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Old 16th October 2024, 19:49   #496
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Re: Suggestions for printers

I have reserved an IP address for the DCP-T820DW printer in our home router. Many problems got solved after that. Sometimes it does create issues but restarting printer and/or restarting router resolves the issue.

There is one limitation I want to highlight. It can't connect to 5 GHz WiFi.
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Old 17th October 2024, 18:48   #497
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Originally Posted by turbodude View Post
I have reserved an IP address for the DCP-T820DW printer in our home router.
I go with a fixed IP address and cabled network. But, physically, I can: my router and the printer are close. In fact, my printer doesn't even have wifi.

Otherwise, I'd agree with you and fix the DHCP addresses given out to such devices by the router.

Last edited by Thad E Ginathom : 17th October 2024 at 18:50.
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Old 11th November 2024, 21:14   #498
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Re: Suggestions for printers

Looking to buy a printer under 15k; could use some suggestions. They need not be only product suggestions; I'm fairly tech-savvy, but never needed a printer. So clueless about what to even look for. I'll take general inputs like 'specs to look for', user experience, etc as well.

These are the requirements: The printer will mostly be used to print some learning/play materials for a toddler- for now at least. So, mostly colour printing, up to A4 size should do. Photo printing, scanning and other features are nice-to-haves, given the budget. Ease of use is top most priority, as it'll be used by non-tech-savvy people. Next is MacOS support (taking Windows support as granted). Thirdly, repair/service support should be available (Location: Chennai).

After some browsing, I currently have this Canon G3000 under consideration. Chose this because Ink Tanks are apparently less prone to drying up, and have lower running costs as opposed to Inkjets. This has MacOS support, but I don't know about ease of use and service centres availability in Chennai.

Last edited by BullettuPaandi : 11th November 2024 at 21:16. Reason: Added link to the printer
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Old 18th November 2024, 11:18   #499
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Originally Posted by BullettuPaandi View Post
Looking to buy a printer under 15k; could use some suggestions. They need not be only product suggestions; I'm fairly tech-savvy, but never needed a printer. So clueless about what to even look for. I'll take general inputs like 'specs to look for', user experience, etc as well.

These are the requirements: The printer will mostly be used to print some learning/play materials for a toddler- for now at least. So, mostly colour printing, up to A4 size should do. Photo printing, scanning and other features are nice-to-haves, given the budget. Ease of use is top most priority, as it'll be used by non-tech-savvy people. Next is MacOS support (taking Windows support as granted). Thirdly, repair/service support should be available (Location: Chennai).

After some browsing, I currently have this Canon G3000 under consideration. Chose this because Ink Tanks are apparently less prone to drying up, and have lower running costs as opposed to Inkjets. This has MacOS support, but I don't know about ease of use and service centres availability in Chennai.
Good choice. If you touch the offline market, they'll crowd you with a choice of various Epson printers, but you get a Canon anyhow.

I'm in the 7th year of my ownership of G2002- the junior model with no wifi. I've once replaced the black and once the colour print head, ordering it online and watching a youtube video to install it.

The biggest advantage with Canon over Epson is, higher print quality, no lines or anything like that and self-replaceable print heads (they usually need replacement only in 5-10 years, but Epson ones need to be taken to an engineer, no choice).
Epson advantage is you get easy after sales and mechanics in every city.

Coming to this model, remember that you're paying around Rs.3000~ for just one addition- Wifi.

If you don't need Wifi, please choose Canon's G2012, save Rs. 2000~ approx. and also get 2 additional black bottles with the package (additional Rs. 1000 saving in the long end).

Wired vs Wireless is a big debate, so I won't get into it. But yes, you can print from mobile connecting it using a USB OTG Cable. Rest you can decide.
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Old 18th November 2024, 17:17   #500
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Originally Posted by Samarth 619 View Post
Wired vs Wireless is a big debate ...
Easy.

If your printer is within cable-reach of your wifi router, it doesn't need wifi. That has been my situation for years. I still print, from phones, laptop, etc, by wifi: the router takes care of it. No USB stuff.

If your printer is going to be in another room, or even on the other side of the same room, or you tend to move house and want flexibility, go for in-printer wifi.

My printer is inches away from the router. Router is also directly cabled to my PC. I have never needed a wifi printer and never will. I let the router do the job.

It is also, of course, ok to have wifi in the printer even if you don't strictly need it! It may be that that some model is favoured and happens to come with it.

No debate. It's need or don't need. Or don't need but got it anyway

Last edited by Thad E Ginathom : 18th November 2024 at 17:18.
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Old 19th November 2024, 09:00   #501
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Originally Posted by BullettuPaandi View Post
Looking to buy a printer under 15k
Ink tank printers are suitable for high volume, full area A4 printing. I would not buy one for the occasional color print. The ink won't dry up for sure. What will give you problems is ink drying up at the print head due to insufficient use. If you think your use case requires printing something every week, then you'll be fine. If its like once a month, stick to a cartridge based model. Yes, the cartridges cost an arm and a leg so check the cost of those before you proceed. Canon inkjet cartridges are among the priciest out there.

