Title, basically. My old torture device needs to be replaced, and while it's been mostly working OK, printers have no excuse for being as shitty as they are. So therefore I am looking for suggestions.
Specs:
- Must include a flatbed scanner
- prints in color
- Wifi connection preferred
- No PaaS or IaaS bullshit
- No driver weirdness. I'm going to use it on linux.
- Available "anywhere".
- Ability to sit powered and connected in my HarryPotteresque "server room" under the stairs for ages, unattended, and work without hazzle when I send it the bimonthly print job.
I know the geek community likes Brother. Any particular model?
For reference, this new printer will replace my aging Canon Pixma 4250.
I was certain this link would already be here! https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24117976/best-printer-2024-home-use-office-use-labels-school-homework
I think the options may be either:
An ecotank, the problem with them is that it doesnt respect the last point, since if it's not used in a while the ink it's going to dry and clog the print head, but i've seen some pretty good prints coming out of them+ on aliexpress you can get ink + other bits for cheap
A brother mfc, if i remember correctly there where color laser variants, the problem with them is cost and size, if i remember correctly they are office printers, space was not taken in cosideration when they where desined, so they are huge compared to standard printers + the ink cartriges are expensive, but last forever, i'm not sure if you can find cartiges on aliexpress, toner refills are more likely, but can be very messy and requiring cutting a hole in the cartriges, and i've found out that for the b/w toner printers it's the most economical way of getting ink for them
Sorry for the length of the comment.
I have a brother b&w laser printer with scanner (hl-l2390dw) that I got after years of grief from an awful canon inkjet that would clog after 2 weeks of no use. Went through so many ink cartridges on that thing.
I love the brother now. It can sit around for weeks and when I do occasionally need to print something it comes out great. Sure I do miss printing color but I can always send a print job over to Walgreen or Staples and they'll have it printed out in an hour with better quality than a consumer inkjet printer can put out
Mine works with Linux so no issues there
Used brother MFC-L3770CDW with a firmware T or older. If you can't get one with an old firmware you have to use brother replacement toner. It's sometimes possible to downgrade firmware but having had to do it once I never want to again.
But other than the toner issue it works fantastic on Linux and my whole house uses it.
Would not recommend for photo printing.
*removed externally hosted image*
I can't think of any brand that's going to be connected to Wi-Fi that eventually isn't going to cut off your ability to scan when you run out of a certain color of ink.
I bought a last generation flatbed scanner for like $15 and a Canon printer that will never be connected to the internet
Somebody said laser. Those things vaporize toner into your air.
A printer where you can actually see the ink tank and you can refill it.
What are you on? "Vaporize toner into your air"... Then why isn't my house covered in toner (and every office that prints thousands of pages a month)?
Toner is electrostatically attracted then heated onto the page, not vaporized.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7413220/
Abstract quote:
In particular, laser printers are a primary source of particle emission that increases the concentrations of particulate matter in indoor atmosphere by releasing substantial quantities of electrostatic fine particles, at rates comparable with tobacco smoking and incense burning.
