Just got a Brother printer-scanner-copier-fax combo, model is MFC-495CW, so
if
anybody has comments or recommendations from experience, I am all ears.
Here is my model:
https://support.brother.com/g/b/spec.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=mfc495cw...
I don't have a lot of money to spend (much less to waste) on printer cartridges, for example. (A couple years ago I bought a 12-pack of HP cartridges for my old HP 825c, but before I could actually use them, the ink dried up! I don't want to go through that again.)
I managed to download the drivers for Debian, the product manual, researched everything I could think of, but now it comes to spending my last few bucks (literally) on the second-most expensive substance* known in human history, so I hesitate before using my debit card.
[* laser toner refills are more expensive than refills for inkjet]
Brother, of course, "strongly recommends" not to use third-party, or refillable cartridges, etc., but I don't have a warranty, anyway, as I got this thing used.
Has anybody else tried the third-party replacement cartridges or
refillables?
I'll have more questions about set-up, I'm sure, once I get my cartridges. Everything seems to work fine, except for no ink.
Bill
My experience with brother is they are well supported under linux and print/scan well. HOWEVER (insert shocking and dramatic music here), they go through inkjet cartridges like mad.
A laser printer is always better because, whilst the cartridges are more expensive, they last longer and print more. I have an HP 1320N printer. I bought 2 ink cartridges 7 years ago. The first one lasted 5 years. The second one is on it's 2nd year. I print at least every other day.
I also have a Brother mfc-j615w. Another network printer. It's great, HOWEVER (insert even more shocking and dramatic music here) the new ink carts only lasted a week. They sell them cheap in bulk but I would have to buy about about $100 worth to last a few months.
I will never buy an inkjet (most inkjets I have were $1 purchased at yard sales or were given to me). I would rather save up and get a laser jet. Better overall investment.
I don't know if that helps but that is my experience.
(Kate hops off her soapbox, bows, turns and disappears into the mysterious fog)
On Wednesday 27 June 2018 10:20:01 Kate Draven wrote:
Just got a Brother printer-scanner-copier-fax combo, model is MFC-495CW, so
if
anybody has comments or recommendations from experience, I am all ears.
Here is my model:
https://support.brother.com/g/b/spec.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=mfc495cw...
I don't have a lot of money to spend (much less to waste) on printer cartridges, for example. (A couple years ago I bought a 12-pack of HP cartridges for my old HP 825c, but before I could actually use them, the ink dried up! I don't want to go through that again.)
I managed to download the drivers for Debian, the product manual, researched everything I could think of, but now it comes to spending my last few bucks (literally) on the second-most expensive substance* known in human history, so I hesitate before using my debit card.
[* laser toner refills are more expensive than refills for inkjet]
Brother, of course, "strongly recommends" not to use third-party, or refillable cartridges, etc., but I don't have a warranty, anyway, as I got this thing used.
Has anybody else tried the third-party replacement cartridges or
refillables?
I'll have more questions about set-up, I'm sure, once I get my cartridges. Everything seems to work fine, except for no ink.
Bill
My experience with brother is they are well supported under linux and print/scan well. HOWEVER (insert shocking and dramatic music here), they go through inkjet cartridges like mad.
A laser printer is always better because, whilst the cartridges are more expensive, they last longer and print more. I have an HP 1320N printer. I bought 2 ink cartridges 7 years ago. The first one lasted 5 years. The second one is on it's 2nd year. I print at least every other day.
I also have a Brother mfc-j615w. Another network printer. It's great, HOWEVER (insert even more shocking and dramatic music here) the new ink carts only lasted a week. They sell them cheap in bulk but I would have to buy about about $100 worth to last a few months.
I will never buy an inkjet (most inkjets I have were $1 purchased at yard sales or were given to me). I would rather save up and get a laser jet. Better overall investment.
I don't know if that helps but that is my experience.
(Kate hops off her soapbox, bows, turns and disappears into the mysterious fog)
Well, I don't have the luxury of shopping round for a laser printer. I got this one free, although I see that this printer model still retains for as much as $350 on Amazon. And it looks new, seems to run well, as far as I can tell without being able to print out yet.
Anyway, I only need my printer to be good enough to print out MSS for revision, and to do mock-up pages for layout; they do not need to be final print quality, as it is only for my own use.
I see refillable cartridges and refill bottles that will run me about $40. I hear that they work, but that some of them leak, etc.