I have a HP 8010 series inkjet printer. Suitable for average quality color prints. Isn't a masterclass like the Epson or Canon's. Black text prints are fine. Started using non HP branded cartridges. Does the job for me. I may print once every month and thats it. Whats interesting is that the system detects non HP branded cartridges and sends that data over to HP. Then warns you that the printer may get disabled for using counterfeit cartridges! I finally found a way to disable data sharing within the HP print software.

Wi Fi is certainly useful. It means the printer can be anywhere in the house.
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Old 19th November 2024, 10:25   #502
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Originally Posted by BullettuPaandi View Post
After some browsing, I currently have this Canon G3000 under consideration. Chose this because Ink Tanks are apparently less prone to drying up, and have lower running costs as opposed to Inkjets.
DO. NOT. BUY. THIS. PRINTER!!!!!

Ink Tanks are GREAT, and 100x better thank inkjet.

However, the G3000 (which I bought in 2020) has an absolutely FATAL flaw which makes it worthless.

It's a combination of 2 flaws:
1) The ink flows backwards in the pipes, leading to blank or very faint printouts. This happens every few days whenever the printer hasn't been used.
To solve this, you have to run a printer maintenance which pumps ink through the tubes, into a little foam pad that soaks it up.
2) Now that foam pad only has a limited life (X uses) and that is counted in software. Once you do the purge X times, you apparently can't do it anymore because there's a firmware counter limit set!!

Watch this for more details:


Apparently their newer printers (also G3xxx) do kinda solve this issue. But hell no. I'm staying away.

If you've already bought it, I honestly suggest returning it.


After suffering through this with the Canon G3000, I bought the Brother DCP-T420W and I'm very happy.
Key points:
- It has an enclosed paper tray, so i can store paper there without it getting dusty and fraying
- The mobile app is WAY better than the Canon one
- I've never once had a problem with it

Last edited by Rehaan : 19th November 2024 at 10:26.
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Old 19th November 2024, 12:47   #503
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Re: Suggestions for printers

Thanks a lot for the responses.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sandeepmohan View Post
If you think your use case requires printing something every week, then you'll be fine.
I think this is doable. My sister, for whom I'm asking suggestions for, currently prints out materials from some Montessori forum in bulk, and lets the toddler play with few at a time in rotation. Printing the necessary few every week should be easier to manage, I suppose.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rehaan View Post
DO. NOT. BUY. THIS. PRINTER!!!!!
Thanks for the heads up! Those flaws practically undoes every upgrade from an Inkjet. Glad she had enough material for now, and wanted to wait till Christmas/New Year offers. I'll share the Brother unit with her.

Are there reliable colour laser printers around this budget (considering with year end offers)? When I shared the G3000 with her, she told me that she was looking for the least maintenance possible, and was even willing to compromise on print quality. I didn't even know there were colour laser printers, as the first thing I did was limiting price range to 15k.
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Old 20th November 2024, 20:42   #504
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom View Post
If your printer is within cable-reach of your wifi router, it doesn't need wifi.
But it needs an ethernet connection!

I really really should have made that point in the post. I made assumptions <blush>.
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Old 24th November 2024, 14:32   #505
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rehaan View Post
It's a combination of 2 flaws:
1) The ink flows backwards in the pipes, leading to blank or very faint printouts. This happens every few days whenever the printer hasn't been used.
To solve this, you have to run a printer maintenance which pumps ink through the tubes, into a little foam pad that soaks it up.
2) Now that foam pad only has a limited life (X uses) and that is counted in software. Once you do the purge X times, you apparently can't do it anymore because there's a firmware counter limit set!!
With all due respect, I think there's a confusion on your end. I'll answer pointwise:-
  1. 1. You're right that you need to print every few days, but this is the case for ALL inkjets. Printer maintenance is the same too, its present in all inkjet printer software, Canon, Epson, all of them.
    Ink going back to tanks is probably a defect in your particular unit.
  2. 2. Foam pad life is an artificial (software based) restriction, it is not a hardware restriction. I've had it a few times on my G2000, I only used a Canon Service tool software, combined with service mode on the printer to reset the ink pad counter.
Every product demands a certain level of learning, care and commitment. And clearly, a Canon G2000 or 3000 also needs the same. Believe me, I have one since 7-8 years now.

I don't understand reg. getting a Brother instead:- Are you saying the Brother printer you mentioned doesn't require regular printing at all? That its head will not require the flush option ever? I find it unlikely. Could you clear?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BullettuPaandi View Post
Are there reliable colour laser printers around this budget (considering with year end offers)? When I shared the G3000 with her, she told me that she was looking for the least maintenance possible, and was even willing to compromise on print quality. I didn't even know there were colour laser printers, as the first thing I did was limiting price range to 15k.
Some of these LED based lasers (they use LEDs in the printhead) start at around 30k.

