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Tree Lady

(12,205 posts)
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 08:33 PM Sep 2021

Need to buy a simple HP printer

For basic home use. There are so many different models I have no idea where to start. I was going to buy a wireless one until a bunch of comments said it was hard to set up. I will be mostly using it with my desktop Mac.

Any suggestions?

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Need to buy a simple HP printer (Original Post) Tree Lady Sep 2021 OP
What do you need? Black and White or Color? Why does it have to be HP? PoliticAverse Sep 2021 #1
Color and black and white Tree Lady Sep 2021 #4
Been using a Deskjet 1112 for a while... Wounded Bear Sep 2021 #2
Lol about ink they must make a ton Tree Lady Sep 2021 #6
Indeed. Just bought a black 93XL cartridge... Wounded Bear Sep 2021 #8
I have a markie Sep 2021 #3
Me too, an Envy 6000 Freddie Sep 2021 #23
I just bought $100 Brother laser printer. I had to have it that day and the selection was brewens Sep 2021 #5
Brother makes great cheap black and white lasers (I got one for $50 years ago). PoliticAverse Sep 2021 #7
I probably have the same one. Bought years ago and still on... TreasonousBastard Sep 2021 #12
Check Costco, they have the latest & cheapest starter printer available. Enter stage left Sep 2021 #9
You may want to take a look at billh58 Sep 2021 #10
Get a brother laser printer. flying rabbit Sep 2021 #11
Which one? samplegirl Sep 2021 #15
I have an HL3170 CDW that I bought a few years ago. flying rabbit Sep 2021 #17
That's what I have a HP samplegirl Sep 2021 #18
I have NO regrets. flying rabbit Sep 2021 #19
This message was self-deleted by its author AllaN01Bear Sep 2021 #13
my basic laser printer works like a charm Skittles Sep 2021 #14
I will never, ever, get an HP anything again. Everything I got from... TreasonousBastard Sep 2021 #16
HP NQAS Sep 2021 #20
buy an all in one, scanner and printer blue sky at night Sep 2021 #21
You must have bought awhile back Tree Lady Sep 2021 #24
HP wireless just about set themselves up randr Sep 2021 #22
I have three HP printers that will be going to the dump. Grasswire2 Sep 2021 #25
I have an HP Envy 4520 that I've had for several years now. PoindexterOglethorpe Sep 2021 #26
Reading all these comments is exactly Tree Lady Sep 2021 #27

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)
1. What do you need? Black and White or Color? Why does it have to be HP?
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 08:37 PM
Sep 2021

Do you need scanner/copier functionality?

Can you wait til Black Friday?

BTW: COVID has screwed with the supply chain and caused a shortage of printers.

Tree Lady

(12,205 posts)
4. Color and black and white
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 08:53 PM
Sep 2021

And thanks for reminding me, maybe I should wait for either Black Friday or cyber Monday.

Wounded Bear

(60,665 posts)
2. Been using a Deskjet 1112 for a while...
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 08:49 PM
Sep 2021

does the basic stuff with minimal problems. I run it on USB and no setup problems. I'm Windows 10, though, so I can't comment on how easy it is to use with Macs. Decent color and B/W printing and reasonable speed for home use.

Cheap as they come. In fact I think the ink cartridges cost more than the printer did.

Wounded Bear

(60,665 posts)
8. Indeed. Just bought a black 93XL cartridge...
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 08:57 PM
Sep 2021

original HP for just under $40. Color is higher by close to $10.

But at the time I needed the printer badly and it was basically the cheapest HP available. I have a weakness for HP.

 

brewens

(15,359 posts)
5. I just bought $100 Brother laser printer. I had to have it that day and the selection was
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 08:53 PM
Sep 2021

pretty poor at Staples. I really like it though. I was hoping to get a cheaper one. It's black and white only and the salesman said it was the best deal for replacement cartridges too. If that's the case, I probably did okay.

One thing that was lucky. I had bought an external DVD drive for my laptop, but never used it. Turned out I needed that to run the install disk. Maybe you could work the installation another way, but that made it quick and easy to install.

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)
7. Brother makes great cheap black and white lasers (I got one for $50 years ago).
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 08:56 PM
Sep 2021

And yes, the selection is pretty poor now due to supply chain issues.

