I'm Putting My Printer on Probation

[easysurfer]

While I'm here comparing my Ecotank vs INKvestment printers, one a plus of the INKvestment is the ink isn't a water soluble as the #502 ink used in the Ecotank model I have. The ink of the Ecotank dissolves instantly with any bit of water. No it seems with the ink from the INKvestment.

 

[albireo13]

I looked into an Ecotank but, the reports of unclogging maintenance made me rethink it.

I have an HP inkjet 5530 Envy. It works great, with nice print quality. However, the ink refill costs have driven me nuts. I have now started the HP ink subscription program and will try that for awhile. The fallback plan is to buy a laser printer, B&W.

 

[easysurfer]

Been doing some more researching about the Brother printers. Seems (I say seems as some of the info out there is contradictory) that for the Brother INKvestment, the machine will occasionally automatically do a clean cycle when it thinks the print head needs cleaning. I read one place where it said if printer not use for 45 days. I read at another place that the auto cleaning isn't done by time of not use but when printer senses print head needs leaning.

Also, the INKvestment (like Epson) has a maintenance "box" and ink absorber pads. But on the Brother, this isn't readily available and not easily changed by customer. Instead changing is done by Brother but that can cost as much as just buying a new printer . On the bright side, the box/pad is supposed to last the life of the printer.

I guess moral of the story is no such thing as a free lunch.

The decisive factor for me is if the printer clogs easily or not. If it does regularly and clean cycles are run and the maintenance box can't be changed by me, then I'm better off with just keeping (and wasting ink with) the Epson and returning the Brother. But if the Brother not used for weeks and shows no signs of clogging, then it is keep worthy.

 

[easysurfer]

It happened !

I haven't printed on my Brother INKvestment printer since testing about 10 days ago with the Superman picture. But today, I noticed the printer, that was in sleep mode wake up and make some noises which I believe is it running a self cleaning of the print head.

I'll still give it a few days to check to see if any clogs and print quality.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Any Updates on the Brother, or did you return it?

 

[brett]

When I replaced my home printer several years ago I did it based on pcmag printer reviews. I found them to be very helpful.

In the absence of any other data I selected one of their printer categories highly recommended printer.

A basic color ink jet combo that has served us well based on our useage for the past five years. Very low volume, and almost all of it B&W. I was able to retire my stand alone Hp scanner.

 

[easysurfer]

Any Updates on the Brother, or did you return it?

I still have the Brother printer. I haven't used it much. For the most part, it is on sleep mode. I did print out a bank statement that I used to balance my checkbook.

During one of the sleep mode moment, the printer made some noises by itself and the LCD went on which I believe is the automatic clean cycle of the print head. Oh, I did also print a nozzle check page and there was no clogging.

In the meantime, I noticed the there is more clogging for my Epson. I haven't done a clean cycle for several weeks.

I still have plenty of time to decide if I want to keep the Brother or not. So far, I'm leaning towards keeping the Brother as I like the no clogging -- as of now at least! As for the Epson, I'll probably get my money's worth on the remaining ink, then decide what to do when the ink is nearly depleted. I like the idea of just having one printer.

 

[easysurfer]

I just submitted a price adjustment request on the Brother INKvestment printer I bought from Costco. The price got slashed by $58 within 30 days of my purchase. If all works out, I should get a refuned adjustment in 5-10 business days. What's fair is fair .

 

[easysurfer]

Costco ended up giving me a refund of $63.75 total on the Brother printer. For price difference plus tax.
Looks like I'll surely be keeping this printer now!

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Has anyone tried the Canon Maxift Megatank printers? I am looking at the gx6021.

 

[easysurfer]

Well, my new Brother printer definitely does self cleaning of the print head. I was just doing my own stuff when I heard the printer get active from sleep mode and start making a pretty loud noise. I walked over as saw on the printer's LCD screen displaying some like "Cleaning in progress, do not feed paper in machine..." Took about 45 seconds for the self cleaning to finish.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

My only concern about the Brother is that it is not a "real" tank printer. You still have to buy cartridges to refill the tank. I would rather buy the ink and refill the tanks myself which is why I am looking at the Canon.

