All-in-one Printer???

Hey again gurus. I've gotten some good advice on my new notebook and while that is about a month away, I'm trying to find a new all-in-one multifunction printer for my home office.

I will be starting law school in the fall, and my girlfriend will be in design school. Currently I have a HP 1022 B&W laser printer which is nice, but I am going to need faxing capability, copying, etc. My gf being in design school, she wants color. I've narrowed it down to some type of B&W/color multifunction, but it seems no one has a consensus on what is good.

I need the ability to network it to my router, and I prefer a flatbed scanner. I don't need high volume, but I would like decent quality prints/copies/scans, good software, good connectivity.

I've looked at the HP L7310, HP L7580, Lexmark X9350.....

Budget is about $200-$350.

Any of you have good luck with some of these machines?

 

I personally own a Canon Pixma MP500; probably well below what you're looking for in terms of capabilities (it only cost like $100), but I've been very happy with it.

My experience with it at least makes me think that looking at one of the higher end Canon Pixma all-in-ones might be worth it.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828102008

Best printer I have ever used. Ever.

 

OK, yeah, something like that....

Again, can't speak from personal experience, only having the lower end MP500 printer, but if it's any indication, I'd fully agree with FREN.

 

I LOVED the look/price/reviews of the Canon PIXMA MP830, but it is missing one big thing: an ethernet port! I'm trying to upgrade all my new tech to wireless compatible because I feel that is where the future should be going. Other than that...one sweet machine.

 

Maybe something like this would work?

http://www.gadgetbloggers.com/2006/05/26/canon-pixma-mp800r-all-in-one-printer-with-wifi/

 

Looks nice, but no FAX features?

 

If you are budget concious, you might want to compare the price of the toner. At least that's what I did when I had a printer.

 

So, maybe sell my B&W laser and get a color laser all in one? Those are pretty pricey I thought....

 

I don't like all-in-one printers - if one bit breaks you've got to waste loads of money in replaving the whole lot. If you can and you've got enough desk space, get them all separately.

 

Well, true, but of course the whole point of the All-in-one is that you do have everything in one device and can save on desk space.

The point as I see it is simplicity (only one device hooked up to your machine, rather than a separate scanner, printer, copier, etc.) and only having to use one device for everything.

Also, there are all-in-ones that cost so little that it isn't that much more anyway (as I mentioned, my MP500 only cost me like $100 after rebate). So the issue of the cost of replacing them isn't so bad anyway.

 

What if you buy a USB all-in-one, and buy a wireless print server, like this

 

What? I can't have my cake and eat it too? =)

 

The Brother MFC series is really great, dirt cheap, and has an ultra-small footprint. It does everything you want and then some more

 

Thanks for the heads-up Gautam. I am taking a closer look at those Brother MFCs. They seem to be at a really good price point for their features. I'm hoping to find a way to fax over VOIP =/.

 

FREN, what is the ink consumption like on that model? I hate it that Canon now has the chips on their cartridges. Makes it tough (but not impossible) to use the good but affordable G&G brand compatible ink.

 

Do you use OEM inks or compatibles? I am considering the Brother DCP-330C or the Canon MP460 for my daughter to take to college and am wondering about the longer-term comparative costs.

 

I use compatible 3rd party inks, but these days I am just refilling my own ink and saving even more $$$ over 3rd party ink. I can fill a tank of ink for mere cents now. Ink prices in big stores are a complete rip off - so much so it's amazing why people don't revolt. In the olden days, the cheapest thing was ink since people used it so often in fountain pens. Anyway....

Long term costs - Brother and Canon are both good, but I'd suspect ink for the Brother would be cheaper (even at the store, in the case that she needs ink right before printing a final paper or something...no time to order ink online in that case )

 

Gautam, is there a particular brand of compatible ink that you've had good (or bad) luck with on the Brother?

 

Check out the Canon 800R. Does not have fax capability. You can use your computer for the faxing. A little pricey though and they have lots of printer crtrideges to replace.

 

get FREN's printer.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828113082

I saw this today at Stape's. Probably half the size of similar HP's and even cheaper than the PIXMA830. It has the ethernet port AND wireless b/g, although the wireless isn't absolutely necessary. Cordless phone + all the other goodies. Ink was only about $15/color $25/black @ staples, but I saw a nipple on the cartridge so it may be able to be refilled. The only gripe I see is a 14.4 modem, but I'll be faxing over VOIP so thats really a non-issue. $200+ taxes in-store. Any more thoughts on this one??