Well, it has been the same price for a while but they were charging nearly $100 for shipping. Now with free shipping it is a better deal. The new ones are on sale at small biz for not much more - but my refurb 3000cn came with larger toners than the new 3000cn printers come with. So IF (big if) these comes with the 4k black and 2k color toners that I got, then this is a good deal just for the toners.
Print quality is superb, the toner and drum prices can be found on the D3ll small biz or home pages. The only source is D3ll, but the price is not bad compared to what I pay at work for HP toner and stuff. Every once in a while they put them on sale as well.
Thanks OP, I had been debating getting one, but the shipping was the killer for me. I got the 3000cn w/ free shipping and extra 2% for DPA, so total was ~$175 shipped.
magicvash
Ancient Member
posted: Jan. 18, 2006 @ 12:22p
I have the 3100cn and I highly recommend the entire series. They're excellent printers and you *definately* get your money's worth
daveyboy
Senior Member
posted: Jan. 18, 2006 @ 9:45p
Looks like a pretty sweet deal - might need to get one of these for my small business....
. I have the 5100cn and it is the best! 8K toners, duplex, speed... and it is $549 last I looked. It was under $400 a few months back, with free shipping.
solarspin said: . I have the 5100cn and it is the best! 8K toners, duplex, speed... and it is $549 last I looked. It was under $400 a few months back, with free shipping.
I loved the 5100cn for the price/functionality so much that I got in on the $400 deal last October for replacement parts for down the road use. For photo I still prefer the 3100cn.
Neoh
Happy Member
posted: Jan. 19, 2006 @ 3:23p
What's the main difference between the 3100cn and the 3000cn?
Looks like the 3000cn cannot print Adobe stuff??
Also, do the refurbs come with the same toner new ones do?
Neoh said: What's the main difference between the 3100cn and the 3000cn?
Looks like the 3000cn cannot print Adobe stuff??
Also, do the refurbs come with the same toner new ones do?
3100cn has the extra paper tray, comes (new) with 4k black and 3x4k color toners, and does Adobe Post Script. PS is used my Apple PCs and can be used my a windoze PC, but it is generally SLOWER (in this case) than using the non-PS mode.
300cn comes (new) with a 2k black and 3x1k color toners.
My REFURB 3000cn I got last year came with a 4k black and 3x2k color toners. Others reported the same thing, but I would say it is a HUGE YMMV since if you get the 1k color toners you can't complain.
If you price the toners, the 3100cn refurb is about the same cost as the toners - and you get a free drum (then toss the rest of the printer - or fleabay it - or save it). The 3000cn is a better deal to most IF you get 4k/2k toners, but if you get 2k/1k toners with it - then the 3100cn would be the better choice.
Dennis
voiper48
Member
posted: Jan. 19, 2006 @ 5:13p
Keep your eyes on this forum for specials on HP's Color LaserJet 2600n. I was able to get in on Office Depot's special and get a brand new one for $269.00 total (free shipping was included). This is a network ready color laser (ethernet connection) that has excellent print quality--including photos. Plus, HP ships it with toner cartridges that are completely full, unlike most manufacturers who only include partially filled cartridges with their new laser printers.
On the 3000cn refurb toners, I think you can count on the 4K/2K toners. As I I see it . . . . If they are listed as refurbs, then they come with replacement toners, and you can only buy the 4K/2K toners as replacements. I bought a total of 6 refurbs back when they were about $106 shipped, and all came with the 4K/2K 4-pack.
Not only did I remember to click the right option for free shipping, but I also qualified for a d�ll credit card yay! green!
thanks!
outcastunderscorep
Ancient Member
posted: Jan. 23, 2006 @ 8:16p
Looks like it went up $5
Morguhn
New Member
posted: Jan. 23, 2006 @ 8:20p
Got mine today. Came with the 4K/2K toners.
jfoster38122
New Member
posted: Jan. 23, 2006 @ 8:24p
I called Thursday night to see if I could get my FedEx discount on the refurb and they said no but got a new one for 224.00. I hope I get the larger capacity toners with a new one. It should be here tomorrow. Does anyone ever refill the cartridges? And if so where you do get the refills? www.123ink.com Jerry
cos said: Anyone has idea which capacity toner comes with 3100CN ?
