Look, I'm not saying I've got it all figured out. But after managing office supplies for a 60-person company for about 5 years—ordering roughly $80k in printing supplies annually across 8 vendors—I've learned a thing or two about picking the right Canon printer. Especially when you're juggling keywords like canon printer, canon tr8620 printer ink, how do i fix a canon printer error 5100, cpm calculator, pokemon go cp calculator, and how to fax from printer. Yes, all those things matter. Let me explain.
Here's the thing: most people compare printers by initial price. But if you've ever had a vendor quote $150 for a machine and then spend $200 on ink in 3 months, you know that's not the full story. So in this guide, I'm comparing Canon TR8620 (a popular all-in-one with fax, color ink tank?) and Canon G Series (the refillable ink tank line like G7020, G6020). I'll break it down across three dimensions: total cost of ownership, features (fax & scanning), and maintenance & error handling.
Dimension 1: Cost Per Page – The CPM Calculator You Didn't Know You Needed
If you're like me, you love a good calculator. I still use a pokemon go cp calculator to figure out which Pokemon to evolve (yeah, I play on lunch breaks—helps me think). But when it comes to printing, you need a cpm calculator—cost per page. That's the real metric.
Canon TR8620 uses individual ink cartridges (PGI-280 and CLI-281). A standard black cartridge costs about $15 and lasts around 200 pages (based on Canon's yield figures, verified in our office). Color cartridges run $12 each. That gives a cost per page of roughly 7-8 cents for black, 12-15 cents for color (based on current prices at canon.com, April 2025; verify current rates).
Canon G Series (like the G7020) uses refillable ink bottles. A full set costs ~$50 and yields about 6,000 black pages or 7,700 color pages. That's less than 1 cent per page. Huge difference, right?
But—and here's the kicker—I almost made a mistake. I assumed the G Series would be the obvious choice for every office. Didn't verify. Turned out the G Series has a higher upfront price ($300+ vs $150 for TR8620). So if you print fewer than 500 pages a month, the TR8620 can actually be cheaper over 2 years. I learned never to assume cheaper per page means total savings without doing the math first.
Bottom line: use a CPM calculator (like the one from Canon's site or third-party tools) to compare run rates. I still kick myself for not doing this in 2020 when I ordered 3 TR8620s for a satellite office that barely printed. That cost me about $400 extra in ink I didn't need.
Dimension 2: Fax & Other Practical Features
One of your keywords is how to fax from printer. The TR8620 comes with built-in fax capability—yes, faxing is still alive in many industries (legal, healthcare). You can fax directly from the machine or from your computer using the software. Setting it up is relatively easy: connect a phone line, configure the fax number in settings, and you're good. I had to do this for our billing department—took about 15 minutes.
The G Series (most models) does not include fax. If fax is a must, you'll either need a separate fax machine or a third-party fax service (online fax, which adds monthly fees). That's a hidden cost I've seen caught many offices off guard.
So which is better? If you fax occasionally (say 5-10 pages a month), the built-in fax on TR8620 is convenient and avoids recurring fees. If you never fax, go with the G Series. Real talk: I once assumed all-in-ones include fax—turned out many newer models dropped it.
Dimension 3: Error 5100 and Maintenance Headaches
If you've Googled how do i fix a canon printer error 5100, you know it's a common issue. Error 5100 typically indicates a carriage jam or sensor error. It can happen on both TR and G series, but in my experience, it's more frequent on the TR8620 when using high-volume or non-Canon cartridges. The fix often involves turning off the printer, opening the access door, moving the print head manually, and cleaning the encoder strip. Canon's support page has a step-by-step guide (see usa.canon.com/support).
The G Series, by comparison, has a simpler ink system—no cartridges to replace, just refill bottles. That means fewer mechanical jam points. I've had one error 5100 on a G6020 in 2 years, versus about 4 on a TR8620 over the same period. But the TR8620's individual cartridges mean you can replace only the color that's empty—which some offices prefer for cost control.
So glad I switched our heavy-use floor to the G Series. Almost kept the TR8620s to save upfront cost—would have meant more service calls and user frustration.
Choice Advice: What Should You Pick?
Pick the Canon TR8620 if:
- You need fax capability (and don't want a separate machine or online fax subscription).
- Your monthly print volume is under 500 pages total.
- You prefer individual color cartridges so you only replace what's empty.
- You're comfortable handling occasional error 5100 fixes (or have an admin who can).
Pick the Canon G Series if:
- You print more than 500 pages per month (especially color).
- You want the lowest cost per page (under 1 cent).
- Fax is not a requirement.
- You prefer a simpler, lower-maintenance ink system.
And what about the other keywords? If you're trying to figure out how to fax from printer, the TR8620 manual is clear. For canon tr8620 printer ink, note that the standard cartridges are PGI-280/CLI-281, but you can also get high-yield versions (XL) that lower per-page cost. And the cpm calculator? I built one in Excel after my mistake—you can too, or just use online tools. As for pokemon go cp calculator—well, that's my own weird hobby. But it reminds me that accurate data matters in both gaming and printer buying.
Prices as of April 2025; verify current rates. Printer retail prices: TR8620 ~$150, G7020 ~$300. Ink yields based on Canon's published ISO/IEC standards; actual results vary.