 

[easysurfer]

The Brother kind of a hybrid. My understanding is that instead of using bottles, the cartridges kind of serve as the "bottle" and is used to fill the internal tank. But instead of with a bottle where a full bottle might not be used so it is then stored elsewhere, the cartridge is stored in the printer. Don't really know if there is an advantage to that all or just marketing.

I actually think it is more satisfyingly to fill by bottle to see the ink get transferred (though when I first put the cartridges in, I could here the internal tank getting filled). Again, not sure how much difference that makes in performance. But I guess the bottle fill is like having a clear cup of a vacuum to see all the dirt getting picked up .

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Yes, but with the refill ink one can by 3rd. Party ink a lot cheaper than the OEM. As long as you use the right ink there is no issue, been dong it for years with no adverse affects. You have to have the right ink though.

 

[bbqcoder]

My printing most of the time is for temporary documents. Like when I balance my checkbook, it is easier to print out a bank statement and use that to help balance instead of trying to do everything on the screen.

However, there are times I want to print out things that require more than a partially clogged output like a printed copy of my taxes and the occasional photos. In these times, I wouldn't be surprised if I have to run a clean cycle to unclog the print nozzle before printing.

I don’t understand the need to constantly print stuff but whatever. We have a brother monochrome laser that is ten years old. Only print mailing labels and occasional recipes. Otherwise I just look at stuff using my computer/phone.

I also don’t understand the need to balance the checkbook. I haven’t done that in almost twenty years. I do look over the deposits/withdrawals to make sure they’re accurate. I also keep sufficient funds backed by over withdrawal coverage which I’ve used maybe 2-3 times in 20+ years.

Most bills are on auto payments to credit cards or debit. We use bill pay for most checks which is not a lot, maybe 20-30 per year?

I have no need to print out photos. I’m happy looking at them on the phone/TV/etc

 

[easysurfer]

I don’t understand the need to constantly print stuff but whatever. We have a brother monochrome laser that is ten years old. Only print mailing labels and occasional recipes. Otherwise I just look at stuff using my computer/phone.

I also don’t understand the need to balance the checkbook. I haven’t done that in almost twenty years. I do look over the deposits/withdrawals to make sure they’re accurate. I also keep sufficient funds backed by over withdrawal coverage which I’ve used maybe 2-3 times in 20+ years.

Most bills are on auto payments to credit cards or debit. We use bill pay for most checks which is not a lot, maybe 20-30 per year?

I have no need to print out photos. I’m happy looking at them on the phone/TV/etc

I'm not constantly printing stuff. But for me a color printer that does a decent (note, I didn't say perfect) job printing out pictures on regular paper is a good luxury to have. Some things I print are taxes (old fashioned, still like a paper copy), recipes, checkbook statements for balancing (old fashioned again), investment statements for entering in my spreadsheet and manuals (like or a camera). Also, day to day stuff too like how to do things. If I come across an article on say how to repair such and such. It's easier to print out the instructions than try to use screen device. Those are just some examples.

For you the brother monochrome laser seems to work fine and that is good.

 

[groesbeck]

I couldn't be without my Brother laser printer. I play Dungeons & Dragons so I print a lot for that. In my mind you might not need a printer all the time but when you do need it you need it pretty badly.

 

[easysurfer]

I couldn't be without my Brother laser printer. I play Dungeons & Dragons so I print a lot for that. In my mind you might not need a printer all the time but when you do need it you need it pretty badly.

Well said.

I printed out a QR code for an item I'm returning from Amazon to a nearby Whole Foods. Yes, I could have fetched the QR code from the email from my phone. But I find it easier (old fashioned again) to just show the slip of paper than to have swipe through the phone to get to the email that has the QR code. My phone on on auto screen dim after 2 mins so I'll probably have to first wake that up.

Printed paper, though there might be alternatives, hasn't gone completely out of style.