So you say you want to buy a printer?

[tramtwo]

With so many to choose from the sheer number of choices are overwhelming. What we need is a printer that has a low cost per page (multiple ink carts) operation. Decent speed for color, photo quality, pages, and can still handle text reasonably well. The budget is about 800 on this and oh yeah it has to work on the windows platform. ;)

Any ideas?

[degsy]

I would go for Epson because you can get cheap compatible cartridges which are just as good as the originals.

My father has a Lexmark. The cartridges are £20-25 each.

I have an Epson. Cartridges are less that £5. There are even deals for 3 = £10 etc.

$800 seems like a large budget for a Photo Printer.
You could probably get a Colour Laser printer for that, but obviously the ink costs would rise dramatically.

[renegade600]

I found Canons are the cheapest per page. Initial cost is a little higher but you can get a great one for under 300 bucks. They have individual color cartridges and this is where the savings are. You can also refill their cartridges without worrying about messing up the print head as with most other cartridges. The last printer I purchased was a canon s750 and it prints high quality text and pictures.

[degsy]

You can also refill their cartridges without worrying about messing up the print head as with most other cartridges
Just to clarify my point about compatible cartridges.
Compatibles are different to Refills. You can think of a compatible cartridge as a non-brand name cartridge for the printer. :)

[tramtwo]

Thanks. This printer will be getting a workout daily. We have been looking into the Stylus Photo 2200 Inkjet Printer. It has 7 ink carts.

[renegade600]

is this for a business or home use? If home use, way too much. I do not see a need for most of the features.

[degsy]

and 7 ink carts maybe more of a hinderance that a help.
just thinking of the cost. although i suppose you will be able to change individual colours when they run out, not like with a combined colour cartridge.

but, usually a color (3 or 4 colours) and 1 black will do.