Which printer do you want? You tell me!

Table of contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Comparison between a good and a bad printer table
  3. Printer list
  4. Printer comparison table
  5. Conclusion
  6. Sources

Introduction

As a consumer, you always want to get the most out of your money. It‘s the same thing with printers.

You, my dear reader, are a student, a desperate student, a student who would kill to get a printer because you need one for high school (and also because Mr. Arkin told you so). The problem however, is that you are hopeless at selecting printers. You want to get a great printer, but you also don‘t want to see your wallet deflate.

Balance is the key to success. You can buy a ten dollar printer that would break down the moment you print, or a 2000 dollar printer that would rip your parents of their salary. Both are not good solutions.

So therefore to solve your problems, I, a student forced by Mr. Arkin to write this guide, spent quite some time in providing you precious information on the world of printers. Perhaps the dream of owning your own little printer will come true!

There are many types of printers, from industrial to commercial, but for a student, only a few can do its job at the highest efficiency.

So let‘s start off. What is a good printer?

A comparison of a good and a bad printer
A good printer A bad printer The preferable printer for your situation
  • 1+ year warranty
  • A long lifespan
  • Eco-friendly
  • Efficient
  • Suitable for the job
  • User-friendly
  • Many features
  • Minimal maintenance
  • Affordable pricing
  • Does not consume too much ink/toner
  • High printing quality
  • No warranty
  • Short lifespan; gears breaks down easily
  • Wastes energy
  • Inefficient
  • Totally unsuitable for the job
  • Very complex manuals; user has no clue what to do
  • No extra features
  • Maintenance often needed
  • Totally expensive
  • Using too much ink/toner
  • Smudging; streaking; low-quality
  • 1+ year warranty
  • At least a 5 year lifespan
  • Saves energy
  • User-friendly
  • Maybe one or two extra features
  • Colour printing available
  • Minimal maintenance
  • Low toner/ink usage per page
  • Low cost per page
  • Fair printing quality
  • Affordable pricing

Looking at this, you might say to yourself, “Oh my goodness, where in the world would I get a printer that would fit perfectly into the good section?” Well the answer is, it depends on your budget. Obviously the quality of the printer would increase as the price increases.

You must realize. Price is important, but not the most important. At the same time, quality is not absolute. So what does that mean? It means that if you are going to use your printer a lot, don‘t get a cheap printer with a tiny amount of ink, get a good one. If you barely use a printer, then a moderate one will do just fine. Remember, the quality and price is relational to the purpose of the printer.

Here is a complete description of your situation: you are a grade 9 student in desperate need of a printer. You intend to keep this printer for all four years of your high school education. This printer is mainly for your use at school. You have a limited budget, but you still want to get good value for your money. So you‘ve come to me for help.

According to your situation, I did some researches and found 4 very good printers:

If you simply want to hop to the comparison tables, click here.

List of printers

Epson Stylus NX515

Epson Stylus Printer

Basic information:

For full details and specifications, please follow this link: Epson Stylus NX515 specifications

Canon Pixma MP560

Canon Pixma MP560

Basic information:

For full details and specifications, please follow this link: Canon Pixma MP560 specifications

Lexmark Interact S605

Lexmark Interact S605

Basic information:

For full details and specifications, please follow this link: Lexmark Interact S605 specifications

Samsung ML-2525W Laser printer

Samsung ML-2525W Laser printer

Basic information:

For total details and specifications, please follow this link: Samsung ML-2525W specifications

