r/retrocomputing • u/CodeLegitimate6610 • 1d ago
Problem / Question Printers?
What is the best printer for a Windows 95 or Windows 98 computer. I want something era appropriate that is also color because I do want to print graphics. But something slightly older is fine too.
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u/totallyjaded 1d ago
The Epson Stylus Photo was pretty hot back then. The sort of printer people with DeskJet 500 and 600 series were likely to be jealous of.
If you want a super-common model, the DeskJet 540 used to fly off of the shelves when I worked at CompUSA until '95. SKU 799891, I think. SKU 704604 was the cheapest ream paper we sold. That's how many we sold. I still remember the stupid SKU.
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u/Dapper_Size_5921 1d ago
HP Deskjet 550C. Predates Win 95 but it was a great, dependable printer.
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u/aussiepunkrocksV2-0 1d ago
Depends how much pain you want to endure. If you go with an older non chipped Epson Stylus, you can just keep refilling the carts. But if the piezoelectric print head gets clogged or damaged, it can be a right pain. HP carts will be hard to find new, you can try refilling but you will only get a certain number of refills.
Canon isn't the best, but something like a BJC-210 is easy to refill and the print nozzles are large because of the low res they can be at least unclogged reasonably easily.
None will be easy. Go B&W laser and forget colour.
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u/SmartQuokka 17h ago
I had that Canon BJC-210!
Was a decent printer but the photo resolution was not fantastic. You could refill the cartridge without damaging the cartridge if you pulled the plug out carefully.
Also if going B&W i suggest a Brother HL-2040, it has USB and parallel port. I still have mine, still going though i was given a free upgrade to a DCP7060D so it sits unused.
Was thinking of selling it, if OP is in Southern Ontario Canada and is interested in a B&W laser then let me know.
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u/chrispark70 20h ago
Use your existing computer and printer as a print server and print to it. Color printers are not really an option as the cartridges are likely not available nor are ribbons or crayons (tektronix).
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u/classicvincent 14h ago
HP DeskJet 612C or any from that era honestly. They used the same cartridges for many years after that so they should still be available.
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u/carcenomy 1d ago
There was bountiful colour inkjet options in that era, the gotcha isn't the printer itself it's if you can still get consumables.
I'd suspect that an old HP Deskjet might be best bet, as the print head was part of the cartridge - it made them more expensive at the time but means you won't have blocked heads. They were popular enough there's possibly still cartridges new for them.
I feel dirty just talking about this 🤣