teche said:
Thanks Vikrant, I saw a multifunction printer today, I guess model no. was 4288 or 4268, price quoted was ~3.5k
That would be the F4288. I wouldn't recommend it. It is HP's budget model but it uses the HP818 series cartridges. These cost around the same as the HP21/22 but have not encountered much success in refilling. Your running cost will be pushed up.
If you are looking for an AIO in that price range, better look for the older models F2120, F2235 or F4185. They all use the HP21/22 which are a refiller's dream.
As I have mentioned elsewhere, also consider the brother DP165C at around Rs 4000/- because it uses passive ink tanks. This means two things:
1. Chances of spoiling the head during refill are removed.
2. Chances of getting cheap, 3rd party cartridges like I used to get with my old Canon IP1000 which used the passive BCI 24 cartridges.
teche said:
Thanks Emil, isn't the new replacement usually better than the one it replaces!
Better for whom?
These decisions are all commercial and help HP to profit more. They sell budget printers and make money on the cartridges. On the more expensive printers they make money selling the printer and sell the cartridges with lower margins. Now they go from 915 to F735 in order to make money on the printer and also make some on the cartridges.
I belive if your print volume is about 100 pages a month or thereabouts it makes no sense going for the 7k range AIOs. Go for the cheaper older models using HP21/22. I bought the F2120 a week or two ago because I wanted a black one but you could also go for the 2235 or 4185 which are white/off-white.
If you have higher volume need, go for the 915.