Printer Choice

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adamdotclarke

45 posts

Geek

#56863 26-Jan-2010 21:19

Hey Guys,

Am looking and purchasing a printer which will probably be a MFC as most are these days.
I am looking for one that either has networking built-in (wired or wireless) or that will play well with the USB on a Apple Time Capsule which I am also about to buy unless anyone can recommend a better alternative.

Mainly just looking for a colour inkjet (lower price) to be used for printing uni assignments etc.

Any recommendations etc would be greatly appreciated. Max price would probably be about $600 but this could be stretched if necessary.

Thanks in advance

Adz

Buttonmash

361 posts

Ultimate Geek

#293206 26-Jan-2010 21:28

If you think you'll be printing a few B&W pages you may find a $129ish Brother HL-2140 Laser is worth having as well as a $79 colour inkjet for the odd coverpage or photo you need to print out.

adamdotclarke

45 posts

Geek

#293208 26-Jan-2010 21:29

THats a point, are those lasers any good? Seen a few of them and always wondered. are there any colour/b&w lasers for a good price? Also, any with an ethernet or easier to use a USB on Time Capsule?

Buttonmash

361 posts

Ultimate Geek

#293229 26-Jan-2010 22:29

I recently bought one for my parents and it works a treat. Quality is good.

I can't say I've used it on an Airport, but we have one of it's predecessor models the HL-1430 connected to an Airport Express for sharing and it works perfectly across our OS X and Windows PCs so don't think you'd have much trouble. And Brother printers are well supported in OS X too which you may need if you're using a time capsule?

adamdotclarke

45 posts

Geek

#293260 27-Jan-2010 05:35

Awesome, thanks heaps for that, im also looking at the model up with built-in ethernet to free up the usb for the inkjet. Anyone recommend a good MFC inkjet printer without horrendous cartridge prices as I have seen with some of the lexmarks?

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#293263 27-Jan-2010 07:25

Inkjets cost about $1 of ink per page when printing pictures on plain paper. At work we are leasing a top end colour laser which prints very nice photos, and we pay about 20c per page (this includes consumables, maintenance, depreciation, etc.).

You can never have enough Volvos!

adamdotclarke

45 posts

Geek

#293271 27-Jan-2010 08:03

So you think just splash out and get a colour laser to do it all?

Anyone recommend one?

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#293289 27-Jan-2010 09:36

This doesn't quite fit your criteria as it's mono-laser, but I just bought myself the Brother MFC-7840W, it's a great little printer for the price. It has both Wireless and Ethernet (it connected to my WPA2 protected network fine) and the quality of the prints is on par with my HP. Things I like are that you can initiate the scanning and select which computer to send it to from the unit itself, I read that the cheaper Canons required you to start it on the computer first, then go to the scanner to scan the document. Other things I like is that it has a straight-through path for envelope printing and that the software that came with it is non-intrusive. No more having my other half hassle me to scan documents for her, it's a very simple process now :)

I was a bit hesitant about buying a Brother, I've always had Epson or HP, but so far I've been very impressed.

I picked it up from Ascent for $434, they have very similar models with colour inkjet but I can't speak for the quality of the prints of those, but I'd say most of the other features would be similar.

Sharesies

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Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#293420 27-Jan-2010 13:26

A good quality print from a colour laser will set you back a few thousand dollars. Issue is that toner does not mix well. For photos at home I'd use ink as it mixes well (but expensive). Downside of ink is it dissolves in water/moisture. So instead I'd rather get photos printed professionally (or do them at work ;-).

For lots of black printing I'd get a laser. I'd do a Google for reviews, lots available from CNet and the likes. And do remember to check cost of toner and other service parts.

Some HPs were rubbish using a cheap fuser (think it was the 5L, the small upright one which was probably the first real consumer laser printer). Again, Google is your friend. Find one locally that has the features you want, then Google a few reviews.

You can never have enough Volvos!

wellygary

8328 posts

Uber Geek

#293461 27-Jan-2010 14:36

adamdotclarke: Awesome, thanks heaps for that, im also looking at the model up with built-in ethernet to free up the usb for the inkjet. Anyone recommend a good MFC inkjet printer without horrendous cartridge prices as I have seen with some of the lexmarks?

Its USB, just whack a cheap 4 port hub on it and use both. Cheaper than getting an ethernet Printer.

Apple specifically mention printers plural in the time capsule documentation.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2421