Design Office Printer Recommendation?

[kcrossley]

I currently own an old HP P2015dn monochrome laser printer that I use for basic office stuff, and an Epson WF-7520 wide format printer that I use for InDesign proofing. I would like to get rid of both of these printers and purchase a single, multi-use printer that I could use for general black and white office stuff, color proofing, copying, and scanning.

My preference is a multi-function color laser printer, primarily because I don't print in color often enough to keep an inkjet printer from clogging up. Ideally, I'd like a printer that can accommodate 13" x 19" paper, but that seems like a pipe dream. I could settle for an 11" x 17" printer, but I can't even find that. So far, the best option I've come up with is the HP LaserJet Pro M479fdw, but that'll limit me to 8.5" x 14" paper. 

Does anyone have any recommendations? 

Thanks!

[Peter Spier]

How much do you want to spend?

I'm very happy with my Xerox Phaser 7800 (now maybe 10 years old) but it was very expensive ($6000?) and it costs a lot to run, ,so I don't use it except to print color. I have cheap Samsung and OKI printers for more mundane tasks.

[kcrossley]

I'd like to keep it uner $1,500. I'm currently looking at the Epson ET-16650, but I've had issues with Epson in the past with clogged printheads. A color laser is my preference, but I don't think I can find one that prints 11" x 17" for under $1,500. 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

yah, there's quite a jump in price to go tabloid/tabloid plus. I'm also a Xerox Phaser guy, but looking at their current multi-function line up, nothing is even remotely in your price ballpark. The "cheapest" is their Versalink 7000 which is purely a printer at aboour $2k that can do tabloid (not 12x18 tho).

I would see if Ricoh and Minolta may have something, otherwise the HP M750n might still be around... It's not multi-function but does go 12x18.

[Peter Spier]

You might also want to look into a lease, though I'm not sure you would have the volume make it work.

Maybe you can find something used with a warranty.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

We have an OKI C931e "production" laser printer that we use to print our POD books, design proofs (lite proofs), and regular office materials. Excellent printer, but the consumables cost $1,000 for a set of toner cartridges (40,000 copies).

But OKI's smaller line is more affordable, such as these here: https://www.oki.com/us/printing/support/consumables-and-accessories/color/index.html  I know they have some Tabloid/Tabloid Extra models.

Love the native PostScript and high resolution options.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Isn't OKI out of the printer market?

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

Yes, they closed their sales of printers in North and South America.

Sad. Great printers.

Luckily mine is still running...until I can no longer find toner or supplies 😞

[Peter Spier]

Did a fast search for refurbed Pahsers and you can get them. Walmart, of all places, sells the 7800 with trays for $2500 (and all the refurbs I saw came with 30-day parts warranty) andd they seem to offer an extended warranty of 4 years for $77, or shorter periods for lesss.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Refurbished-Xerox-Phaser-7800-DX-A3-Color-Laser-Printer-45ppm-Auto-Duplex...

[ArpitaSingh]

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Lactose-free Formula

[kcrossley]

Thanks, everyone. I aprpeciate your help.

For budget reasons, I've narrowed my decision to two choices:

HP Color LaserJet Pro - Maximum print size 8.5" x 14"

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650 - Maximum print size 13" x 19"

For anything larger than the printer outputs, I'll need to rely on my local printer. Although the Epson sounds great, I've had issues with Epson in the past. Plus, you have to purchase special paper. On the otherhand, the HP P2015dn printer that I currently own is an absolutely beast, so I'm kinda leaning towards the HP printer, even though it has smaller output.

[Peter Spier]

Unless you print every day I think you are going to have trouble with an inkjet, and in my experience overall cost of operation is much lower with a laser.

[kcrossley]

I actually think this new model is a lot better since it has more memory and higher capacity toner.

HP M480f

[Peter Spier]

Hi kcrossley,

Are you still out there? I'm looking for a color laser to replace my cheap Samsung and I wonder what you ended up buying?

[kcrossley]

Hi Peter, I hope you are well.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any wide-format color laser printers that were affordable. I'll likely go with something from HP (my preferred brand) that can scan up to 11" x 17" documents and will print at least an 8 1/2" x 14" size. Anything larger than that in laser tends to get really expensive. Unfortunately, a lot of the printers I'm interested in aren't readily available due to ongoing supply chain issues. 

That said, I do like this option, but I've always had issues with inkjet printers, which is why I'm hesitant: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R5M2HDH/

[Peter Spier]

Thanks.

I don't print enough to even consider using an inkjet -- the heads just plug up if you let them sit.

[kcrossley]

Exactly. That's why I tend to avoid inkjet printers.