign up for notifications. They run promo's sometimes and you can get some great prices on things. I bought a boatload of paper last year and I only paid $45. I don't think I will have to buy paper for at least another year, lol.

I use their 4 star matte premium presentation paper for my hybrid projects. It's not double sided, but I never print double sided for hybrid projects, so that doesn't bother me.

[crystalbella77]

oooh! Thanks for the tip Col! I will go do that now!!!

[lizzyfizzy]

wow! that printer looks awesome!! so pretty! great choice and what a great price!

[meems]

looks like a good one, Crystal! I'd love a printer with wi-fi!

[crystalbella77]

so it came today! Talk about fast service! i haven't printed anything awesome yet, b ut I loooove having a scanner! Check out my biggest boy (who is almost six!!) on his first birthday!

This is direct scan with no adjusting or anything..not even some desperately needed cropping, lmbo!!

[LovelyMissKait]

Originally Posted by crystalbella77

so it came today! Talk about fast service! i haven't printed anything awesome yet, b ut I loooove having a scanner! Check out my biggest boy (who is almost six!!) on his first birthday!

This is direct scan with no adjusting or anything..not even some desperately needed cropping, lmbo!!

Wow, you say this is a scan? It doesn't even look grainy!
I desperately need a printer thus the reason I kept an eye on this thread.
Thank you, Crystal, for sharing.

[crystalbella77]

yes! That is a straight scan with ZERO editing or anything! I googled for extra coupons too, which totally helped and I seriously ordered late Sun night and got it today (from Staples)