Best for Value (~$250) COLOUR Laser Multi-Function Printer to Buy?

chickensaltfrie on 12/10/2016 - 18:51
Last edited 15/10/2016 - 10:51 by 1 other user

Looking for a solid laser multifunction printer to use for years and years and years.. You get it, however i know NOTHING about printers, so please feel free to educate me.

I ONLY need these functions:

1) Printing - With Auto Duplex function
2) Copying
3) Scanning
4) Wireless - Wifi/Airprint/Bluetooth?
5) Scanning/Printing quality is good enough for the below usage:

I am a student mainly using it to print lecture slides, assignments. Additionally, i am also helping overseas visa applicants to prepare their Australia visa applications, which includes scanning forms, photocopying IDs, printing documents etc..

Hope the expendable cost (mainly cartridge cost i assume?) is as low as possible.

Why not an inkjet printer? I decide with my minimum amount of knowledge of printers - I thought laser printers are generally faster, lower on-going cost (if selected the right printer) and sounds like a newer technology.

I would EXTREMELY appreciate anyone's idea/recommendation/educating and thanks in advance.

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  stratbargain on 12/10/2016 - 20:29

  Disclaimer I work in the industry…

  Most home Multi Function Printers (MFP's) at the $250-$300 mark will be adequete but just keep in mind the actual cost of consumables. Most printers come with low yield toners in the box. For example the HP M177fw for $300 comes with enough toner to print ~500 sheets. After that you need to buy new toners at approx $90 x 4 ($270) that will let you print another 1000 sheets. That's putting you in the realm of 30-60 cents per colour one sided sheet and around 6-12 cents per black and white. Keep in mind those prices are at 5% ink coverage (which is fairly standard) excluding paper, however if you're printing pictures etc your costs will be even higher.

  My recommendation? Do your printing at Uni. It's most likely going to be cheaper. Not to mention the quality and speed will be much better (and you'll likely have access to inline finishing). Alternatively Officeworks are fairly competititve also (although their colour rates are a bit expensive compared to most Uni's).

  If you must have a printer at home, look at a good MONO laser Printer/MFP for home and do the colour printing at officeworks/uni.

  EDIT: That said if you're cool with those prices, I'd be looking at HP/Brother/Xerox at that price point

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    chickensaltfrie on 12/10/2016 - 23:14

    Thank you so much for your input. Frankly speaking, i rarely using colour, with the consideration of initial and on going cost, mono laser printer is definitely a better choice. Do you have any specific printer you would consider a bargain atm and would like to recommend?

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  bargainchamp on 12/10/2016 - 21:44

  From the current Good Guys Ebay 20% off, the Brother MFC-9330CDW is ~$300. It has all the requirement that you listed. Else if you are fine with manual duplex, the Fuji Xerox CM225FW is slightly cheaper ~$287.

  I'm after a mono laser MFP myself and the Fuji Xerox M225DW seems to be the cheapest that I can find at the moment, comes down to ~$127 after discount.

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    chickensaltfrie on 12/10/2016 - 23:16

    That M225DW just seems to have everything i needed without the colour function that i rarely use.. Just wondering does it carries a low on going cost such as cartridges..? And it has auto duplex right?

    • 

      bargainchamp on 12/10/2016 - 23:44

      You can get a generic toner for $38 with 2.6k yield, seems pretty decent to me. And yes it has auto duplex.

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    Edsanwong on 15/10/2016 - 10:20

    My friend has the brother above. Been working alright for 2 years. Lately it doesnt accept generic toner anymore (yellow). Not sure if he fixs the problem now….

    • 

      Whodis on 15/10/2016 - 22:38

      Need to reset the toner counter in service mode.

      • 

        Edsanwong on 15/10/2016 - 22:42

        Aah thanks

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  Froot Loops on 15/10/2016 - 16:55

  Hey mate, I am also a student so I feel your pain.
  I recently had a HP printer that produced many prints, but HP DRM there printers in a update so i took it back.
  I brought the Canon MP726 from officeworks $85 have gotten around 500 prints out of starter carts.
  Does everything you list
  1) Printing - With Auto Duplex function
  2) Copying
  3) Scanning
  4) Wireless - Wifi, cloud, google print, great from unui pc just log into google
  5) Scanning/Printing quality is good enough for the below usage
  I'm printing what you are. full size Medical pictures arent great, for me, but they are more then fair.
  Reason I suggest. Carts on ebay are $24 for 20 of them. Youll get around 4000 prints in colour just printing lecture notes and the odd full sized diagram (as i do).
  Honestly also people say its slow to start up and print, but I find it fine, I get around 12 double sided full colour lecture notes (4 slides to page) in a min.
  Up to you bro, but I wouldn't waste cash on laser, if anything goes wrong there is alittle cost evolved.My way is cheap, already got 5 students at my uni to return there printers and buy these to save $$$

  Anyways hope this helps. (oh btw, $14 lets you take out Officeworks exetended warranty thingy for 3 years, something to consider, they don't knock back returns on using aftermarket carts as they sell them.