The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 3 (of 5) - Does anyone *like* top-feeding printers?

Does anyone *like* top-feeding printers?

What is with the top-feeding mania? It's getting harder and harder to find printers (inkjet or laser) that feed from and print to the front.

I've had a laser and an inkjet for years, and generally keep them in a printer cabinet, one over the other. That makes putting one of these:
http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/sc/21008094-2-300-left-2.gif
on the bottom impossible.

Just wondering if anyone likes this mode, and why. :)

Philo

Philo
Thursday, October 23, 2003

They are generally nice for desktop locations, usually a smaller footprint.

I used to have a Cannon 600e, top loader. Good printer at that point in time. It was a top loader. The thing I didn't like about it is the paper corners (top left and right) would curl because the plastic support holding the paper up was only 2 or 3 inches wide. Paper that was in the feeder for long periods of time would curl.

apw
Thursday, October 23, 2003

Don't top loaders allow for heavier stock? since it's gravity fed, it's easier for the rollers to pull it in. also it wouldn't have to fold your paper as much, instead of a 180 degree angle, it's just a 90 degree angle. dunno if that matters though.

nathan
Thursday, October 23, 2003

nathan is right in that there is less paper maneuvering. Less movement means a cheaper printer. Depending on the model though, you do tend to have paper balanced precariously on the top feeder which doesn't do much for keeping a flat piece of paper. It is kind of important for even printing.

m
Thursday, October 23, 2003

I like top-feeding printers. In fact, I never thought about this, and never considered that top or horisontal feeding are advantages or disadvantages.

RealOne fan
Thursday, October 23, 2003

No, I don't.

That's another reason for my earlier question about laser printers. Top loaders never seem to have much paper capacity. I guess it's a reasonable point that they require less paper bending, but I guess that's never been a problem for me. Also, I have the desk space, so I'd MUCH rather have a regular paper tray at the bottom.

David
Thursday, October 23, 2003

I really dislike top feeders. My HP 6L is dying, and I can guarantee that my next printer will have a proper paper tray!

Happy to be working
Thursday, October 23, 2003

I just hate printers and they hate me. They are the work of the Devil and the sole required evidence of his existence, not that this presupposes any existence of God. If there were a God s/he/it would never allow the utter vileness of such an infernal contraption to exist.

Simon Lucy
Thursday, October 23, 2003

Doesn't everyone prefer top-feeders to ... bottom-feeders? :)

sgf
Thursday, October 23, 2003

In my mind, the proper answer is "neither".

Often, the best printers with the easiest to construct feed mechanism are the ones with a straight paper path. Top-feeders have a full 180 turn, as do front-loaders. I've always been an Epson fan (although that also just be attributable to my teary-eyed-nostalga for my old Epson MX-80 ;) )

Flamebait Sr.
Thursday, October 23, 2003

I remember reading somewhere that HP has a patent on front-feeding. I think that's why other brands use top loaders.

Stress
Thursday, October 23, 2003

My wife got a lexmark inkjet printer (top feed) with a computer package she bought lo these many years ago. It was a top feeder.

It's the only working printer I've ever thrown away.

The thing only took about 30 sheets at a time, and jammed on EVERY STINKIN PAGE.

I don't know if being a top-feeder was the cause of the problem, but I've never had that kind of behavior from a regular front-feed printer.

Chris Tavares
Thursday, October 23, 2003

I always had appaling problems with front feeding HP Deskjets that rolled the paper round and back out again. After a ream or so, the rollers would start to lose grip on the paper and the printer would start jamming or totally stop feeding. Cleaning the rollers helped, but for a much shorter period each time until the printer had to be junked (repair was much more expensive).

For this reason, I have been buying top feeding inkets. Although the occasional jams from loads of sheets getting through the gravity feed still happens and might be more damaging to the printer in the long term, overall the day to day reliability is better.

The only paper feeds that seem to work for long periods are those used on "proper" (i.e. expensive) Laserjets like the 5000 series. They seem to go on forever.

Dominic Fitzpatrick
Monday, October 27, 2003