Best printer 2024: a humorous critique of the Google search engine, LLMs and printer enshittification - eviltoast
  • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Anyone have a recommendation for a small color laser printer? Like shoebox size.

    My place is pretty small, and I don’t have much desk or shelf space. It doesn’t make sense for me to waste desk space on something that I use 1-3 times a year.

    I’ve been using one of these tiny HPs. The ink is a fucking racket, and I’d love a laser alternative. This size is great. I can fold the trays and throw it in a drawer. It’s only 16 x 5.5 x 7in.

    Edit: Found one. It the HP LaserJet Pro M15w

    • stankmut@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      I don’t think you’ll find a color laser printer that size. They use pretty large drums to hold the toner. It’d be hard to even find a mono laser printer in that size.

      • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        They use comparatively tiny drums these days, but they inherently need four of them all in a row, one each for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. That usually makes even the smaller ones quite deep, front to back, in my experience.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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      7 months ago

      If you only need it 1-3 times/year, why not just go to your local library? In my area, it’s $0.10 for B&W, $0.25 for color, and I can get some books to read at the same time (I go almost weekly).

      • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Convenience. I can’t print when the library is closed, I need to travel over there, if need to print another revision, I need to travel back.

        Ideally like the convenience, but I don’t want to deal with HPs shitty ink sponges that instantly dry out. I’d like something that lasts.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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          7 months ago

          Well, I guess you need to decide what the convenience is worth. An ink cartridge dries out in 2-3 years and toner can last a decade or more (I honestly don’t know, ours finally ran out after 8-ish).

          Laser printers aren’t that big, mine (B&W with scanner) is about a piece of paper and a half in all directions. I got it for $150 or so on a sale from Costco (currently listed for $250), and it like like the color version is a little taller but similar footprint (but also more expensive at just $390). Official dimensions of the Brother color laser printer (MFC-L3765CDW): 16.1 in. x 17.5 in. x 15.8 in.

          I personally know need B&W, and if I needed color, I’d just go to the library since I go almost every week anyway.

          • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            Yup. I’m just wondering if something like the tiny ink jets exists for laser printing. I could get a slightly bigger printer, but if I can get a similar size or smaller, I would prefer that.

            Looks like I just found one. The HP LaserJet Pro M15w is about the same form factor as my inkjet. Problem is that is BW only, and an HP.

              • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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                7 months ago

                I’ve had some commercial HP units. “Fine” is debatable. ;)

                Although they were a fine source of revenue for maintenance techs.