The printer comparison table
Categories of comparison List of printers
Printers Epson Stylus NX515 Canon Pixma MP560 Lexmark Interact S605 Samsung ML-2525W Laser printer
Pictures Epson Stylus Printer Canon Pixma MP560 Lexmark Interact S605 Samsung ML-2525W Laser printer
Features
Manufacturer: Epson Canon Lexmark Samsung
Part number: C11CA48231 3747B002 60S0000S ML-2525W
Printing technology: Ink-jet - Colour Ink-jet - Colour Ink-jet - Colour Laser Printer
Functions: Prints/Scans/Copies Prints/Scans/Copies Prints/Scans/Copies Prints
Expected Lifespan: N/A N/A N/A N/A
Weight: 15.21 lbs 17.9 lbs 16.5 lbs 16.9 lbs
Ink cartridge configuration: 4 cartridges (1 of each: cyan, magenta, yellow, black) 5 individual ink tanks 4 cartridges (1 of each: cyan, magenta, yellow, black) Toner cartridge
Max print resolution Up to 5760 x 1440 dpi (mono) / up to 5760 x 1440 dpi (colour) Up to 600 x 600 dpi (mono) / up to 9600 x 2400 dpi (color) Up to 2400 x 1200 dpi (mono) / up to 4800 x 1200 dpi (colour) Up to 1200 x 1200 dpi (mono)
Copy/Scan resolution 2400 x 2400 dpi 2400 x 4800 dpi 1200 x 2400 dpi Printer cannot scan/copy
Max printing/copying speed: 36 pages/min 9.2 pages/min 25-33 pages/min 20 pages/min
Max printing/copying size: 8.5 in x 11 in 8.5 in x 11.7 in 8.5 in x 17 in N/A
Preferred printing paper: Letter A size (8.5 in x 11 in) Size 8.5 in x 11.7 in None specified A4, A5, A6, B5
Recommended printing paper: 8.5" x 11", 8.5" x 14", A4, B5, A5, A6 A4, B5, A5 Standard. 11 inches x 8.5 inches. Brightness: 92. Type: A4. N/A
Wireless: Yes Yes Yes Yes
Intended use: Network Network Network Network
PC connection availability: Yes Yes Yes Yes
Warranty: One year One year Three years One year limited
Overall quality rating: 8.5 8 9 7
Energy Star qualified: Yes Yes Yes Yes
Projection usage/Included consumables & compartments
Projected print volume/year (black): 500 500 500 500
Projected print volume/year (colour): 20 20 20 N/A
Projected ink cartridge/toner use per year (black): 2 1.5 1 0.2
Projected ink cartridge use per year (colour) 0.1 of each colour 0.1 of each colour 0.1 of each colour Cannot print colour
Consumables included: 4 x cartridges (one of each: black, magenta, yellow, cyan) 5 x ink cartridges (one of each: black, pigmented black, magenta, yellow, cyan) 4 x ink cartridges (one of each: black, magenta, yellow, cyan) 1000 page starter toner
Cables: Wireless/Included Wireless/Included Wireless/Included Wireless/Included
Pricings/shop providers
Price provider (shop): Amazon Dell Staples J&R.com
Stock availability Yes Yes Yes Yes
Price of printer: $99.98 $149.99 $225.98 $181.92
Tax: $13.00 $19.50 $26.00 $20.93
Price of printer after tax: $112.98 $169.49 $225.98 $181.92
Shipping Free Free Buy in store Free
Paper price: Approx. 1 cent/page Approx. 1 cent/page Approx. 1 cent/page Approx. 1 cent/page
Accessories pricing(cables): N/A N/A N/A N/A
Ink cartridge/toner pricing (black), after tax: $21.46 $6.77 $8.46 $55.35
Average lifespan of ink/toner: 245 prints 324 prints 500 prints 2500 prints
Approximate cost per print (black): 8.7 cents/page 2 cents/page 1.7 cents/page 2.2 cents/page
Ink cartridge/toner price (colour) after tax: $49.66 for all three colour inks $20.31 for all three colour inks $25.39 for all three colour inks Cannot print colour
Actual costs
Price of printer (after tax): $112.98 $149.99 $225.98 $181.92
Approximate price of paper (per year) according to projection: $5.00 $5.00 $5.00 $5.00
Approximate price of prints (per year), black: $43.50 $10.00 $8.50 $11.00
Approximate price of prints (per year), colour: The starting cartridges should last a long time. The starting cartridges should last a long time. The starting cartridges should last a long time. Cannot print colour.
A 5-year cost table
Year one costs:
  • Printer: $112.98
  • Cost of prints (black), 245 sheets free (starting cartridge): $22.19
  • Cost of colour prints: Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Printer: $169.49
  • Cost of prints (black), 324 sheets free(starting cartridge): $3.52
  • Cost of colour prints: Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Printer: $199.98
  • Cost of prints (black): Free
  • Cost of colour prints: Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Printer: $181.92
  • Cost of prints (black): Free
  • Cost of colour prints: N/A
  • Paper: $5.00
Total cost after year one (projection): $140.17 $178.01 $204.98 $186.92
Year two costs
  • Cost from previous year: $140.17
  • Cost of prints (black): $43.50
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous year: $178.01
  • Cost of prints (black): $10.00
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous year: $204.98
  • Cost of prints (black): $8.50
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous year: $186.92
  • Cost of prints (black): Free
  • Cost of prints (colour): N/A
  • Paper: $5.00
Total cost after year two (projection): $188.67 $193.01 $218.48 $191.92
Year three costs
  • Cost from previous years: $188.67
  • Cost of prints (black): $43.50
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $193.01
  • Cost of prints (black): $10.00
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $218.48
  • Cost of prints (black): $8.50
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $191.92
  • Cost of prints (black): $11.00
  • Cost of prints (colour): N/A
  • Paper: $5.00
Total cost after year three (projection): $237.17 $208.01 $231.98 $207.92
Year four costs
  • Cost from previous years: $237.17
  • Cost of prints (black): $43.50
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $208.01
  • Cost of prints (black): $10.00
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $231.98
  • Cost of prints (black): $8.50
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $207.92
  • Cost of prints (black): $11.00
  • Cost of prints (colour): N/A
  • Paper: $5.00
Total cost after year four (projection): $285.67 $223.01 $245.48 $223.92
Year five costs
  • Cost from previous years: $285.67
  • Cost of prints (black): $43.50
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $223.01
  • Cost of prints (black): $10.00
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $245.48
  • Cost of prints (black): $8.50
  • Cost of prints (colour): Free
  • Paper: $5.00
  • Cost from previous years: $223.92
  • Cost of prints (black): $11.00
  • Cost of prints (colour): N/A
  • Paper: $5.00
Total cost after year five (projection): $334.17 $238.01 $258.98 $239.92

