Laser printer use question

[Johnny Rosenberg]

2013/6/9 Gene Heskett <gheskett at wdtv.com>:
> On Sunday 09 June 2013 08:43:53 Johnny Rosenberg did opine:
>
>> 2013/6/9 Gene Heskett <gheskett at wdtv.com>:
>> > On Sunday 09 June 2013 07:41:47 Phil did opine:
>> >> On 09/06/13 16:43, Gene Heskett wrote:
>> >> >> Have I misunderstood the specs and will I run into problems if I
>> >> >> only print a few, or no, pages per month?
>> >> >
>> >> > Well I had a reply composed, but this is kmail, and its getting
>> >> > more funkity as time goes by.  No clue where it went, it just went
>> >> > away as I was typing.
>> >> >
>> >> > I don't think a laser actually has a minimum per month, and if you
>> >> > are energy conscious, it could even be turned off between jobs.
>> >> > Just be aware that the turn on surge when the drum is cold, can be
>> >> > circuit breaker tripping.
>> >> >
>> >> > With that HP MFP device though, its an inkjet, and I can well
>> >> > believe the 250 pages quoted.  I have an Epson NX-515 I gave up
>> >> > on, even a full bleed color print a day cannot keep the nozzles
>> >> > clean.  Its scanner is decent though, so it won't get binned
>> >> > anytime soon.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for taking the time to answer. The printer in question really
>> >> is a laser model, even though it's multi function, and it will most
>> >> certainly be turned off between uses.
>> >>
>> >> I have a need to print something at this very moment and being fed up
>> >> with waster ink jet cartridges a laser looks like a good option. I'm
>> >> keen to hit the purchase button but the idea of a minimum use spec is
>> >> a major concern.
>> >
>> > Well, if its actually stated in the sales propaganda, then before I
>> > clicked that button, I would for sure question someone at HP about
>> > it.  It wouldn't be the first time that HP has rigged something to
>> > expire so as to keep the sales channel activity up.  From my
>> > observations of their printers where all the brains are in the
>> > cartridge, I know very well that I've been forced to bin cartridges
>> > that were still half full or more, a timer in the cart had expired.
>>
>> That sounds horrible. I hope it's not true, but I wouldn't be
>> surprised if it is…
>> I can not see any signs of that in my printer though. The levels seems
>> to decrease linearly for every time I print, and the black one, which
>> I replaced a while ago, seemed to be empty, or next to empty, when I
>> replaced it. Those cartridges doesn't last nearly as long as those in
>> the old black and white laser printers in the 1990's though, which for
>> private use could last for lifetimes… And the are expensive. If I
>> replace all of them I have to pay more than I did for the printer
>> itself…
>>
>>
>> Johnny Rosenberg
>
> That, in the case of a laser, is a fact of life.  Remember when the drums
> would get scratched and it cost so much to replace them that it was almost
> cheaper to just buy a new printer?  I sure do.

Somewhat off topic: That kind of thing seems to be true not only for
printers. I remember when the rotating heads of my DAT recorder
(Digital Audio Tape recorder – anyone remember those…?) worn out.
Fixing that would cost as much as buying one of those cheaper DAT
recorders available back then. I didn't fix it, I just stopped using
it…


Johnny Rosenberg

>  You don't see either
> situation in todays printers because that drum has been shrunk about 5" and
> is now part of that gawd-awful expensive ($70 to $98 USD for the Brothers
> for instance, Lexmark of course brings a $250 gun to the knife fight) toner
> cart.  So you have a better functioning color printer today because that
> drum gets changed with the toner cartridge.  And they still give the
> printer away at half its cost in order to be able to sell the toner carts
> for it.  That toner/drum is the profit center, not the printer.  We may as
> well get used to it, it will continue that way at least to the revolution.
> :)
>
>> > IOW, demand some honesty. Does this low usage limit actually exist?
>> >
>> > Cheers, Gene
>> > --
>> >
>> > "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
>> >  soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
>> >
>> > -Ed Howdershelt (Author)
>> > My web page: <http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene> is up!
>> > My views
>> > <http://www.armchairpatriot.com/What%20Has%20America%20Become.shtml>
>> > Everything will be just tickety-boo today.
>> > A pen in the hand of this president is far more
>> > dangerous than 200 million guns in the hands of
>> >
>> >          law-abiding citizens.
>> >
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>
>
> Cheers, Gene
> --
> "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
>  soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
> -Ed Howdershelt (Author)
> My web page: <http://coyoteden.dyndns-free.com:85/gene> is up!
> My views
> <http://www.armchairpatriot.com/What%20Has%20America%20Become.shtml>
> Q: What do Windows NT and frozen pizza have in common?
> A: They're both half baked.
> A pen in the hand of this president is far more
> dangerous than 200 million guns in the hands of
>          law-abiding citizens.
>
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