Ssuggestions for a new printer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gus
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Gus

I have had a HP Deskjet 820Cxi for many years and it's now due for
replacement. The carts have run out, the paper pick is temperamental and
it clearly isn't up to the job of printing photos (but then I didn't
expect it to be when I bought it!).

I don't do much printing but when I do I just want it to work - no
faffing about with blocked printheads or other such jiggery-pokery.
Similarly my family are not tolerant of machines that don't work first time.

So, my new requirements are:

* simple printing (from XP, Linux etc) up to A4 size
* colour printing inc. photos (family snaps - not works of art)
* a built in scanner would be nice ('cause my scanner has also bit the
dust (faulty power supply)) but I don't need Fax.
* network ready would be nice - or at least shareable via my Netgear
router/print server (FM114P)

Does anyone have suggestions as to what products I should be looking at?
 
* simple printing (from XP, Linux etc) up to A4 size
* colour printing inc. photos (family snaps - not works of art)
* a built in scanner would be nice ('cause my scanner has also bit the
dust (faulty power supply)) but I don't need Fax.
* network ready would be nice - or at least shareable via my Netgear
router/print server (FM114P)

Does anyone have suggestions as to what products I should be looking at?
Click to expand...

If blocked prints heads is one of your concerns I'd look at dye based inks.
To work with your print server then you'll also want a parallel port
connection.

Just on those two I'd say look at the Canon Pixma range - possibly the
IP4000.

The fact you mention scanner rules out what I've just said. Not sure if
you'll get the scanner part of any multi-function printer working with
Linux. Not Canon anyway - they won't release any development info about
their scanners.
I'd be more tempted to go for a separate scanner. You'll have more choice,
you'll end up with better quality and you'll have a better chance of getting
Linux to use the scanner.

With regards to Linux - you might want to take a look at
http://www.turboprint.de/english.html Its a commercial driver package for
Linux - its not expensive and gives you more choice of printers. The quality
of print you get from it is fantastic - I use it with my Debian system to
print to my Canon IP5000
 
Do not buy a mulifunctional device. I would say that if you print once
every couple of weeks or more and use OEM inks, the Canon IP4000 would
do fine. It is great on photos and print very good business
documents. It is a full duplex printer with twin paper feeds.

I use the lower cassette for regular paper and the top auto sheet feeder
for photos.

However, if your printing is much less frequent than that, you might
best be served by the HP 8150; around the same price at Costco. Also
buy the extra cartridge. You will then have to swap cartridges when you
switch from photos to text and back. That is a pain in the ass but in
your case that will not be done frequently. This printer will minimize
head clogging of the printer itself since the head is built into the
printer. If it does get clogged you should be justified in going to an
HP dealer and demanding a new ink cart.

Both of these printer recommendations are light years ahead of what you
are replacing.

In the case of a scanner, I bought an Epson 4180 scanner. I like it and
have no trouble. It does well with all of the reviewers.
 
I don't do much printing but when I do I just want it to work - no
faffing about with blocked printheads or other such jiggery-pokery.
Similarly my family are not tolerant of machines that don't work first
time.

So, my new requirements are:

* simple printing (from XP, Linux etc) up to A4 size
* colour printing inc. photos (family snaps - not works of art)
* a built in scanner would be nice ('cause my scanner has also bit the
dust (faulty power supply)) but I don't need Fax.
* network ready would be nice - or at least shareable via my Netgear
router/print server (FM114P)
Click to expand...

1) One of those <$400 color laser printers with built-in networking.
www.fatwallet.com/forums/ > hot deals -> samsung or minolta deals.
you can even bottom dig OfficeDepot and other office stores - saw
a color laser lexmark for $199 two weeks ago with networking on open-box
clearance.

This week has Oki for $299 AR:
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/mes...eadid=457086&highlight_key=y&keyword1=printer

You will have to compare vs. a networked HP color inkjet for
example - the laser will be more reliable and never have a clogged head
to worry about. We push reams of paper per month through a HP 4550 here
for years, and it simply goes and goes; any inkjet printer would have
died a sorry death by now with that much paper feeding through it.

2) Networking for most inkjets can be iffy unless they're designed
for it. - Most require bi directional communication, and the 3rd party
network boxes usually can't do it well enough to make them work.

3) If you do get a 3rd party network box, get a HP Jetdirect (easy to
setup, reliable), and find a compatible printer (varies depending on
model you buy).

4) Printing from Linux - you'll have to check your distro to see what
print drivers are available for it first as well.

----

Right now, IMO because I have one, a nice, reliable, fast & quiet
printer that works decently well is the Epson RX500. All of the
features work well, and the individual features are as nice as
stand-alone units. can't be beat for the <$130 price AR on sale at
www.epson.com -> clearance or ~$150 AR everywhere.
Photo prints are very nice from the built-in card reader, scans can
be made from 35mm film & slides, you can scan directly into flash cards
w/o a PC, and the scanner is decently fast even at 4800dpi.

---

But regardless, any of these inkjets can clog if not used for a bit,
or if paper fibers get into the feed path and onto the nozzles.

===

For a network-ready printer, the HP's work fine eg 1200dn:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/...erformance&product_code=C8170A#A2L&catLevel=3

===

But keep in mind!
With cheap printers selling for <$50 everywhere (see fatwallet.com),
you can easily outfit all of your home computers with a seperate printer
for the same $250+ of a networked printer.
 
So, my new requirements are:

* simple printing (from XP, Linux etc) up to A4 size
* colour printing inc. photos (family snaps - not works of art)
* a built in scanner would be nice ('cause my scanner has also bit the dust
(faulty power supply)) but I don't need Fax.
* network ready would be nice - or at least shareable via my Netgear
router/print server (FM114P)

Does anyone have suggestions as to what products I should be looking at?
Click to expand...

You do not mention a price range, but for less than you paid for the DeskJet
820 (assuming you bough it new) you might take a look at the HP PSC 2510 a
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/18972-238444-410635-12085-f57-303769.html .
It has wired and wireless networking, print, scan, copy, fax, card slots for
direct photo printing and a few other features. Linux is supported as
described at: http://sourceforge.net/projects/hpoj/ .

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP
 
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