I’m thinking about buying a color laser to replace my inkjets. The inkjets always die because I don’t use them often enough. What’s the deal with toner cartridge expirations? How long (time-wise) do they typically last? I’m looking at an HP 3600n which has a 4000-color-page/6000-B&W estimated toner life, which should last me several years. Does HP put the awful expiration chips in toner cartridges like they do (or did?) on inkjet refills?
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Laser cartridges carry a 1 year shelf life open and a 3 year shelf life sealed. I've seen toner last much longer than that, so I would say those numbers are conservative. The 3600n is a good printer, keep in mind though that it needs to calibrate on a daily basis which uses a minimal amount of toner, so if you don't use it for 6-8 months the toner level may go down a little bit.
