Multi-Function Printers?

[Harry Longshanks]

Okay, here is my situation:

I don't print a lot at home, but my 10 year old HP DeskJet 832c needs a new color ink cartridge. $40 frickin' dollars at Staples. And the black ink is due to run out any time.

I have a laser printer for document printing, but I want something that can do color when I want it.

I also have a 10 year old scanner that is incompatible with XP. (I don't foresee upgrading to Vista in the near future.)

So instead of figuring out another workaround for the scanner (I figured it out once before) and putting money into ink for an obsolete printer, I am considering a cheap All-In-One Printer/Scanner/Copier/Fax.

I think I can get by without wireless printing because I have a home network, but in case I've ditch the desktop for good, that feature would be nice (unless wireless print servers are cheap.)

However, a document feeder is mandatory.

Can anyone recommend an All-In-One that they have been happy with? I've done some Googling and Cnet.com reading, but can't find a consensus.


Thanks.

[joshtpa]

Harry,
I can recommend one thing for you in the world of printers since I just bought 18 new ones for my office. When it comes to printers, they all work similar, so go with the one that has the cheapest ink. For that, it seems to be Canon. We use Canon All in ones for the last 2 weeks and absolutely love them. Best of all, the ink is half the price of Lexmark and HP.

For more info, our machines cost $13 for black ink.

[chrt396]

Check out Kodak's line of all-in-ones. I replaced my HP with a Kodak and I'm impressed with text quality as well as photo quality. The color is not as vivid as HP's inks, but only on a side by side comparison. If you didn't have a comparison, you'd think the print was perfect. The inks are considerably less expensive.

[CrazyO_8]

And no matter what the deal is for an Epson, dont't do it. DON'T DO IT!!!! I dont care, DON'T DO IT!

So much fail in one package.

[Everardo]

I've been happy with the Canon's and currently have the Pixma780 (which isn't made anymore)

[Harry Longshanks]

Thanks for the input everyone. I picked up a Canon Pixma MX310 on sale for $79. All the reviews I read were that it's a great little inkjet for home use.

Like I said, I already have a laser printer for documents, so this is a printer for light color use and to replace an obsolete scanner. We'll see how it works out.

[joshtpa]

Harry,
Glad I could help. I have the exact same printer in my home office. it works good and the ink is dirt cheap.

[joseywales]

Hey guys, I own a printer supply company and whenever this topic comes up, I always give the same response. Always buy HP for several reasons. First, you can always find supplies either new or compatible. Second, you can always find someone to work on them because most people are trained in HP maintenance. Third, the quality of HP is easily better than any of the other companies out there. I constantly switch people from new HP to compatibles all the time and save them over half the price of new ones. From my experience, the worst printers and supply cost gouging you can encounter are from Brother, Lexmark and smaller ones like Okidata. HP makes some multifunction printers that are great. They are making the color laser printers so quickly these days, it's kind of like last years golf clubs. If you buy last years model, you can save some serious coin.
That's all I have. Good night.

[joshtpa]

Printers are almost disposable for inkjet nowadays so I cant imagine paying someone to service one. I have an HP and like it, but the ink is almost twice as much as my Canons.

[Harry Longshanks]

I might agree with you on laser printers, J.W. But not on inkjets or other peripherals. HPs quality has declined markedly the past decade. I have personal experience with several returns, warrantied items, self repairs, and work-arounds necessitated by HP's refusal to write updated drivers when operating systems change.

For example, the scanner I just replaced with the Canon All-In-One, when I tried to load the scanner driver software, the HP software actually gave me an error message that said "This product is not compatible with Windows XP. Please consider upgrading to a newer HP product." [parphrased]

Uhh, bite me. I paid for the scanner once and I shouldn't have to throw it in the landfill after 5 years because your profits are slipping and your stock price is down. It took me forever to find a workaround on the internet.

Check around on any review site (e.g., cnet.com) and look at the number of dissatisfied consumers.

Oh, and anyone notice how the price of HP toner and ink gets more expensive the older the product gets? To the point where it's more economical to buy a whole new product? Not real subtle.

Has laser cartridge technology really advanced so much that HP needs to keep changing the physical design of the toner cartridges? I doubt it. But if people buying new printers looked at the cost of toner and decided it was too high, they would buy another brand. And if cartridges stayed the same, people would just keep buying more toner. And if the printers were made poorly and broke, HP would get a bad reputation and lose new customers.

The printer is the bait. The ink/toner is the hook. That's where the manufacturer makes its money. (Does "the first taste is free" sound familiar?)