Bill
On Wed June 27 2018 10:20:01 Kate Draven wrote:
A laser printer is always better because, whilst the cartridges are more expensive, they last longer and print more. I have an HP 1320N printer. I bought 2 ink cartridges 7 years ago. The first one lasted 5 years. The second one is on it's 2nd year. I print at least every other day.
Absolutely. Manufacturers basically give away inkjet printers so that they can hook you on the cartridges.
We have a HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw which scans, faxes, and prints; works fine with both our Linux boxen and our Android phones; and like most lasers is very economical. (But don't try to run a laser on dodgy wiring - when they start printing they use a brief period of heavy current draw to heat the fuser.)
There are a lot of LaserJet models and I've only used a few over the years but I've always been happy with them. Nevertheless as always check several credible reviews before buying.
--Mike
On Wednesday 27 June 2018 10:44:14 Mike Bird wrote:
On Wed June 27 2018 10:20:01 Kate Draven wrote:
A laser printer is always better because, whilst the cartridges are more expensive, they last longer and print more. I have an HP 1320N printer. I bought 2 ink cartridges 7 years ago. The first one lasted 5 years. The second one is on it's 2nd year. I print at least every other day.
Absolutely. Manufacturers basically give away inkjet printers so that they can hook you on the cartridges.
We have a HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw which scans, faxes, and prints; works fine with both our Linux boxen and our Android phones; and like most lasers is very economical. (But don't try to run a laser on dodgy wiring - when they start printing they use a brief period of heavy current draw to heat the fuser.)
There are a lot of LaserJet models and I've only used a few over the years but I've always been happy with them. Nevertheless as always check several credible reviews before buying.
--Mike
If everybody on the Trinity users mailing list will send me $20 each, then I will run out and buy myself a laser printer like you all advise, thanks! (Just kidding, folks.)
I don't have the option to spend money like real people. So I guess I will just have to take my chances, leaks or no, and hope for the best. I only need this thing to work for maybe a year or so, while I finish work on a couple of books, and do layout of some mock-up pages.
When I suddenly strike it rich, then I will go out and buy me one of those fancy laser printers.
Bill
On Wed June 27 2018 10:49:00 William Morder wrote:
If everybody on the Trinity users mailing list will send me $20 each, then I will run out and buy myself a laser printer like you all advise, thanks! (Just kidding, folks.)
First laser listing from searching local CraigsList. $39. About the same price as a bottle of dodgy ink. Numerous similar listings at similar prices.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/sys/d/dell-1130n-monochrome-laser/6616387...
Caveat: I have not researched this model for Linux compatibility.
Caveat: At some stage you'll have to spend $100 or so on a toner cartridge.
--Mike
On Wednesday 27 June 2018 11:43:09 Mike Bird wrote:
On Wed June 27 2018 10:49:00 William Morder wrote:
If everybody on the Trinity users mailing list will send me $20 each, then I will run out and buy myself a laser printer like you all advise, thanks! (Just kidding, folks.)
First laser listing from searching local CraigsList. $39. About the same price as a bottle of dodgy ink. Numerous similar listings at similar prices.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/sys/d/dell-1130n-monochrome-laser/661638 7861.html
Caveat: I have not researched this model for Linux compatibility.
Caveat: At some stage you'll have to spend $100 or so on a toner cartridge.
--Mike
Thanks, I will do a little more research. (Just when I've already spent most of the past couple weeks doing research...!) I don't suppose there are third-party toner cartridges out there? cheaper than $100?
Bill
On 06/27/2018 11:46 AM, William Morder wrote:
On Wednesday 27 June 2018 11:43:09 Mike Bird wrote:
Caveat: I have not researched this model for Linux compatibility.
All Dell printers I've seen are Windoze-only. For Linux, HP or Brother is the best bet, and even then I'd check compatibility just to be sure. I've only ever run into one HP that's flaky with Linux; unfortunately it belongs to a friend so I get to keep it running for free. :)
Thanks, I will do a little more research. (Just when I've already spent most of the past couple weeks doing research...!) I don't suppose there are third-party toner cartridges out there? cheaper than $100?
Best deal for toners is usually on Ebay. For older model printers, there's always someone(s) clearing out old slow-moving stock for cheap. Even new genuine OEM toners can usually be had pretty cheap. No worries about age, as you have with inkjet ink. If you buy refills, stick to major names, not no-name stuff.
