[ale] Question : Printer with lowest TCO for infrequent usage

[Tejus Parikh]

You probably want to go for an entry-level laser.  The up-front cost is
higher, but you can normally print a few thousand pages per cartridge,
instead of a few hundred (which you get with an inkjet).  

Plus, laser normally don't have those annoying "smart cartridges,"
normally work pretty well under linux, and tend to be more maintenance
free.  

I use linux support as a litmus test; printers that don't support linux
tend to be more expensive to run than ones that do.  If linux support is
important, you should check out linuxprinting.org before buying
anything.

hope this helps, 
tejus

On Mon, 2004-12-27 at 15:37 -0600, Aditya Srinivasan wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I am looking for a printer with the lowest Total Cost of Ownership in the 
> long run (Printer + Toner).
> 
> This is for personal use and I print documents very infrequently 
> (directions, recipes etc) .. and will use it for printing about 5 pages a 
> week.
> 
> Need a very basic printer. Do not need high resolution.
> Linux compatibility desirable but can be sacrificied if a cheaper Windows 
> only printer is available.
> 
> 0. Which printer will cost the least ?
> 1. Do you recommend a used printer ?
> 2. Is there a specific place in Atlanta to look for them(used) ?
> 3. Is third party toner availability important ?
> 4. How expensive would it be to have a printer with a duplexer unit (print 
> on both sides)
> 
> Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.
>