I chatted with two Dell CS reps and they both said that all their refurbished laser printers come with "starter" cartridges, so YMMV.
sachsab
New Member
posted: Jan. 23, 2006 @ 10:02p
esoterica said: cos said: Anyone has idea which capacity toner comes with 3100CN ?
I chatted with two Dell CS reps and they both said that all their refurbished laser printers come with "starter" cartridges, so YMMV.
Staaaaaaay away. Ordered the printer refurb. 2k toners. Lound grinding noise from "Transport mechanisms" - (2 hours wasted)... Poor Dell customer service from India (2 more hours - 4 total). Still I had to call back to 'fix my tag' ?!?!?! They still had the printer assigned to the smart guy who returned it. Probably 4-6 more hours of my time returning and getting another printer.
Lesson - $80 savings = 8-10 hours of my time + lots of frustration, and still not a working printer
Buy new or don't buy at all. YMMB0 (Your Mileage May Be 0)
hkteaman said: solarspin said: . I have the 5100cn and it is the best! 8K toners, duplex, speed... and it is $549 last I looked. It was under $400 a few months back, with free shipping.
I loved the 5100cn for the price/functionality so much that I got in on the $400 deal last October for replacement parts for down the road use. For photo I still prefer the 3100cn.
why would u prefer the 3100cn for photos?
I see the refurb 5100cn is now at 499, any chance we are going to see a further dip?
outcastunderscorep
Ancient Member
posted: Jan. 24, 2006 @ 8:12a
Any difference in the 3000 and 3100 for photos?
I chatted with Dell yesterday and they said it was 2k/1k for the toners.
It would cost me $200.10 shipped for this. Or for a brand new Samsung 510 at outpost for $245. Not sure what would be a better deal.
The samsung does duplexing, but this has built in networking.
Both toner carts are chipped.
The photo quality from the samsung is not as good. There is a review up on Toms hardware (link = http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/08/17/color_laser_printers_at_bargain_prices/ ) and the prints from the Dell seem the best.
outcastunderscorep said: Any difference in the 3000 and 3100 for photos?
I chatted with Dell yesterday and they said it was 2k/1k for the toners.
It would cost me $200.10 shipped for this. Or for a brand new Samsung 510 at outpost for $245. Not sure what would be a better deal.
The samsung does duplexing, but this has built in networking.
Both toner carts are chipped.
The photo quality from the samsung is not as good. There is a review up on Toms hardware (link = http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/08/17/color_laser_printers_at_bargain_prices/ ) and the prints from the Dell seem the best.
You've gotta be joking...You would consider the crappy Samsung 510 for $245 over the 3100cn for $230 shipped? Not only does the 3100cn generate MUCH MUCH MUCH better quality prints, but it comes with toners rated for more than twice as many prints, has a second paper tray, natively supports PS3, etc. The ONLY reason you'd get the Samsung 510 is if you just HAVE to have it's mediocre duplexing abilities. Other than that, it's a sorry sack of crap.
outcastunderscorep said: Any difference in the 3000 and 3100 for photos?
I chatted with Dell yesterday and they said it was 2k/1k for the toners.
It would cost me $200.10 shipped for this. Or for a brand new Samsung 510 at outpost for $245. Not sure what would be a better deal.
The samsung does duplexing, but this has built in networking.
Both toner carts are chipped.
The photo quality from the samsung is not as good. There is a review up on Toms hardware (link = http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/08/17/color_laser_printers_at_bargain_prices/ ) and the prints from the Dell seem the best.
The refurb 3000cn printers have been coming with 4k black and 2k color toners, but YMMV if you get the 2k/1k ones you can't complain to D3ll.
For a little more money you can get the 3100cn with post script (if you care), 4k/4k toners (for sure), and a 2nd paper tray.
The networking and the really good reviews of color graphics/photo printing on the D3lls were the big selling points to me. Duplexing is nice, but I would rather have better quality output and be able to print from any PC in the house. The pring quality is the same on either the 3000cn or the 3100cn, the 5100cn is a single pass printer w/duplexer and it MUCH faster - but the quality is not nearly the same. The 3x00cn printers ship with 128mb memory in them, if you print large, complex color images you may need to add memory to the expansion slot in the printer. It uses a PC133 notbook style SODIMM - you can pick one up lots of places cheaper than the D3ll price.