On Wednesday 27 June 2018 11:57:36 Dan Youngquist wrote:
On 06/27/2018 11:46 AM, William Morder wrote:
On Wednesday 27 June 2018 11:43:09 Mike Bird wrote:
Caveat: I have not researched this model for Linux compatibility.
All Dell printers I've seen are Windoze-only. For Linux, HP or Brother is the best bet, and even then I'd check compatibility just to be sure. I've only ever run into one HP that's flaky with Linux; unfortunately it belongs to a friend so I get to keep it running for free. :)
Thanks, I will do a little more research. (Just when I've already spent most of the past couple weeks doing research...!) I don't suppose there are third-party toner cartridges out there? cheaper than $100?
Best deal for toners is usually on Ebay. For older model printers, there's always someone(s) clearing out old slow-moving stock for cheap. Even new genuine OEM toners can usually be had pretty cheap. No worries about age, as you have with inkjet ink. If you buy refills, stick to major names, not no-name stuff.
I will plan to buy a laser printer somehow in the future. For the present, my options are limited (and I haven't explained EVERYTHING, as I doubt everybody wants to read my life story here). I will try to make do with my Brother inkjet printer (which at least *looks* shiny and brand-new), and figure out how to make do with refills. Over the years I have got pretty inventive about making stuff work that really should not work at all, and this is another one of those moments.
Thanks for the comments & offers of help. Even if I cannot take the advice, I still got some useful information about what might be my next move for getting a better printer.
Bill
Am Mittwoch, 27. Juni 2018 schrieb William Morder:
[...] I will plan to buy a laser printer somehow in the future. For the present, my options are limited (and I haven't explained EVERYTHING, as I doubt everybody wants to read my life story here). I will try to make do with my Brother inkjet printer (which at least *looks* shiny and brand-new), and figure out how to make do with refills. Over the years I have got pretty inventive about making stuff work that really should not work at all, and this is another one of those moments.
I have a Brother MFC which works to my satisfaction with non-Brother-refill and a chip reseter (from amazon - 1/2 liter ink + reseter for the price of one original cardridge). That keeps the operation cost quite low. I would not bet that it's as cheep as a laser, but on the other hand it stinks less :-)
Nik
Thanks for the comments & offers of help. Even if I cannot take the advice, I still got some useful information about what might be my next move for getting a better printer.
Bill
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On Wednesday 27 June 2018 12:42:12 Dr. Nikolaus Klepp wrote:
Am Mittwoch, 27. Juni 2018 schrieb William Morder:
[...] I will plan to buy a laser printer somehow in the future. For the present, my options are limited (and I haven't explained EVERYTHING, as I doubt everybody wants to read my life story here). I will try to make do with my Brother inkjet printer (which at least *looks* shiny and brand-new), and figure out how to make do with refills. Over the years I have got pretty inventive about making stuff work that really should not work at all, and this is another one of those moments.
I have a Brother MFC which works to my satisfaction with non-Brother-refill and a chip reseter (from amazon - 1/2 liter ink + reseter for the price of one original cardridge). That keeps the operation cost quite low. I would not bet that it's as cheep as a laser, but on the other hand it stinks less :-)
Nik
Yeah, I don't need it to be great; e.g., I won't be printing out photos, nor doing end-quality work that needs to look perfect. I just need it to be "good enough", so that I can print out drafts, and print out copies of mock-up pages that I lay out.
It may come to my laying out and designing the whole book by myself (as I used to do that kind of thing in days past, when people still read the printed word); but right now my goal is just to be able to imagine how the final published version ought to look on the page.
I found some refill kits that have copies of the Brother cartridges; they have refill holes, and are transparent or translucent, so that you can see whether they are full or not. Also there are some web pages that tell how to reset the printer, to keep printing even when it says you need to change cartridges.
Bill
Thanks for the comments & offers of help. Even if I cannot take the advice, I still got some useful information about what might be my next move for getting a better printer.
