Cheaper Color Lasers Cometh
So barely two weeks ago, I was talking about a new era of color laser printers coming down to the $200 price point, and giving the inkjets a serious run for their money. I envisioned this in the form of some serious rebate, probably over the summer during the all important back-to-school computer retail season when the stores do just about anything to lure consumers into their store to spend their bux. Well anyway, I had the right idea, but it was way sooner than expected.
Looking around the web, I found out about a color laser from Konica Minolta, the 2500W, for $199. While the retail price is still $299, TigerDirect has it for $199- no rebate. I also don't think this is a flash in the pan because the competing HP color laser model, the 1600 is going for $224. Suddenly, things are looking considerably more competitive, but are they really?
I headed on over to the manufacturer's page to hone in some some particulars. It sounds like the 2500W, like many other printers, ships with less than the full size cartridges. More specifically, they come with 1500 page cartridges, one each for black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Each color cartridge costs $69 to replace with the standard one, or $129 for the high capacity one rated for 4500 pages. Also, the high capacity black cartridge goes for $84. While the cartridges are clearly more expensive than an inkjet, individual color replacement, and a larger number of pages of output make this more palatable. Also, don't forget the possibility of a 3rd party replacement, or a refill to save some dollars.
Is the inkjet era over? Not by a longshot. However, it's nice to see some alternative technology in this fiercely competitive market segment. Like most others, I'm not tossing my current B&W printer to run out and buy this color one. However, many of us are using monochrome lasers, and when they need replacing, I'll be looking towards a color laser such as the 2500W as I'm sure many others will too. At a sub-$200 price, it's hard to not want the color output. If you'd like to read a good review of the 2500W color laser printer, check out PC Mag's Review here.
--Jonas
Looking around the web, I found out about a color laser from Konica Minolta, the 2500W, for $199. While the retail price is still $299, TigerDirect has it for $199- no rebate. I also don't think this is a flash in the pan because the competing HP color laser model, the 1600 is going for $224. Suddenly, things are looking considerably more competitive, but are they really?I headed on over to the manufacturer's page to hone in some some particulars. It sounds like the 2500W, like many other printers, ships with less than the full size cartridges. More specifically, they come with 1500 page cartridges, one each for black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Each color cartridge costs $69 to replace with the standard one, or $129 for the high capacity one rated for 4500 pages. Also, the high capacity black cartridge goes for $84. While the cartridges are clearly more expensive than an inkjet, individual color replacement, and a larger number of pages of output make this more palatable. Also, don't forget the possibility of a 3rd party replacement, or a refill to save some dollars.
Is the inkjet era over? Not by a longshot. However, it's nice to see some alternative technology in this fiercely competitive market segment. Like most others, I'm not tossing my current B&W printer to run out and buy this color one. However, many of us are using monochrome lasers, and when they need replacing, I'll be looking towards a color laser such as the 2500W as I'm sure many others will too. At a sub-$200 price, it's hard to not want the color output. If you'd like to read a good review of the 2500W color laser printer, check out PC Mag's Review here.
--Jonas
Labels: color laser printer, laser printer, printer
posted by digitaldoc at 8:41 PM
2 Comments:
My Minolta 2500DL is on the original toner cartridges for probably 3 years. For the last year the printer has been complaining that the black toner cartridge is empty but the printer keeps on printing perfectly acceptable pages.
I had seen a hack specifically for the Minolta series of printers. Seems the printer keeps track of the number of pages you print and after a certain number tries to get you to change the toner cartridge. I never had to use the hack as my printer has kept on chugging along even though it says the black toner cartridge is empty.
When considering the cost of toner cartridges, remember that they have an almost infinite life. They won't dry out if you don't use the printer for long periods of time, which means there is no waste. You never throw out a perfectly good toner cartridge because it dried out.
We have a Minolta 7300 here are work that gets used hard and it has held up very well. If you have to call Minolta service, however, be prepared for some major stupidity from the tech support folks.
Good point about the lack of waste with a laser printer. You may recall that the inkjet cartridges drying up is what got me to move to lasers in the first place.
Any call to the tech folks often yields some major stupidity unfortunately.
Post a Comment
<< Home