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Hi:

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floridabouvs wrote:

I have an HP OfficeJet Pro 8020 Smart Printer. It’s a few years old but functions very well.
Except one problem — it uses a lot of ink, and that ink costs big bucks. Apparently I can’t use ink refills with this printer, as I used to do in past with a different printer.
So I am considering getting a new printer. Recommendations appreciated for a printer that I can buy refilled ink for.

Do you actually *need* color a lot?

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I like an older model of Canon:?. I was amazed to see how much the price has increased since I bought the first one several years ago for $100! ?You might look at our message archives to see Randy Singer’s current recommendations.

On Jan 28, 2025, at 12:59 PM, floridabouvs via groups.io <floridabouvs@...> wrote:

I have an HP OfficeJet Pro 8020 Smart Printer. It’s a few years old but functions very well.
Except one problem — it uses a lot of ink, and that ink costs big bucks. Apparently I can’t use ink refills with this printer, as I used to do in past with a different printer.

All inkjet printers use a lot of ink. It’s the nature of the beast. If you do a lot of printing, and especially if you don’t need to print color photographs, a black and white laser printer is the way to go. Otherwise you’re stuck with the downsides of using an inkjet printer.

Your HP OfficeJet Pro 8020 uses a four cartridge system. Part number 910XL. Here are all four cartridges, brand new, for a smidge under $50, which is likely a good bit cheaper than you’ve been paying.


Replacement HP 910XL Ink 4-Pack Cartridges - High Yield: 1 Black, 1 Cyan, 1 Magenta, and 1 Yellow
$49.56


For future reference, I’ve been BEGGING Macintosh users, for years, not to purchase HP printers. Their hardware is quite good, but their service and support, especially for Macintosh users, has been known to be abominable.

For laser printers I recommend Brother (but not all of their models), and for inkjet printers I recommend Canon (but only a specific few of their models.)

So I am considering getting a new printer. Recommendations appreciated for a printer that I can buy refilled ink for.

I don’t recommend “refurbished” or “refilled” ink cartridges. In my experience, the reliability just isn’t there. What I do recommend is third party (non-OEM), BRAND NEW, “compatible” cartridges. But only from a few sources that have offered dependable reliability over many years.

The brand of inkjet printer that you can most often find compatible cartridges for, cheap, is Canon.

If you feel that you really want a different printer, this is the one that I’ve been recommending recently that is most like the one that you will be replacing:

Canon PIXMA TR8620a

$140 direct from Canon:


$140


$140


$139


Macintosh downloadable drivers and manual:
<>

Note that there is a TR8620 and a TR8620a model. They are identical, except the “TR8620” (no “a”) has Bluetooth as well as AirPrint. The "a" model only has AirPrint. If you have an iPhone and a Mac, you only need AirPrint. But you need Bluetooth if you have an Android phone (e.g. Samsung).
So…if you have a Macintosh and an iPhone, EITHER model will be fine. The "a" model will be cheaper.

Excellent source for ink cartridges when you run out:
$19 all 5 cartridges



__________________________________________________

Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice

__________________________________________________

On Jan 28, 2025, at 9:57 PM, Randy B. Singer via groups.io <randy@...> wrote:

Canon PIXMA TR8620a

Sorry, it looks like prices just recently went up:

Canon PIXMA TR8620a

$180 direct from Canon:


$179


$180


$179




__________________________________________________

Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice

__________________________________________________

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Thanks, Randy and all. I will definitely not get HP again, but I think I will buy the ink you recommended.

Most of the printers I’ve used with my Macs have been by Canon, and I’ve been pleased with them. My current Canon TR8620a is 3 months old. But I’ve also had two Brother inkjet printers, which I liked.