My gut reaction would be that a black and white document would not consume any color toner, too, but I think that is a question to ask the manufacturer when you get down to your final choices.

As for good color pics, you might be better off getting an inkjet exclusively for pictures. Some do not follow the cheap razor, expensive cartridge model so the cost per page is much more reasonable after the printer purchase and then get a separate laser. Should be very easy to get both at well under $1K since you are not asking your laser to have great color.

Bruce



--- On Sun, 7/8/12, Dean Kukral <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

From: Dean Kukral <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [PCBUILD] Toner usage in color laser printers
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sunday, July 8, 2012, 3:27 PM

My old, much hated HP multi-function color inkjet is beginning to show signs of age, and I've been searching for a replacement.

One of the things that I learned from an earlier discussion on this list is that even if you print only in black, using the black button, color inks are used up in the process, too.  Simply by copying the black crossword puzzle out of the paper every day, I managed to go through color inks, too.  UGH.

Now, I'm looking at color laser printers that use toner cartridges instead of ink cartridges.

What I want to know is: /do color laser printers use up the color toners even if you are only printing black and white prints?/

My guess would be, "No, of course not!"  But that's what I would have said about my inkjet, too!!

As a little aside question, I wouldn't expect a color laser to do a very good job at printing snapshots, but if anyone knows of one that will do that (priced well under $1K I would hope), I'd like to hear about it.

TIA,

Dean Kukral

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