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General discussion

Pigment-based Inkjets

Sep 5, 2009 4:53AM PDT

For years, we've relied on laser jets for our printing needs. Color would be nice, but not necessary, so we've stuck with monochrome machines like the Brother 5250DN. Problem is, with the Brothers the drums die, and actually cost more to replace than simply buying a whole new machine. Crazy! So this weekend I was out shopping, and leaning toward the HP P2035N. Nice, solid business printer. But the gal helping me starting pitching the OfficeJet Pro 8000 (for just $25 due to a promotion, so I can certainly try it for almost nothing). I remain dubious about anything inkjet for a high-volume B&W office use, but here's her argument: these PIGMENT-based inkjets are relatively new technology (versus old dye-based inkjets) and the industry is actually slowly phasing out lasers (gone by 2015). The print is water-fast and near-archival. Speed equals the lasers. The pigment is non-toxic versus serious carcinogenic issues with laser toner. Machines use a 20th the electricity. Actual cost of supplies -- even if using brand names -- is LESS than laser printers, plus low-cost refill kits can be ordered via internet. She noted she also works at Kaiser Pemanente, and her department there switched entirely from lasers to pigment inkjets 18 months ago, realizing about a 40% savings/year.

Thing is, until last night, I'd never heard of any of it. To me, an inkjet was an inkjet was an inkjet, great for Grandma and rotten for a business environment. Bleed you dry on refills. But I must say the specs on this HP Pro8000 are impressive. I've now hunted for news releases or reviews of pigment (versus old-fashioned dye-based) inkjets, and can't find anything. Can anyone provide more info on this? Like when the pigment-based machines first appeared, and whether or not they really ARE significantly cheaper to run? Do they pose any unique maintenance problems? Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Oops -- wrong handle
Sep 5, 2009 5:07AM PDT

I have no idea how my handle got warped into "hfyfyd." I was listed as "Roger" -- I like my name, it works fine, not ashamed of it -- but it looks as though I must have leaned on the keyboard while in the username field. So we'll live with "hfyfyd" for this thread, but never again. Mea culpa for that.

- Roger!!!

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40%/year is nothing to sneeze at.
Sep 6, 2009 4:02AM PDT

Especially if you do lots of printing. If you need more info; google it, there are some information there that I can see.

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I don't actually expect 40% savings ...
Sep 6, 2009 6:26AM PDT

The way the gal at Office Depot described it, Kaiser's radiology department prints out a report after every MRI. Several pages, including color reproductions of the MRI and then some B&W report sheets for the doctor. So they switched from COLOR laser printers to the pigment-based Inkjets. I think the key was the "color" past in that. Color laserjet refills are costly. So big savings would be possible for them.

We, however, would be switching from a monochrome (black) laser to this pigment inkjet. If all the advantages described to us are true AND the cost of supplies ran about the same, then I'd be pretty happy. And yet, on paper, it looks as though we too would have some savings.

The cartridges for the HP monochrome laser printer we were looking at will print 2,500 average pages, and cost $89 or so. The black pigment inkjet cartridge for the HP 8000 costs $36, and is rated for 2,200 pages. Two of them (4,400 pages) would cost $72. So that's a significant savings. Plus there's the savings on electricity use (which, from what I've read, ought to be more like 50%, not 95%). If speed, paper handling, print quality, and print stability (archival quality) are similar, this ought to be a terrific improvement. And way different than the past, where inkjets were very, very costly for refills.

But I sure wish someone with real experience and/or knowledge about the latest in pigment-based inkjets would contribute to the conversation.