Printer recommendations.......

[1pump]

I gotta get a new printer. I don't have a digital camera yet, but that's next. So it has to be photo-capable. I'm leaning towards getting a four-in-one printer (print, scan, copy, fax). I know they're not cheap, but it would be nice to have all those capabilities. Anybody out there have one or any experience with one? When they first came out about 10 years ago I was under the impression they were kind of unreliable. Have they gotten any better? Any brands better than others? Any input would be appreciated. :smile:

[Unskunked]

I have an HP 970 Cse. Good overall printer, prints photos very nicely, especially using the special photo paper, which is spendy. I find that I have little need now of a scanner with the volume of info available on the net and, while I could occasionally use a FAX, it would be very infrequently. Overall, I would probably avoid a combo system. I've had to replace my printers every 2 - 3 years, as something wears out and they're expensive to have repaired. I believe it would be cheaper in the long run to get separate units as you would probably need to replace the printer before the other units. I would look at getting a laser jet printer if cost is not an object.

[ 01-05-2003, 08:48 AM: Message edited by: Unskunked ]

[The Fishing Geek]

I'm not a user of the all-in-ones but I will put a vote in for Canon printers. My S450 (a year old) is fast with text at about 10 ppm, has good color photograph results (with optional photo cartridge), and best of all has individual ink tanks, so you only have to replace the ones that are empty. Very cool.

[rojo]

Got a HP 920c love it and was only 79.00 at Frys on sale. Still have my old HP692 going strong after 5 yrs, so I would stick to HP. As far as combos, no if one function goes down then what.Scanners are cheap and so are faxes....Roger

[TheRogue]

I have a 960C. I, too, would not steer you toward the combo's. I have a nice little Canon scanner that was quite inexpensive and takes up little room. As for faxes, you can set up your PC to send a receive faxes, if you have a scanner to get the image into the computer. Same with the copier....very few home uses need a volume copier. When I have something I need copied, I just scan and print whatever I need.

TR

[STGRule]

From doing a printer search a while back I learned that the all-in-ones are just okay. It appears when you put them all together no one function is at its best. If you really want to print good pictures, you will probably have to have individual machines.

[1pump]

It sounds like my suspicions about all-in-ones are being confirmed. I also have to replace printers every couple of years, and the combo unit I'm looking at is around $450. OK for a long-term purchase, but not on a 2-3 year cycle. Ouch. And I'd love to get a laser printer, but like most people who live in the real world, price is an object. :depressed: Some good advice here, like usual. Thanks everyone, and long live ifish!

[Day Late]

I prefer individual reasonable priced machines due to constant technology changes. Also as inexpensive as possible so I don't feel bad when it breaks just out of warranty. Latest puchase is an Epson Stylus Photo 820. Standard price is $99 at OfficeMax, Staples, etc. Ink cartridges are cheap (over the internet) and color prints turn out as good as the more expensive models (in my opinion). My buddy has one and I was real impressed with the photo quality so I bought one too. Have not been disappointed. :smile: Good Luck!

Day Late

[Stz ll]

I have an HP 710 printer and a Epson Color 880. The Epson makes better prints of my color pictures than the HP.

Pete

[Silver Hilton]

HP940c, couldn't be happier. I have a separate scanner, and a digital camera. Once you get the digital camera, your scanner use will go to nothing.

[sinker]

Don't waste your money on a photo-ready printer. By the time you buy the printer, ink and paper those pics are getting really spendy.
Instead take the memory card down to Fred Meyer or Wal-Mart and have 4X6 prints made for 49cents each. Last time I was at Best Buy I priced the 4X6 paper and it alone was 50cents each.

Get yourself a USB card reader and then you can take pics off the hard drive, copy them to the memory card and head down to Freddies.

[The Fishing Geek]

I would recommend against Epson printers, as there is no way to replace the heads on the printer if they clog to the point that they won't clean themselves. Been there, heard of many others who have as well.