Dennis
RobD
Addicted Member
posted: Jan. 24, 2006 @ 11:04a
Dwynne said: The pring quality is the same on either the 3000cn or the 3100cn, the 5100cn is a single pass printer w/duplexer and it MUCH faster - but the quality is not nearly the same. The 3x00cn printers ship with 128mb memory in them, if you print large, complex color images you may need to add memory to the expansion slot in the printer. It uses a PC133 notbook style SODIMM - you can pick one up lots of places cheaper than the D3ll price.
Dennis
How much worse is the 5100cn over the 3100cn? If I'm going to put a big monster printer in the house, I might as well get a good one. The 5100 seems cheaper to run over time - though I can see that just buying another printer is cheaper than replacing toners. Still haven't seen any good information on refilling the toners.
I also think the 3100cn uses PC100 SODIMM, not PC133. I have 3 128MB modules sitting here, so I can upgrade a 3100cn with one of those to 192MB.
Costs as I see it: 3100cn as shipped:
$239 by 4000 copies (assume color) is 6 cents a copy. $170 by 42,000 copies on the drum is .6 cents a pass. $310 for a full round of 4000 page toner. Power usage is 340W/82W/30W
5100cn as shipped:
$499 by 8000 copies (assume color) is 6.25 cents a copy. $140 by 35,000 copies on the drum is .4 cents a pass. $530 for a full round of 8000 page toners (yeah, black is 9000). Power usage is 580W/120W/45W - Ouch, watch that electric meter spin!!
I think I'm down to deciding between a Dell 3100cn and a Minolta 2430DL/2450. The price on this 3100cn is just amazing, if I can find a spot in the room to put it.
RobD said: Dwynne said: The pring quality is the same on either the 3000cn or the 3100cn, the 5100cn is a single pass printer w/duplexer and it MUCH faster - but the quality is not nearly the same. The 3x00cn printers ship with 128mb memory in them, if you print large, complex color images you may need to add memory to the expansion slot in the printer. It uses a PC133 notbook style SODIMM - you can pick one up lots of places cheaper than the D3ll price.
Dennis
How much worse is the 5100cn over the 3100cn? If I'm going to put a big monster printer in the house, I might as well get a good one. The 5100 seems cheaper to run over time - though I can see that just buying another printer is cheaper than replacing toners. Still haven't seen any good information on refilling the toners.
I also think the 3100cn uses PC100 SODIMM, not PC133. I have 3 128MB modules sitting here, so I can upgrade a 3100cn with one of those to 192MB.
Costs as I see it: 3100cn as shipped:
$239 by 4000 copies (assume color) is 6 cents a copy. $170 by 42,000 copies on the drum is .6 cents a pass. $310 for a full round of 4000 page toner. Power usage is 340W/82W/30W
5100cn as shipped:
$499 by 8000 copies (assume color) is 6.25 cents a copy. $140 by 35,000 copies on the drum is .4 cents a pass. $530 for a full round of 8000 page toners (yeah, black is 9000). Power usage is 580W/120W/45W - Ouch, watch that electric meter spin!!
I think I'm down to deciding between a Dell 3100cn and a Minolta 2430DL/2450. The price on this 3100cn is just amazing, if I can find a spot in the room to put it.
The print quality on the 5100cn is MUCH worse than the 3000cn/3100cn. MUCH faster, but also much worse. Given the price of these printers, at least in the case of the 3000cn/3100cn, you should do your cost analysis based on the idea that the printer is disposable (given that the consumables cost more than the printer).
Assuming the above distributions reflect how you print and also assuming you really get those rated numbers (unlikely), the cost per page for the two printers would be:
Probably add a penny per page for the paper. It's also reasonable to assume you can sell the printer when the consumables are gone for $50-75 locally. Let's take the low end of that range to be conservative. So deduct $50 from the above numbers and recalculate giving:
Of course, most people print a lot more black than color. Assuming the ratio is 3/1 (black to color printing) and assuming you don't want to add more toner when the black runs out, you get:
The above numbers are probably a bit high, especially for the 3100cn. If you only print 1/5 the number of color to black pages, then when the black runs out you're going to have a printer with 80% full color toners. That's likely worth a lot more than $50. (Heck, you can probably sell the toner carts on eBay for more than $50 and then sell the printer locally...)
At any rate, you can see that in most any analysis these printers are a good deal per page. I don't think it makes any sense to do the analysis in terms of replenishing the consumables.
