The cartridges generally don't degrade and they last for X number of copies. They contain a carbon powder that you use up as you print. (The more black on the page the quicker you use it up). A cartridge for mine costs about £20 and lasts easily for 2000 plus pages. (The printer itself cost me about £60 many years ago.) I'll add that I'm still on my first cartridge!

The only downside is that occasionally I need colour, so I've had to become adept at using very light grey print and a set of coloured pencils.

Have a quick read here...
[url]http://www.wikihow.com/Understand-the-Advantages-of-Laser-Printers[/url]

[quote="rebbonk"]Only one cartridge, it's full of carbon.

From memory, the cartridges are quite expensive, but for 'domestic' use they last for ages. When mine 'goes' I'll make a judgement as to replace it or replace the whole thing. - These are aimed at the business market so they hope to gain from a few cartridge sales, but as a 'domestic' user I'm really very pleased. You can also buy 'toner' and replenish your own cartridge, but it can get messy depending on the design.[/quote]


HOw long roughly do the cartridges last. Can it be up to a year or more?

Only one cartridge, it's full of carbon.

From memory, the cartridges are quite expensive, but for 'domestic' use they last for ages. When mine 'goes' I'll make a judgement as to replace it or replace the whole thing. - These are aimed at the business market so they hope to gain from a few cartridge sales, but as a 'domestic' user I'm really very pleased. You can also buy 'toner' and replenish your own cartridge, but it can get messy depending on the design.

[quote="rebbonk"]Yes Margaret. Try Viking Direct.

I had similar problems, so bought a Samsung laser printer about 10 years ago. So far it's delivered many pages of university work, rough copies of several books, top quality copy for cartoons, plus a multitude of other stuff, all without murmur. I know at some stage it'll need a replacement toner cartridge but I'll cross that bridge (cartridge or replacement printer) when I come to it.[/quote]



Sounds good rebbonk, I will be looking this up. How many cartridges does it need? I have to put 4 at a time in the printer I have at present.

Many thanks.

Yes Margaret. Try Viking Direct.

I had similar problems, so bought a Samsung laser printer about 10 years ago. So far it's delivered many pages of university work, rough copies of several books, top quality copy for cartoons, plus a multitude of other stuff, all without murmur. I know at some stage it'll need a replacement toner cartridge but I'll cross that bridge (cartridge or replacement printer) when I come to it.

Can one still buy black and white printers only?

The price of the replacement refill cartridges today came to a ridiculous £33.50 ! This was for my Canon printer that needs colour as well.