I'm using Xerox Phaser 6180 color printer mostly.
(for some purposes I'm using also Epson ink printer which is extremly slow, not enough userfriendly (paper jams, firmware errors) and well... would be rather too expensive in day-by-day use but perfect for color print proofing; then for stricte text documents and very draft graphic previews I'm using black and white old HP Office range laser printer - which is fast, silent and very cheap exploatation wise).
Good printing quality - natural still vivid colors, smooth gradients (which is most unnoying weak point for most budget laser printers!) and overal crisp and clean output - are obviously crucial, then I'm working mostly in CMYK (due to hardcopy publishing) so I need to be able to define/use various print profiles and custom settings. So I was looking for top-notch output quality with flexibility and some advanced features. Potential device upgrades (additional feeders, sorting module etc...) however nice and usefull wasn't taken into consideration at the point. Actually the only non-print feature considered was network module (or possibility for upgrade).
So after a lot of reading (computer IT magazines and internet IT dedicated pages with reviews and tests/comparisions) and finally completing printers "shortlist" I've ran several individual tests with various producers/models (withing the +/- same price range) using specially prepared
test pages.
//
Actually I would suggest this - pick let's say 2 pages from your favorite sets - save them as separate files on USB or CD and visit local specialised computer shop (not supermarket!) - do not forget to grab with you dozen of preferred paper/cardstok sheets you will be using for printing.
Ask salesmen to run test-print from yours source files. Ask them to use standard mode first and (assuming they occurs helpfull and min. experienced with printers they are selling:) then print again using some advanced settings.
According to my experience usualy they are accepting this kind of 1 or 2 page tests (they got test machines and toners from producers so it's no big deal for them even if you refuse to buy at the end).
Then you will be able to compare output and pick most appealing / acceptable printer.
Yes I know... it looks as far too much trouble:) But you will then stick to this printer for years so perhaps this additional effort might occurs worthwile...
//
HP was very strong contender - it got good reputation as overall reliable and with good service support, it's also cost efficient in purchasing and exploatation - but I was not satisfying for me in terms of color quality. Results weren't bad at all. Simply compared to some other devices something was missing (at it might be in opposite nowadays and within different price-range!)
Notice that I was looking for some more then average user level of print quality will ever need!
=>>> Otherwise HP would be more even in most terms, almost always right/suggested choice.
In terms of printing cost per page OKI was absolute winner (at the time it could probably change...?) but it got kinda overal cold tonality and overal feeling of washed colors (and no way how to change it via settings/drivers). Some Brother and Epsons lasers printouts were not crisp/sharp enough, at least according to my preferences.
Ultimatelly I've picked Xerox although it definitelly wasn't cheapest nor "economy leader" in any terms. And, to be honest, it's rather big and quite loud when warming up or using paper from external feeders (like special cardboard for paper minis:)!
But cartridge price might be overcomed to some extent when buying maximum capacity cartridges (8000 pages for colors and 12000 for black). These are lasting for quite decent time so not being in rush I'm scanning on regular basis trusted internet shops for promotions etc (plus as returning consumer I got some nice discounts as well:) So in fact it surprisingly showed as quite efficient machine with SUPERB!!! colors and overal print quality. IMHO unrivalled at its price tag.
Then ca. year or two after purchasing this printer 3-d party toner replacement/substitutes apperars on market - costing circa 40-50% of original ones - and whats matters without noticeable loss of quality (These guys are claiming that they are using OEM toner filling and it's even possible to send original empty cartridges to these companies so at the end price is really affordable).
But there is one more important thing. Xerox is providing advanced and flexible drivers and supporting software. You may define your own profiles according your preferences (using for example specific color-space like Adobe RGB (1998), PostScript, advanced True Type Font managing then gamma and color temperature corrections and quality depending on for example paper type and output specific needs...
Well it's still far from being pro-printer but many features are quite advanced and gives a lot of possibilities and control over printing output.
=>>Although... the one will need spend some time (and paper plus toner:) testing and tuning all the settings, functions and features - but at the end it should be worthwile:)
In fact I'm using "draft" mode plus setting brightness and other parameters like printing density etc so not-so-crucial printouts are much less toner consuming but still with acceptable and often better then standard mode for other producers quality. And what also matters -- this gives very (really very) toner-consuming savings at the same time!
=>>>But when it comes to printing with best quality results are simply absolutelly splendid!!!
When using good/laser dedicated cardstock - minis are kinda "raised" and got polished, little shiny, smooth and kinda slippy surface - printed minis looks like they are plastic!
(well last but not least, laser prinout compared to inkjest ones are more RESISTANT - you know, players fingers - sweat, fat from chips and snakes eaten during gameplay etc...
TIP#1Please pay attention to printer applicable/acceptable cardstock thickness and weight. Some paper models (big/tall figurines like mine Elementals, large buildings construcion elements etc...) needs to be printed on thick/heavy and usually stiff cardstock -- often >200g/m2 -- I'm using mostly 160 and 200 Neusiedler Color Copy but quite often some 220-240 dedicated satin paper for color laser printers -- while some printers have limitation up to 180g/m2!
TIP#2:If you will be using replacement/refilled toners from third-party toner suppliers - be shure that it's from renowned/trusty manufacturer s(which mean that these replacements might be more expensive than some others) - due to serious health hazard -- when ink cartridge will be not hermetic/tight - ink will "just" leak ruining your printer and most probably table/furniture... but it's different with toner -- you will breath with it within air, especially when printer is in the same room when you are working and living (it's always recommended to ventilate room after extensive printing though) -- which might be dangerous after some longer period!!! And... I'd strongly suggest not to try to refill cartridges personally in any cases obviously:)
TIP#3:Ypu might want to download "Gray Calculator" -- its tiny (even no need to install) program which is caculating level of toner consumption for specified job/document/page and shows it in % so you can compare it to manufacturers standard.
(Manufacturers usually defined toner/ink comsumption with 5% level "black-fill" -- which in fact equals to standard A4 text page with some small color additions -- Obviously full page of color minis will consume much more toner so at full/best quality those thousand pages per cartridge claimed by manufacturers are relatively lower:)
Uff...