Also you can download almost all installation software from the manufacturer's websites these days.

billh58

(6,641 posts)
10. You may want to take a look at
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 09:07 PM
Sep 2021

these, and particularly the all-in-one (scanner, printer, fax) HP6978 for $120.00 from Amazon. Most printers are both wireless and wired (USB) and you can choose either connection method.

https://www.cbr.com/best-printers-for-mac/

Good luck...

flying rabbit

(4,770 posts)
17. I have an HL3170 CDW that I bought a few years ago.
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 09:49 PM
Sep 2021

I know there are cheaper ones out there. i havent had to buy ink for it yet, but I dont print a whole lot. I was tired of getting gouged by buying ink for my HP inkjet, and the ink not lasting.

samplegirl

(12,065 posts)
18. That's what I have a HP
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 09:54 PM
Sep 2021

To expensive and the ink dries up always having to have someone work on it.

Thank you I will take a look. I’m not good with printers but many say a Brother.

Response to Tree Lady (Original post)

Skittles

(159,120 posts)
14. my basic laser printer works like a charm
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 09:28 PM
Sep 2021

black and white, with copy and scanning ability

MFP M29w

Recommended!

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
16. I will never, ever, get an HP anything again. Everything I got from...
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 09:36 PM
Sep 2021

them in the last few years ended up in the trash. This is how low what was once a premier maker of electronic equipment has sunk.

Be that as it may, I happened to be wandering around Walmart one day and saw a multifunction Canon printer for $39.95 and grabbed it a spare. It's still in the box, but I trust it will work fine if and when I set it up. Only problem I see so far is the one color cartridge. If you run low on one color, you have to replace the whole thing. I'm also curious if the scanner is any good.

My absolute favorite printer, btw, is a Xerox color laser printer I got on sale for around a hundred bucks. It's been a workhorse for 3 years. Still haven't replaced any cartridges yet and hope I don't get killed on the price (if I can even find any).

NQAS

(10,749 posts)
20. HP
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 10:05 PM
Sep 2021

Just about any HP will do. I find that the mid-priced printers are better. Just a bit more reliable, and a bit better on ink usage. I’ve been using hp for 20 years and they very reliable. Ink usage has improved considerably. No question, replacing all cartridges is pricey, but even in my soho use it’s still only twice a year. And if you’re not using a lot of ink, some hp printers have very cost effective ink replacement plans. I believe all come with wireless and wired choices. Go with wired.

blue sky at night

(3,305 posts)
21. buy an all in one, scanner and printer
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 10:10 PM
Sep 2021

I like Epson because I worked on them as a tech, the Small in One is perfect...around 50 bucks and you are good to go, the cartridges are 12 bucks when you need them.

Tree Lady

(12,205 posts)
24. You must have bought awhile back
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 12:07 AM
Sep 2021

They are $199 at Amazon. I see a few in Walmart for around $125 but it says All in One not Small.

randr

(12,479 posts)
22. HP wireless just about set themselves up
Thu Sep 23, 2021, 10:14 PM
Sep 2021

Their ink program is the cheapest way to run a home printer without ever running out. Also best tech help of all.

Grasswire2

(13,708 posts)
25. I have three HP printers that will be going to the dump.
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 02:00 AM
Sep 2021

The oldest one is two years.

All of them stopped working. All all-in-ones. The most recent one stopped working before even the second ink cartridge was used. A failed internal power module, support said.

I hate them. Pieces of junk.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(26,724 posts)
26. I have an HP Envy 4520 that I've had for several years now.
Sat Sep 25, 2021, 10:30 PM
Sep 2021

Prints, scans, and photocopies. I'm very happy with it. I don't really do an awful lot of any of those. I think I paid only around $50.00 for it at the time.

Tree Lady

(12,205 posts)
27. Reading all these comments is exactly
Sun Sep 26, 2021, 01:30 AM
Sep 2021

Why I haven't bought one yet. Half the reviews people like their printer easy set up, half think its a piece of crap, uses too much ink too fast.

I have some stuff I need to print out so will just grab a printer and take my chances.

HP used to be a good company, I lived next door many years ago to a guy who was a manager there.

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