Looking for a printer...

I am a freshman in college and I have to use other people's printers to print off papers and what not. However, almost everyone has a hp printer and all of them are last years models or older. HP printer drivers for windows 7 are almost impossible to find, even running Vista compatibility mode doesn't work. So I decided for next year I want to get a new printer that is supported by Windows 7. I have looked at laser printers just to be different. I just didn't want to spend $200 to $600 on a printer (quality). So for now I am going to stick with inkjets.

Here is my criteria:
#1 Compatible with Windows 7
#2 Must be below $200 (plus shipping)
#3 Quality of product and output
#4 Prefer to be all-in-one (Although I would only use scanner and printer)
#5 Price of cartilage must be considerably reasonable. Don't mind if I have to pay a little more for high yield, just as long quantity/price ratio is reasonably good. (don't want to pay $90 for 900 pages or the like)
#6 Wireless would be a plus

The one that catches my eye is the Canon PIXMA MX870. A nice price point for a quality printer and cheap ink cartilage (Yes, I know it is generic). What are your guy's thoughts?

 

Take a look at these:

EPSON WorkForce 610 All-In-One Color Printer $190.00 incl. S/H

Canon PIXMA MX870 All-In-One Color Printer $173.00 incl. S/H

 

This, is a sweet "All In One"
I have it..works great with Win 7, Wireless...well it cover's just about "everything".

*This one at Newegg is a *Open Box*, $144 + $23.39 Ship = $168.38
EPSON Artisan 810 C11CA52201 Up to 38 ppm 5760 x 1440 dpi Wireless InkJet MFC / All-In-One Color Printer

Or, go directly thru Epson $199.99, Free Ship

I've had mine for several months now, and so far I haven't had to replace my cartridges..and I use it moderately! : )

Cin...

 

You're dishing out $200 on a printer as a freshman... wow... :O

I mean unless you need to print something that really demands quality... I'd just get something cheap. If I was buying something now I'd get something like this:

Amazon.com: HP Photosmart C4680 All-in-one Printer (Q8418A#ABA): Electronics

 

any of the samsung color laser units. some of which are under 200

for example the CLX-3175FN

 

Thanks for all the responses. I don't know very much about printers, because we don't use/have a printer at my parent's house. And like I said, I need to get a printer for next semester. My main concern is quality of the product, not necessarily high quality printing, but a good printing that uses cartilages efficiently and doesn't waste paper. I will not be printing photos, checks, or envelopes.

I am going to do graphical type stuff with word and publisher. I will be looking up the reviews of that hp mentioned. I did look up that epson the other day and it seems like people on amazon and cnet didn't like it. They said that when one color goes out, you have to get a replacement because the printer won't work until you do.

I've read in a number of places that laser printers are not the best for color printing. There is one laser printer that I really liked, but it seems that the toner is discontinued and I can only buy the toner from overseas.

The two things that I definitely need the printer for is copying and printing.

 

lexmark s405

 

@MDR8850
I looked at the printer as well, but I can't remember why I didn't like it.

The HP mentioned looks like a good one, but I don't know about quality. I don't really consider HP products quality. I might just stick with the one I am considering. The price maybe a bit high for moderate use and I may never use it to its full potential, however, I know that it will last me for a long time and may never have to get another printer for a long time (just as long as they have the proper drivers for upcoming OS releases). I know I can trust a Canon brand and customer service (owner of a canon camera). Cheap ink replacement is a major plus for me. The only other thing that I would have to get would be a wireless router for the printer.

Edit: I have found the printer much cheaper here: Canon Pixma MX870 for $150 with free shipping.

 

Hey forgot to mention. I don't know what's the deal with HP drivers, but most of the Vista drivers work on Win7. For my Canon printer I didn't even install any extra drivers - the ones that came with Win7 work fine.

I use Canon Pixma IP2600 (it's printer only; $50) the print quality is good for what I need - printing ocassional homeworks and research articles. The only downside is that the original ink catridge costs $35 (each - so $35 black, $35 color). I abuse university student offices for free photocopying though.

And last thing to keep in mind - it has become and incredibly retarded but standard habit for all companies to ship printers without the USB cable (if it's not wireless it won't work without it). It costs ~$10. That includes Canon too.

If I was buying Canon though for myself , I'd get this it has pretty good reviews:

Amazon.com: Canon PIXMA MP560 Wireless Inkjet All-In-One Photo Printer (3747B002): Electronics

 

you can get a Brother HL2140 or HL2170W(same as 2140, but with wireless) laser printer
refurbished, from staples, $30

the original starter toner lasted me 2000 pages(with the tape trick)... got extended toner cartridges from meritline for $17 each (rated for 2800 pages... now at 2000 pages and running strong)

but thing is toner particles arent' thta good for you... i share my printer with my 3 other suite mates, put it in the common area, not in my room

estimating less than $0.01 per page black and white(paper free after rebate from staples, or $3 per ream = $0.006 per page)... thought lack of color was a problem, but it isn't

before, had a HP Photosmart AIO inkjet... was horrible, $18 per cartridge that printed <300 pages, printhead often clogged up meaning had to do the self-cleaning which wasted more ink...

// college sophomore, currently too lazy to study for finals and wasting time on forum.notebookreview.com

 

Thanks for the recommendations, now we are getting somewhere. The canon mentioned looks like a good one. I probably will get that one, if I don't see something else that catches my eye. So right now I am stuck between getting the MX870 or MP560 for a hundred bucks less.

The MX is a bit more appealing as in the looks and probably newer. It probably is a bit higher quality and should last me forever.

The MP is decent looking with the same great features that the MX has, just probably watered down a bit (slower ppm, slower copy, and the like). Should last me till I get out of college. Uses the same cartilage and pretty cheap. I can't find it anywhere but what is the capacity of the ink in relation to how many papers it can print?

 

Have you considered a laserjet at all? All through college I had a wireless all in one, and I used the scanner one single time, and I printed in color... twice. Recently I got a cheap ($35) laserjet and could not be happier. Toner hasn't gone out in nearly 8 months, and if I print in color I do it professionally at Kinko's.

 

avoid the HP photosmarts, they waste ink like it's free.

the carts only last me a couple months and that is just from the printer doing its maintenance routines.