zlacker

>>b112+(OP)
I have an epson eco-tank printer. I buy 3rd party bottles of ink once every 2-3 years. The upfront cost of the printer (multifunction model ET-4550) was high in 2015 ($500) but I've spent maybe $60-70 in ink to print (as of this morning) 19,536 pages (13,954 in color, 5,582 in B/W).

I can't see a good reason to keep buying printers that are locked into proprietary cartridges or toners.

>>Giorgi+Q6
Well, Brother had never done this to date. That is the real shocker.

>>pfortu+Fb
Exactly. I looked at eco-tanks, and aside from the fact that the tanks would dry out given how little I need to print, it was avoiding the evil printing companies selling those printers. That left Brother: Linux-friendly, inexpensive open printers. Kinda took them at their name.

>>troyvi+PS
I'm not trying to sway you - I've never had the tanks dry out. The summer months (when my wife and kids are out of school) the printer mostly sits idle. For whatever it's worth, I have one real complaint with this (ET-4550) printer: It's LOUD and slow, not a great combination. It sits about 6 feet from me in my office and if my wife has to print a 100 page PowerPoint for school - it's maddening. Luckily I have an understanding wife that tries to print after I'm done working for the day.