Printer recommendation
Printer recommendation
I own an HP officejet pro 8710, recently purchased ink cartridges for $150. I need to buy ink from other brands since HP's is no longer affordable.
I'm attempting to print a graphic onto a store-bought Christmas card, but the printer is malfunctioning. It seems it might be time to switch to a different printer.
I can print on a standard Christmas card with 8.5x11 or 8.5x14 thickness. Under $500, the printer must handle card stock and support store-bought cards.
The machine has a built-in function, can scan fax copies, view photos, and connect via internet. It supports paper sizes from 8.5x11 to 8.5x14. The input tray size is suitable for 100 sheets.
I can print double-sided, though an auto feeder would be helpful but not essential.
I've been searching online, but it's frustrating. I found these models: Brotherj4535dw, Epson E4760, Epson 4850, Canon Pixma T59521c. I'm sure others have similar experiences and might know if they can print the card.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Many printers tend to get stuck on card stock if the paper moves along a path with at least one sharp bend. It would be wise to check two aspects. First, see if the printer advertises the ability to print on "card stock." I’ve experienced success printing on standard card stock sheets with some models that don’t make such a claim, while others do not. My achievements weren’t with extremely thick or rigid paper. Another aspect that could assist is a "straight through" paper path feature. For instance, one printer had a tray that flipped the paper over at the back to feed it to the top output, but it also included a door at the back for the printed sheet to exit without any internal turning. There was no tray involved, so you had to catch it manually.
You should also be mindful that handling the paper in this way might affect print quality. Inkjet printers tend to spread water from the ink across the surface, which can blur the image if the paper isn’t specially treated. Traditional plain paper has coatings that quickly absorb water and stop the spread, preserving sharpness. Modern "All-Purpose" papers have simpler treatments, though they generally perform well for this purpose. Special photo papers designed for inkjets often have advanced coatings—glossy or matte—to keep the ink from soaking in and to keep the pigment visible. The main concern is that using a regular commercial card stock for an inkjet printer could cause the ink to soak and blur your output.
I spent many years in the Coated Fine Papers industry, working in technical roles, creating papers for various printing needs, which gives me a solid grasp of these technologies.
HP has been increasing the cost of ink for "legacy" cartridges by roughly ten percent annually for over a decade now, aiming to push customers toward newer printers with tighter DRM controls. This approach seems insufficient for some, prompting others to simply double their existing "Instant Ink" subscription fees for current devices. I won’t recommend partnering with such a company, but at least a fresh HP model won’t suffer from the exorbitant cartridge prices that plague older multifunction printers.
Most photo printers can handle stiff cardstock, though many lack multifunction capabilities. When I used inkjet more often, I relied on refillable Canon or CISS tanks, which performed better with dye inks compared to pigment ones. However, most common papers have now stopped being sold, leaving only microporous papers with pigment inks as a viable choice for photos.
If you mainly print graphics on uncoated paper, a color laser printer could perform similarly and offers the benefit of never drying out. You could even disconnect the printer, store it for a decade, and later use it again—printing flawlessly without clogged nozzles or other issues.
I own an HP Office Jet Pro 9015 for personal use: primarily for printing, copying, and limited scanning. Around two years ago, I was spending more than $120 per year on HP ink cartridges, which were consistently rising in price. I managed to cut costs slightly by returning empty cartridges for rewards. Another issue was that local big-box stores frequently ran out of cartridges. "Identical" OEM cartridges borrowed from the same printer model wouldn’t work, as one neighbor discovered.
I chose to join HP’s fixed-price ink cartridge program at about $7 per month, totaling around $84 annually. Payment was handled automatically via credit card. This brought significant savings. HP would also send refills automatically when the printer indicated low ink levels. Everything functioned well—refills arrived as needed.
However, things changed. The cartridges now seemed to last much longer, and the pricing model shifted to a monthly rate tied to the number of pages printed. If a page went through the printer, it was charged based on how many pages were printed. My plan capped at 100 pages per month, with an additional $1 per every ten extra pages. Starting from the next month, my monthly cost rose from $7 to between $7 and $10.
Despite this, I remain ahead in terms of ink expenses. I pay more careful attention to what I print—many documents contain ads, blank pages, or cover sheets that I skip using previews. If I need a hard copy occasionally, I simply take a screenshot instead of printing the full document. Tracking page counts is still challenging, so I usually keep a manual record, aiming for no more than 3 pages per day on average. A ream of paper typically lasts about four months.
Overall, I’m satisfied with this approach and believe it could help reduce my ink costs. HP also offers other subscription plans that accommodate more pages. It’s important to review the details carefully regarding printing habits and any hidden terms in the ink subscription. This is just one option I might consider.
And to be clear, the HP 9015 is nearing its end of life, and I’m planning a replacement printer after the new year. While I’m generally happy with their ink plan, I’ll explore alternatives.
The Brother j4335dw appears to satisfy your needs, though it seemed to look inexpensive. Are there other options with a more durable appearance?
Considering the size of these graphics, maybe printing them on stick-on labels would work better. That way, you wouldn't need a printer for card stock.
I made the wrong choice, I bought the Brother j4335dw and it seems fine at home. It has a rear feeder which lets paper go around the rollers without getting stuck, while front feeds move around and come back. The ink cartridges for my HP printer cost $150, but this Brother model claims to last a year's worth, so $150 is reasonable. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!