Conclusion

I bet that you are having a headache after reading all of this. What you really had to do was just read the description of each printer and the price of maintaining it after 5 years to get a sense of what printer you really want.

So, guess what printer I‘m recommending you?

Drum roll please!

The Lexmark Interact S605!

Obviously the first question that you will ask is, “why?” Well, it is true that the original price of this printer is more expensive than the other printers, but take a look at the maintaining price of it after 5 years. It‘s only about 20 dollars more expensive than the Canon Pixma MP560 and the Lexmark Interact S605. Look at the Epson Stylus NX515. It started off the cheapest. Now look at its maintaining price after 5 years, a $334.17 in comparison of the $230-$260 for the other three printers. Ouch!

Price is not the only reason. Out of the four printers, the Lexmark Interact S605 is the highest rated printer in terms of quality and efficiency. It has the best cost-per-page ratio, and it is a three-in-one printer. One great thing about this printer is that it has a 3 year warranty, unlike the one-year warranty of all the others. That means that if by any chance your printer breaks down, whether itself or by you, you can bring it to the factory for fixing. As a student, you want reliability, quality, and ability. This printer has all three. It has some really nice features such as a cool-looking LCD screen, automatic-two-side printing, and much more.

Now you‘ll ask, “Why did you not like the other printers?” That answer to question is, I do like them. They are great, but they are not good as good as the Lexmark Interact S605. I‘ll give reasons for each one of those printers. The first one, Epson Stylus NX515, has a very modest price, and it looks great, but the price of the ink cartridges is simply a letdown. It‘s far too expensive. The second printer, Canon Pixma MP560, would have been the second best choice; it wouldn‘t be first because the other brands claim that they have higher quality. The fourth and final printer, the Samsung ML-2525W Laser printer, is simply a workhorse for any office or home. I would definitely recommend this printer for that purpose, but not for students. Also, students these days need to colour print for a variety of assignments, and sadly, this printer cannot. In terms of simply mono colour printing, I‘d say that this printer is better than the Lexmark Interact S605. Another downside is that the Samsung ML-2525W Laser printer can only print, not scan or copy. It would be a perfect printer for lab 218 though, but not for a student like me or you.

Back to the Lexmark Interact S605. A feature that is worth mentioning about this printer is its eco-mode. This button lets you immediately print on both sides of a sheet of paper using minimal ink at the cost of a bit less output quality. Not bad for you, good for the ink cartridge, and great for the environment. The wireless setup is user-friendly and easy, so you‘ll have no trouble making this printer the perfect sidekick to any connected computer. You can print anywhere from the house, anytime. You‘ll definitely appreciate how the quality and printing speeds of this printer rivals laser printers that costs far more. Overall, the Lexmark Interact S605 is worthwhile purchase that‘ll solve all your printing problems and this printer will guide you smoothly through your four years of high school.

Even though I recommend you the Lexmark Interact S605, you‘re welcome to buy any printer that you want, it‘s your money. I‘m simply displaying the information of good printers and giving you advice on which one would be the best for your situation.

Hope this guide helps, and I hope your head haven‘t exploded; mine is getting there after researching and typing all this!

Zelin

Sources (both text/pictures):

Wow! After all of this, I think I‘m becoming an expert on printers!

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