One more important note: The above analysis for the 3000cn ONLY applies to refurbished 3000cn printers, and ONLY assuming you get the black toner rated for 4000 copies with these printers. NEW 3000cn printers come with a black toner cart only rated for 2000 pages (the 3100cn comes with the 4000 toner cart standard), so they are definitely NOT a good deal. While refurbed 3000cn printers have been coming with the 4000 page black carts, there's no guarantee that they will continue to do so...Take your chances with the 3000cn.
Finally, if you go the memory configurator on Crucial, it says that the 3100cn requires PC133 SODIMM memory, not PC100. I'm not sure if it will take either, but that's what Crucial says...
dhodson said: hkteaman said: solarspin said: . I have the 5100cn and it is the best! 8K toners, duplex, speed... and it is $549 last I looked. It was under $400 a few months back, with free shipping.
I loved the 5100cn for the price/functionality so much that I got in on the $400 deal last October for replacement parts for down the road use. For photo I still prefer the 3100cn.
why would u prefer the 3100cn for photos?
I see the refurb 5100cn is now at 499, any chance we are going to see a further dip?
The photo quality is better on the 3100cn on both regular & photo laser paper. I'm not a technical person but this may be due to the difference in single pass (5100cn) and multi-pass (3100cn) as I understood it. I use the 5100cn to print pretty much for anything due to the low cost per print but use the 3100cn for photos.
As to pricing I don't know if it will go down down to $400 again in the near future.
I put a "Kingston KVR133X64SC3/256 256 MB PC133 Notebook Memory Module" in my 3100cn and it works just fine. I have not added any memory to the 3000cn upstairs (yet).
Keep in mind in ANY of these page counts - you will NEVER see the numbers that any manufacturer quotes unless you print only triple spaced documents with massive borders all around. I figure for most of what I print it will be about 1/2 the stated page count for the black toner, and maybe as low as 1/3 to 1/4 the page count for color (assuming you only print color for photo printing). Obviously if you just print a spot of color here and there the color and black will last a lot longer. The black toner is pretty reasonable in cost, so I figure to replace that in mine when it runs out - if I have to I will just buy the toner cart.
The photo output on mine is impressive for a laser, but a fairly cheap photo ink jet and coated paper would look better - but take longer to produce output.
I got mine because they were networked and the kids (and I) need to print ocassionaly in color. When we did, we find the ink in the printer has dried up again - and needs to be replaced. Comparing the cost of the ink for a cheap ink jet VS the cost of a color laser makes the laser make more sense. The toner never dries out - so we can print cheap black all the time and only turn on color as needed.
The driver from D3ll even lets you password protect printing in color (if you install via the network adapter - does not work from USB) so they CAN'T print in color unless they know the password.
I read the reviews of the 3x00cn printes and the 5100cn and the MUCH BETTER photo/graphics color printing sold me. The 5100cn is faster and has larger capacity toners, but it is not nearly as sharp a printer - from the reviews I read.
i got the refurbed 3000cn printer when it was onsale last time form Dell outlet and it works great except for one thing. i've been frustrated by the fact that it won't print properly on pages that require printing on both sides. i tried printing a brochure and and when i turn the page over to print on the other side, the print comes out offset. so when i start triming the brocure, part of it is cut off in one page. i googled and found a few people having this issue too so i dunno how widespread it is. anyone experience the same torubles?
RobD
Addicted Member
posted: Jan. 24, 2006 @ 12:48p
KwadGuy said: Finally, if you go the memory configurator on Crucial, it says that the 3100cn requires PC133 SODIMM memory, not PC100. I'm not sure if it will take either, but that's what Crucial says...
Kwad
I was just going by the information that the Dell site gives. If you go into the accessories for the 3100cn, it lists the 128MB module as PC100 for $57. The 256MB and 512MB are PC133.
