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Thread ID: 118191	2011-05-24 04:04:00	Printer advice needed	tuiruru (12277)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1204432	2011-05-24 04:04:00	Hi all A local community group with approx 230 members needs a new printer. They kick out about 170 newsletters, not densely printed, three times a year, averaging 10 sides but printed double sided (5 sheets). They seem to think that colour is important because they “sell advertising space” to local retailers “which pays for the newsletter” (advertising revenue brought in about $250 last time) and anyway, it's nice to have a few bits of holly with red berries and Santa hats at Christmas isn't it? There's a committee of a dozen or so with a meeting once a month, plus other admin “stuff”, like minutes and reports for the AGM, so lets say it's about 6,000 printed sides a year (but growing). Recently they've been trying to do all this on a Brother 620(?) Colour printer (the installation CD has drivers from '98 to XP), which won't let them print in black if one of the colours has run out, and, basically, everything has turned to custard, and very faint ink! I think you get the picture. So what recommendations, advice, warnings etc does anybody have? The biggy seems to be the newsletter which ideally should be double sided and colour. There's also the printing time involved here (somebody obviously has a lot of patience, and then there'd be the stapling to do). I guess we're looking at a low/medium level laser such as might be used in a small business (which fits some people here). Has anyone got experience of actual copy costs, as opposed to those quoted by the manufacturers? I know it's a bit difficult to pin that down (I can also remember that 10 – 15 years ago PC World did a cost comparison on printer ink and it came out more expensive by weight and volume than Beluga Caviare and Bollinger (or was it Don Perignon) champagne) but guestimates would be nice. The local high school charges 10c per A4 b/w single sided, 15c double and I think it was 90c for a single side of A4 colour and $1,50 for A3 (but I think that has to include GST to “keep the books straight”). Any and all input gratefully received. If you need more info I can get it. And :thanks as always.	tuiruru (12277)
1204433	2011-05-24 04:09:00	Do they need a printer that can duplex, or do they manually print on both sides of the paper? You're right - a laser printer would be far preferable and much cheaper to run. www.ascent.co.nz Something like that would be good if they don't need duplexing, or something like this if they did. www.ascent.co.nz	wratterus (105)
1204434	2011-05-24 04:24:00	Do they need a printer that can duplex, or do they manually print on both sides of the paper? You're right - a laser printer would be far preferable and much cheaper to run . . ascent . co . nz/productspecification . aspx?ItemID=382358" target="_blank">www . ascent . co . nz Something like that would be good if they don't need duplexing, or something like this if they did . . ascent . co . nz/productspecification . aspx?ItemID=391939" target="_blank">www . ascent . co . nz That was quick - thanks! I guess those two models have set a bench mark that others can shoot around . Actually, how, exactly, do these printers deal with colour? Edit: Just looked it up So, supplementary question: Will they still print in black if one of the toner cartridges is empty?	tuiruru (12277)
1204435	2011-05-24 04:42:00	I'm not 100% sure, but as a general rule printers won't print if any of the colours are empty - inkjet or laser. There have been some models in the past that have, but not a lot. You would need to flick brother (or whoever) an email and ask them. It is easy to specify to only use the black toner (greyscale) in the driver options, and if you need colour you can manually specify that when you go to print a document that requires colour, that way it won't touch the colour toner, other than the initial drum filling procedure any laser printer will go through on initial startup. Inkjets will always use a little bit of colour ink to do a head clean, so even if you don't print any colour, it will still use some and eventually you will need to replace the colour cartridges, normally at 5:45 on a friday, just after the shops have closed and the newsletter needs to get sent that weekend. Set aside an extra hundred $$ when you buy the printer, and have a black toner on hand just in case. You usuaully get plenty of warning when they are running low anyway.	wratterus (105)
1204436	2011-05-24 04:49:00	Set aside an extra few hundred $$ when you buy the printer, and have a set of toners on hand just in case. Aye, there's the rub! The bit about the driver options I didn't know, so thanks again.	tuiruru (12277)
1204437	2011-05-24 05:12:00	www.corpcons.co.nz	Steven (7085)
1204438	2011-05-24 08:20:00	Well, for that many copies I'd consider a professional prining service - or would that blow the budget?	Paul.Cov (425)
1204439	2011-05-24 08:25:00	Well, for that many copies I'd consider a professional prining service - or would that blow the budget? Budget?!! :groan:	tuiruru (12277)
1204440	2011-05-24 10:01:00	Maybe consider online newsletters to compliment your current printing, either by approaching a nz community group (newzealand.govt.nz) (i.e. website) to post (upload) them. Or add/upload (e.g. pdf) to own simple site/blog (e.g. Google sites, docstoc, Wordpress, etc) Course depends if existing recipients have internet access, and your advertisers preference. Approach I did a few years back, though at work, rather than me print out dozens of reports monthly, I got the company to create a dedicated section within intranet setup. Got employees to download/save/print/collaborate reports themselves. Occasionally would outsource to hard copy printing company for corporate type clients.	kahawai chaser (3545)
1204441	2011-05-24 11:40:00	Hi Kahawai Yeah, I've already started talking to them about an "on Line" solution and am trying to get them to update their membership details to include e-mail addresses and broadband/dial-up status. That'll take at least a couple of weeks, probably more.	tuiruru (12277)
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