Printer replacement

[cpabsd]

What laser printer would you recommend for tax office?  The HP one I just bought last year is doing some funky stuff and probably just easier to replace it.  

[grandmabee]

I use the Brother 6200DW and I like it.  It also holds a full ream of paper which is a plus for me.

[Margaret CPA in OH]

I have a Brother HL-L2325DW, laser, which holds half a ream I think but love the double-sided copies it can make.  It has a smallish footprint and is perfect for my small practice.

[Lion EA]

I always used HP which have lasted forever, real workhorses. But when I wanted a smaller, faster printer for tax returns only, just black toner and nothing fancy, my IT guy said he still loves HP for high end printers but now recommends Brother for more reasonably priced printers for us small tax offices. I've had the Brother HL-L2370DW since before Covid and am very happy with it. I can't remember the price, but maybe $199 or less here in pricey Fairfield County, CT.

[Slippery Pencil]

Avoid HP.  They were the standard 25 years ago but are worthless shit now a days.  HP will also try to shutdown your printer if you don't use their ridiculously overpriced oem toner & ink. 

[mcb39]

I purchased a refurbished HP P2035 from Tiger Direct to replace the one I had been using for years.  Because the original had started to streak, I brought the new one out of storage.  Very happy and no problems to date.  I do not use OEM laser cartridges.

[Lee B]

Slippery Pencil's warning is timely since HP announced recently that you will have to use their OEM toner and ink with their new printers.

[Hahn1040]

I have had a 6200 for about three years.  It works great for me.  My first Brother was in 1998 when I first went out on my own it was a HL1040.  When I saw the model number, i knew that is the one for me.  It didn't print duplicate, but I did not know at the time that i wanted/needed that/

[Lee B]

If you need a heavy duty laser printer, I think Canon currently makes the best laser printers.

[mcbreck]

I have a brother MFC and it's been fine for over 5 years (I only paid maybe $150?). During the offseason it's nice for printing in color which for client presentations is a very nice option.

[mcb39]

9 hours ago, cbslee said:

Slippery Pencil's warning is timely since HP announced recently that you will have to use their OEM toner and ink with their new printers.

Thanks for the update.  So,, HP is joining the Intuit, Microsoft bandwagon......

[Abby Normal]

On 3/11/2023 at 10:26 AM, cbslee said:

Slippery Pencil's warning is timely since HP announced recently that you will have to use their OEM toner and ink with their new printers.

Don't update the firmware or drivers on your HP printers. If already updated, roll back to the previous firmware or driver. And whatever you do, uninstall or don't install the softwares that come with your printer. Those softwares are nothing but trouble.

An article on HP firmware updates and how to avoid them:

https://www.cartridgepeople.com/info/hp-firmware-update

[Abby Normal]

I usually buy whichever Brother printer is being discontinued for $99 and then use generic toners and drums. Rinse and repeat.

[Slippery Pencil]

5 hours ago, Abby Normal said:

Don't update the firmware or drivers on your HP printers.

Horror stories abound on the internet of people being locked out of their printers by HP for using non HP ink.  People have reported HP updating any printer connected to the internet.  HP products aren't the workhorses they were 25 years ago.  Plenty of other good options available.  Buy something you don't have to play stupid games to use. 

[Lee B]

HP printer reputation was built while Canon was building the key internal components.

Canon doesn't build those internal components anymore.

[Gail in Virginia]

And I read something the other day about someone who used the subscription service HP offers for ink, where they monitor your printer and send you ink when you need it.  Apparently if you stop buying ink through them and get it elsewhere, they will also lock down your printer as being out of ink.  At least, that is the gist of what I read - I do not speak from personal experience. 

[Lion EA]

My very old HP all-in-one will tell me (message on the screen) if I've inserted genuine HP ink or not when I replace a cartridge. However, it works the same either way. None of my HPs are newer models, so can't speak about what the new models do.

[mcb39]

4 hours ago, Lion EA said:

My very old HP all-in-one will tell me (message on the screen) if I've inserted genuine HP ink or not when I replace a cartridge. However, it works the same either way. None of my HPs are newer models, so can't speak about what the new models do.

All of mine are older models.  That is 5.  I am well stocked with toner cartridges, but probably won't order more until I need them.  What a shame.