I Hate Printer Shopping

The Printer Problem [0:00]

• Printers remain a necessary evil, with sales reaching 90 million units annually, driven by school assignments and document archiving needs.
• The speaker recalls their current printer, a Samsung, and their past experience in IT, where they worked with most major brands but never personally purchased one.
• Key questions arise: what are the options, how much do they cost, and are printers an expensive long-term commitment?

  "Nobody likes printers, but with sales approaching 90 million units a year, it's clear that we can't get rid of them."

Navigating the Store Aisles [4:08]

• The search for printers begins, with an initial stop at Staples, where the available options are limited.
• One shopper expresses a need for a multifunction device with scanning capabilities, while the other already owns a dedicated scanner.
• The first printer encountered is an expensive $870 model, prompting sticker shock and comparisons to older, cheaper models.

  "Dude, I think for my Samsung ML1610 or whatever it is. No, I'd like the color one."

Price Shock and Brand Bias [7:23]

• A multifunction laser printer is found for $280 CAD, seeming more reasonable, but past negative experiences with HP software create a bias.
• Canon printers are also noted as expensive, and the need for non-hole-punching paper is humorously mentioned.
• The speakers admit to being novices in printer selection, experiencing a "noob experience."

  "Canon. Oh my gosh. These ones are also expensive. And you don't want holes in your paper."

Chromebook Compatibility and Color vs. B&W [11:16]

• The importance of Chromebook compatibility is raised, leading to a discussion about operating system compatibility, including Linux.
• A distinction is made between black and white and color printers, with one model mistakenly identified as color when it's black and white.
• Ethernet connectivity is highlighted as a desirable feature due to its reliability compared to Wi-Fi.

  "Oh, it's good to know that it works with a Chromebook. Is that really the marketing?"

Epson and Ink Tank Technology [14:47]

• Epson printers are examined, with one model praised for its size-to-price ratio.
• A cheaper Epson model is identified as an ink cartridge printer, which is generally considered the worst option.
• Ink tank printers are explained as having low ink costs via bottles but still carrying the risk of inkjet head drying and maintenance issues.

  "Got it. Ink tank, you have the benefits of low cost ink. You basically just buy it by the bottle and put it in there."

The Brother Brand and Price Points [18:06]

• Brother printers are introduced, with a reputation for ease of setup and network connectivity, making them a favored brand for IT professionals.
• A surprisingly cheap Brother printer is found for $80 CAD, but it uses ink cartridges, which one shopper is hesitant to buy.
• Business-class Brother printers are significantly more expensive, with an ideal price range for personal use identified as $150-$300 CAD.

  "I mean, it's your brother. Yeah. I only have one brother."

Ink vs. Toner Cost Analysis [23:35]

• A Brother toner cartridge with a 3,000-page yield costs $120, while a non-XL version offers 1,200 pages for half the price.
• Epson EcoTank ink bottles cost around $30 CAD for black and $25 CAD for colors, with a total refill cost of about $100 CAD for approximately 4,500 pages.
• The long-term cost of ink tank printers is deemed more attractive due to the significantly higher page yield per refill compared to toner cartridges.

  "Whoa! Is that $120? $120 bucks. I mean, it's a big fat one with a 3,000 page yield."

Purchase Decisions and Test Prints [28:00]

• One shopper chooses a Brother multifunction printer for $200, prioritizing its lift-and-scan feature over mass scanning capabilities.
• The other shopper opts for a Brother printer around $200, finding automatic duplex printing less critical for their needs.
• Test prints reveal that inkjet printers like the Epson may not produce text as crisp as laser printers, but offer better color versatility and cheaper ink.

  "I feel like out of all the options that were there, I was going to end up in this price range anyways. And I'm very happy."