Bill
To unsubscribe, e-mail: trinity-users-unsubscribe@lists.pearsoncomputing.net For additional commands, e-mail: trinity-users-help@lists.pearsoncomputing.net Read list messages on the web archive: http://trinity-users.pearsoncomputing.net/ Please remember not to top-post: http://trinity.pearsoncomputing.net/mailing_lists/#top-posting
On Wednesday 27 June 2018 12:42:12 Dr. Nikolaus Klepp wrote:
Am Mittwoch, 27. Juni 2018 schrieb William Morder:
[...] I will plan to buy a laser printer somehow in the future. For the present, my options are limited (and I haven't explained EVERYTHING, as I doubt everybody wants to read my life story here). I will try to make do with my Brother inkjet printer (which at least *looks* shiny and brand-new), and figure out how to make do with refills. Over the years I have got pretty inventive about making stuff work that really should not work at all, and this is another one of those moments.
I have a Brother MFC which works to my satisfaction with non-Brother-refill and a chip reseter (from amazon - 1/2 liter ink + reseter for the price of one original cardridge). That keeps the operation cost quite low. I would not bet that it's as cheep as a laser, but on the other hand it stinks less :-)
Nik
Thanks for the comments & offers of help. Even if I cannot take the advice, I still got some useful information about what might be my next move for getting a better printer.
Bill
By the way, thanks to Nik for answering my actual question. I used the same HP 825c printer for almost 20 years now, and have refilled cartridges before. I just haven't tried it with the newer Brother inkjet printers. When I changed from a Windoze system to Linux, I had no problems in finding drivers for my old printer, and it was easy enough to find deb packages for the Brother. I was just wavering on the point about whether to try refillable cartridges with the Brother, as I've heard that the newer, "smarter" printers can tell when users are not using "genuine Brother products", and reject them. But then I found out about resetting the chips, and good stuff like that, so I have a glimmer of hope that there is a way forward.
Bill
Hi William, Guys,
On Wednesday 27 June 2018 20:16:06 William Morder wrote:
All Dell printers I've seen are Windoze-only.
Thanks, I will do a little more research. (Just when I've already spent most of the past couple weeks doing research...!) I don't suppose there are third-party toner cartridges out there? cheaper than $100?
Thanks for the comments & offers of help. Even if I cannot take the advice, I still got some useful information about what might be my next move for getting a better printer.
Bill
For what its worth, I still have and use a HP Deskjet 500 printer that I seem to have had forever. Certainly since the beginning of 90s, and have been refilling the one remaining cartridge that still works for over ten years from a litre bottle that has about 1/2 an inch of ink left in the bottom. Technique is the key to filling cartridges without causing a mess. I've had a couple or three of those in the past.
Someone mentioned that the Brother cartridges have a chip in them, most if not all printer cartridges do nowadays. Once the printer decides that the cartridge is empty, then that is game over for that cartridge. However one of the tricks to keeping the cartridge going is to fill it before the printer says its empty. Weighing the new cartridge is one way to do this and comparing it with an empty one.
You can probably get a used cartridge from the recycle box that some stores have to collect old ones.
HTH.
Best Regards: Baron
Kate Draven composed on 2018-06-27 13:20 (UTC-0400):
William Morder composed on 2018-06-27 09:53 (UTC-0700):
Just got a Brother printer-scanner-copier-fax combo, model is MFC-495CW,
...
Everything seems to work fine, except for no ink.
My experience with brother is they are well supported under linux and print/scan well. HOWEVER (insert shocking and dramatic music here), they go through inkjet cartridges like mad.
A laser printer is always better because, whilst the cartridges are more expensive, they last longer and print more. I have an HP 1320N printer. I bought 2 ink cartridges 7 years ago. The first one lasted 5 years. The second one is on it's 2nd year. I print at least every other day.
I also have a Brother mfc-j615w. Another network printer. It's great, HOWEVER (insert even more shocking and dramatic music here) the new ink carts only lasted a week. They sell them cheap in bulk but I would have to buy about about $100 worth to last a few months.
I will never buy an inkjet (most inkjets I have were $1 purchased at yard sales or were given to me). I would rather save up and get a laser jet. Better overall investment.
My Brother network laser HP5470DL is 3years+1week old. It hasn't needed a cartridge yet.
My Brother network inkjet MFC-420CN empties its itty bitty ink cartridges self-testing when kept plugged in, dries the ink up and won't print if unplugged when not needed, and won't print color if the black cartridge is "empty" (dried up), besides the cartridge troubleshoot & replace process being horribly messy.
-
Baron -
Dan Youngquist -
Dr. Nikolaus Klepp -
Felix Miata -
Kate Draven -
Mike Bird -
William Morder