Since you only will accept "best" or "lowest cost" then this will be a moving target as one model is priced lower or another new model appears.
Have you looked at the HP K-series OfficeJets?
"if the color cartridge is depleted, the printer will still print in black and white."
That may be the deciding requirement. I don't know any printer that does that so when you find one that does that, it becomes the solution.
Bob
Will you please offer some guidance and recommendations for a laser printer that meets the following criteria?
I am looking for an easy-to-operate, quiet, reliable, high quality, low maintenance, compact and economical COLOR laser or solid ink (wax) printer for a small business. I want the best value, not only in the printer but also in the cost of consumables (ink toner cartridges or solid ink sticks as well as any other replaceable drums or parts) as well. I don?t want a ?great deal? on a printer, only to find that I can?t afford the replacement toner cartridges and/or drums, maintenance and repair. I also want a printer that continues to operate even when one color print cartridge is out. For example, if the color cartridge is depleted, the printer will still print in black and white.
* One of our main concerns is pollution given off by the printer while in use or while in stand-by mode. We are extremely concerned about the fine particulate pollution as well as the ozone pollution. The printer will be in a small enclosed area with no ventilation. Advise on the printer that does not cause fine particle pollution or ozone. Please provide specifics. Thanks
I must stay within my budget of between $200 to $600, with $600 the absolute high end, but I would consider a more expensive printer if it meets all the criteria and is the best one for my needs.
I am looking for a printer to be used to print a minimum of 700 text documents per week on 8.5 x 11 standard weight and grade paper. Most of the documents will be single sided, but we want to be able to print double sided, should the need arise. The documents will mostly be text, but we want the option to add/ insert graphics or photographs as well. We will also be printing on envelopes (addressee, return address) so the printer must be able to accommodate envelopes and address labels as well.
* Other considerations are more important than the ability to print double sided (duplexing) and the ability to accommodate more than 10 envelopes at a time. If these options are available without adding considerable cost to the printer ---- great, but if they add considerable cost, we can deal with single sided prints and a low envelope capacity. If the other criteria are met, I can deal with a single sided printer and a low envelope accommodation, especially if the printer cost increases significantly with the addition of these features.
Printer CRITERIA:
? Will mostly use 8.5 x 11 letter sized standard weight paper
? Expect to print at least 700 pages (mostly text) PLUS 700 envelopes (addressee and return address) PER WEEK
? How many pages/month (duty cycle)? [What exactly IS a duty cycle?]
? Will be used mostly to print TEXT documents, but we also want the option to be able to print small graphics or add photos as well.
? Must be able to print labels
? Must be able to accommodate envelopes WITHOUT JAMMIMG ?preferably more than 10 at a time
? Must be compatible with ?handwriting? (cursive font) software.
? Prefer the highest speed possible in an economical printer. How many ppm? (The Xerox Phaser 8560N Solid Ink Printer and the Ricoh Aficio CL1000N Color boast 31ppm. I have also looked at the HP Color LaserJet CP1215, which is reasonably sale priced now for $199, but I don?t know if it operates pollution free and it only prints 8 ppm in color (12 ppm in B& W).
? Minimum of 600 dpi resolution
? Ability to print double sided.
? QUIET operation
? Pollution free operation (no ozone, no fine particles, no toxics)
? Cost of replacement ink: toner cartridge vs solid ink (wax)?
? Other costs? Replacement drums?
? Cost of maintenance/repair is a factor
? Energy saving technology (instant on, but not necessarily ?stand-by? mode)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. I look forward to hearing your recommendations.
My direct e-mail is tswearin@verizon.net

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