[PLUG-TALK] Expensive toner, cheap color printer

[Keith Lofstrom]

In a month or two, I will need new toner for my HP2605DTN color laser
printer.  The official HP price for BW+3color toner is $324 ($75 plus
3 times $83), and Staples sells the set for $299.   The price at the
local toner refill+chip shop is $235.

Meanwhile, Staples is selling new 2605 printers, with full toner 
cartridges, for $200.  Hm, buy the printer, strip off the crunchy
outer part, remove the tasty toner cartridges inside?  I guess it
is a cheap way to accumulate repair parts ...

Keith

PS - after I learned how to properly control the 2605, I am quite
happy with it.  It draws a trickle of power.  It is duplexing,
Postscript3, and ethernet.  If I slow down the print speed properly,
I can print vinyl bumper stickers with it!  I just wish the supplies
were cheaper.  I can put brandX toner in the old cartridges, and
ignore the "toner out" warnings from the chip, but even the refill
toner is expensive!

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com         Voice (503)-520-1993
KLIC --- Keith Lofstrom Integrated Circuits --- "Your Ideas in Silicon"
Design Contracting in Bipolar and CMOS - Analog, Digital, and Scan ICs