HP replaces the heads with each cartridge, and Canon's are replacable. HP, unless you buy the expensive professional model, have all-in-one color carts, unlike the Canon.

[Smily]

Hi 1Pump,

I got an HP 5550 Printer about 2 months ago after My old 812 printer gave way. A whopping 17 ppm for text and 12 for color. Photo's still seem like 3 minutes for a full sheet. But let me tell you, It has auto paper senscers and has photo ret 3 and 4 if you put the other color cartridge in and guaranted picture not to fade for 65 years. I hope I live that long. A Photo printer as good as it gets. I can't believe the quality of photo picture I get from this thing. You can't tell if it came from the developers or I printed it up myself now days.

The price of the printer is $149.00 right now from office max or Depot and get a $25.00 instore credit thing for probably paper or extra cartridge. I picked mine up at the time for $129.99 and seen them as low as $119.00 at costco a month ago. Don't know now about costco if the price is back up to there $139.00.

I had also got a Digital camera and I can tell you film is now a thing of the past. Everthing goes on the harddrive then burned on a cd now. Our Scanner will probably collect dust more than anything now. Good luck with your search.

:smile: Smily :smile:

[ 01-05-2003, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: Smily ]

[Kilgore]

When buying a printer, I think it's important to get a brand and model which will have it's replacement ink and parts available for the duration you plan to use it. Some brands are not as good as HP when it comes to technical support such as OS upgrade drivers, etc. I'm not recommending HP, however, as I think they have a poor customer and tech support in recent years.

Secondly, I would try to figure out the per page cost of black and white and color prints, as this can quickly add up. The specs are usually given on the box.

One of my favorite source of tech reviews are PC World, and you can get their recommendations here: PC World

[lost_sailor]

H-P Deskjet K80. Color print, copy, scan, fax.

One at home, four at work. No troubles.

[Pete]

I have a Canon i850. PC Magazine rates it the best home use desktop photo printer. Like other photo printers, it relies on pricy photo paper. My major complaint is that I have to do a deep cycle cleaning every session to get the print heads to print properly. $150 at Fry's, very good prints, fast color printing, but annoying.

[Chukrchaser]

Not all all-in-ones are created equal -- Take a look at the HP psc 2210 --

Has the Photo ret IV ink system that will knock your socks off for photos -- good fax , a decently high resolution scanner and prints at about 18 pgs/min black -- at $ 199. This machine also has 4 different flash memory slots for the 4 most common digital cards.

I have sold a pile of them and the only time I have had one come back it was pretty obviously an "Operator defect" -- not the machine. :shocked: :shocked:

Smiley--
If the pic's are taking that long to print on a 5550 check the DPI -- If your printing over 300 - 400 dpi you wasting ink and time -- most of the time.

Chuck

[rojo]

Frys sells photo paper that seems to do a great job...on sale at 20 sheets for either 1.99 or sometimes .99...4 pics to a sheet...Roger

[Fish_N_Russ]

I would also second the comment that multi-purpose machines do only so-so at best.

I also would stay away from any HP product. Their customer service in the last few years has really diminished. I know of more than 10 people that have had problems with new HP products, both PC's and other devices. Seems their QC isnt as good as in the past.

Personally I have had an Epson printer for the last 6 years with no problems, but I would not neccesarily reccomend that brand just for that fact. I think Canon is another good brand as well.


DO NOT buy your ink cartridges or paper at any stores. You will pay 2 or 3 times what you pay online for the same thing. Get ink cartridges at www.ink4art.com, they work as good as any factory ones. Paper can be found on Ebay for very good prices (especially photo paper).


Just mtcw,
Russ

[The Fishing Geek]

I have found (at least with my Canon printer) that the generic color inks aren't as vivid in photo printing as are the genuine Canon carts.

If you aren't doing printing of photos on photo paper then the generics are a great buy. Otherwise...I'd stick with the original manufacturer inks.