From those very limited few who have it, I heard that a colour laser doesn't support photo-papers all that well, but its good for the common A4 paper.
And around 10 years back, a laser colour printer used to give a highly saturated result, I don't know about today. You'll have to take a demo at an offline store, if they can.

Last edited by ampere : 24th November 2024 at 22:47. Reason: Merging back-to-back posts
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Old 25th November 2024, 19:40   #506
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Originally Posted by Samarth 619 View Post
I don't understand reg. getting a Brother instead:- Are you saying the Brother printer you mentioned doesn't require regular printing at all? That its head will not require the flush option ever? I find it unlikely. Could you clear?
Gets used not more than 4-5 times a month max. Z-E-R-O issues since we got it 6 months ago. (in comparison, the G3000 would have printed blank several times in the same time period).

Thought I jinxed it with my last reply when it gave me a flashing orange light today.... but it was just out of paper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Samarth 619 View Post
I'll answer pointwise:-
Will answer in detail in a while, but did you watch the video in my post? I think it should clarify everything.
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Old 25th November 2024, 21:44   #507
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Originally Posted by Samarth 619 View Post

I don't understand reg. getting a Brother instead:- Are you saying the Brother printer you mentioned doesn't require regular printing at all? That its head will not require the flush option ever? I find it unlikely. Could you clear?
I have left my Brother Ink tank printer without regular printing for at least few weeks (3 to 5 weeks). No flush or head adjustments needed when you start the printing again. Key is not to switch off the printer but leave it on so that it is in standby mode and I guess it makes some routine self adjustments. I can hear some noise few seconds in a day or two.
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Old 2nd January 2025, 20:55   #508
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Re: Suggestions for printers

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Will answer in detail in a while, but did you watch the video in my post? I think it should clarify everything.
Well, I watched this video now, after seeing this post while going through my posts. And my reaction was a big facepalm, every 2 minutes.

The guy is overreacting. He printed 50 photos in 4 years from a printer meant to do about 10000 composite (4000+6000) prints per ink change?! Does he want to end the concept of consumables, in the name of consumer rights?
Tomorrow he'll say, my bike died because I rode it 5 miles in 5 years?!

If he was a newbie, I'd forgive, but being a youtuber he ought to have known much better.

He's right about ink flush though. I did it many times too. Call it a demerit of this technology or bad implementation by the present world, or maybe Canon, but it is there. I knew it, so I managed it better.
Epson is even worse, they have lines in the colour prints from day 1 of ownership.
At least, a Canon printer rarely sees the mechanic, mine did only once for a paper feed problem due to a stuck earbud inside (my fault). Even print heads are user replaceable, how better can it get?
Go to Epson mechanics and see the tens of printers lying, waiting to get their print heads repaired.

And whatever he's saying about remotely deactivating the product might have happened in HP, never in Canon, so its mis-aimed accusation, why put it in a Canon video at all?
In fact, truth be put, Canon asks for no serial number when you refill its tanks, nor does it ask for internet ever, so its hardly concerned what ink you put.
Is this guy a youtuber? Does he even know technology today? Man, I could've done a far better job while having a management degree, not a computer one.

After about 13000 prints and total 3 full sets of ink bottles consumed (including the flushes, so we can calculate, 3rd set is still a half left), I don't even know if the ink absorber exists. For me, let it rot inside the machine, why should I give a damn?
Software wise, I've long ago reset it using the free downloaded software, that apparently this youtuber paid for. Whosoever is charging him online, is almost charging money for an official WinRAR license, if you know what I mean. PM me if you want the software.

Overall, the guy was speaking like a newbie. Now, he's right in a way, a typical consumer expects better, and one man can't have all the info, but wouldn't it be better to prepare a guide for users instead of this?
The printer is next to me, and I'd gladly send a video of it printing, with all the colours intact, if you say.

Once again, I don't know anything about Brother, so I'll have to accept what you said as correct- maybe Brother is indeed better.
My dad has a Brother typewriter since 1980's and it still works, so maybe the brand has what it takes.
But Epson should be roasted, that's for sure. I let a friend purchase an Epson because the shopkeepers were pushing it, and it wasn't a great experience, with lines in coloured prints within the first 10 prints.


Quote:
Originally Posted by thanixravindran View Post
I have left my Brother Ink tank printer without regular printing for at least few weeks (3 to 5 weeks). No flush or head adjustments needed when you start the printing again. Key is not to switch off the printer but leave it on so that it is in standby mode and I guess it makes some routine self adjustments. I can hear some noise few seconds in a day or two.
I keep my Canon G2002 off, and so, unable to comment anything on this. But for as long as its on, it does make some noises here and there.

I guess, I'll have to check out the Brother now.

Last edited by Samarth 619 : 2nd January 2025 at 21:08.
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