HP LaserJet 1200 - is there any modern equivalent that's as good?

[reniwqwil5]

I have a 15 year-old HP LaserJet 1200. It just prints and prints, but after it literally fell off a truck during my last move (oops), it's never been quite the same--though it does still print, just with some smudging I haven't been able to resolve. I have loved this printer for a decade and a half, but it seems like its time is up.

I'd like to replace it with its modern equivalent, if such a thing exists. I don't need wireless, ethernet, scanning, multi-function, automatic toner level sensing, or any bells or whistles whatsoever. I have done enough professional support for fancy-schmancy units to know that I don't want any of that. Duplex might be nice, but is in no way a requirement.

All I want is something that just prints black-and-white text and line-art until the end of time. Does such a thing exist?

[Mingus511]

I just bought a m255dw color laserjet because my beloved 16 year old business inkjet 1100 was on its deathbed. 

You'll be hard pressed to find a unit which is USB only - every unit I looked at has a myriad of wireless capabilities.  IIRC though when USB is used, the networking is disabled so that is all out of the way.  Unfortunately, printing until the end-of-time is now officially obsolete.  Today's HP machines are not remotely as rugged as the workhorses of 15+ years ago (and Epson let alone Brother IMO are tinker-toys).

A few suggestions fwiw based on having just gone thru a similar search as you are now:   

(1)  Don't buy cheap.  I spent ~$330 for a unit that is just the entry-point for a demanding home office.  Laserjets are of course more expensive upfront than inkjets, but they (still) last longer.  Paying less gets you a consumer model which probably won't hold up for the years as you wish.

(2) Look at the monthly duty cycle.  The higher the number the longer that HP expects the hardware to hold up.

(3) Toner is expensive, as you know.  Make sure there is a high-yield cartridge available; the per page cost is much less.  But note, on some units that cartridge is rated for a very high number of pages, possibly lasting a lot longer than you might need.

(4) Read the professional reviews but take user reviews with a grain of salt.  The number of "issues" I saw that could be easily resolved by reading the manual or using google along with a drop of patience thrown in, was striking.

(5) Don't narrow the scope of your requirements too much.  HP makes a lot of different laserjets (many if not most in black-only), and those worth considering are going to have features you don't want.  If you aggressively limit your search, you may inadvertently miss the better choice.  I read a helluva lot of tech specs before I narrowed down my choices.

(6) If you can (covid notwithstanding), view the printer in-person at a BestBuy or similar.  I would liked to have seen my unit up-close before buying, and an in-store purchase is of course much easier to return.  Price is the same.  HP has a 30-day return policy but they will charge you a re-stocking fee if the return is due to preference rather than performance.  

Oh, btw, re my 1100:  I figured I had nothing to lose, so I took it apart.  I have it now working again quite nicely.  We can't depend upon it as our first-line printer, but I'm keeping it as a backup or for when I need sharper color than laser.  Just sayin'.

Good luck!