Package Type: 144-pin SODIMM Logical Type: 16x64 Speed: 100 MHz Description: Standard 144-pin SODIMM Units Required: 1 System Type: Printer
From a post by rich123 on Mar 28, 2005:
According to Crucial.com, these 144-pin SODIMM modules are compatible with the Dell 3100CN: SDRAM, PC100 • CL=2 • Non-parity • 100MHz • 3.3V • 16Meg x 64 (128MB) SDRAM, PC133 • CL=2 • Non-parity • 133MHz • 3.3V • 32Meg x 64 (256MB) SDRAM, PC133 • CL=3 • Non-parity • 133MHz • 3.3V • 64Meg x 64 (512MB)
So I'll rule the 5100cn out. I'm going to rule the 3000cn out as well, because I have Macs and PCs. The 3000cn is a Windows-only printer, though I could buy it with a 3100cn for $184 to use for a spare 4K black & 2K colors ($185) and a spare drum ($170).
I really don't want to think of these things as disposable, so I'm trying to find one that I can refill the toners. We print about 8000 copies a year in black on my LJ6MP, and an unknown (but lesser) amount of color on my DJ930C. Now that I also have a Photosmart 8250 for photos, I'd like to consolidate the other two printers down into one. The wife really isn't happy with 3 printers on her desk. I won't even get into the fact I have three Canon IP3000s in the closet that I got FAR to be used for a photo-printing blitz.
I hate to think of any laser as a bic lighter, but they pretty much are these days. You can get cheap mono lasers from Office____ or Stapl3s with a coupon for so cheap that it makes no sense to ever buy a drum for one - and it is hard to justify even the cost of toner. Before I got these D3lls I would toss a laser if it needed a drum and some times if it needed toner - I had several nearly free ones in the basement or a closet to replace it.
I like the 3x00cn printers since they don't short fill the toner you get with them (well, the new 3000cn is skimpy). Most of the other printers you can pick up in a store have light toners in them, forcing you to buy toner really soon.
I am still thinking on buying one of these for the toner and drum, but I am hoping they will have a better price down the road - between now and the time I need the stuff.
printer arrived today, and does have the bigger toner. Now if I can just get it to work! All it has done is spit out blank pages, or get paper jams. Getting kind of frustrated!
im not sure if it was the complicated above math or the information on better picture quality but none the less im out about 250 for the printer with tax
im not sure if it was the complicated above math or the information on better picture quality but none the less im out about 250 for the printer with tax
shipping was free
D
You can get a new one for $324 from D3ll small biz right now w/free shipping and no tax for some folks (not me). I think the price is the same in D3ll home. Either one would less any coupons you can get to stack on them. Might have been worth hunting for a coupon and getting a real "new" one - but my "refurb" D3ll printers looked and print just like new - and came with new, sealer drums and toners.
Dwynne said: dhodson said: i purchased the 3100cn today
im not sure if it was the complicated above math or the information on better picture quality but none the less im out about 250 for the printer with tax
shipping was free
D
You can get a new one for $324 from D3ll small biz right now w/free shipping and no tax for some folks (not me). I think the price is the same in D3ll home. Either one would less any coupons you can get to stack on them. Might have been worth hunting for a coupon and getting a real "new" one - but my "refurb" D3ll printers looked and print just like new - and came with new, sealer drums and toners.
Dennis
i considered this but i have to pay tax and decided to go with the almost new for about 90 less for me
sachsab said: esoterica said: cos said: Anyone has idea which capacity toner comes with 3100CN ?
I chatted with two Dell CS reps and they both said that all their refurbished laser printers come with "starter" cartridges, so YMMV.
Staaaaaaay away. Ordered the printer refurb. 2k toners. Lound grinding noise from "Transport mechanisms" - (2 hours wasted)... Poor Dell customer service from India (2 more hours - 4 total). Still I had to call back to 'fix my tag' ?!?!?! They still had the printer assigned to the smart guy who returned it. Probably 4-6 more hours of my time returning and getting another printer.
Lesson - $80 savings = 8-10 hours of my time + lots of frustration, and still not a working printer
Buy new or don't buy at all. YMMB0 (Your Mileage May Be 0)
I had a similar experience. The tag belongs to someone in Canada at first then it was someone in Latin America. I still have a defective printer here. D3LL sucks big time. Selling refurbs with old tags on them.
outcastunderscorep
Ancient Member
posted: Jan. 24, 2006 @ 7:44p
What are my chances that the printer will be cheaper with the new deal tommarow/thurs when they come out? for the 3100n?
Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.
Members of our community may attach files to a post in accordance with the User Agreement. FatWallet is not responsible for the content, accuracy, completeness or validity of any information contained in any attached file. Files have *not* been scanned for viruses. Be especially wary of Excel files which may contain malicious content.
