Looking for a good wireless printer

As the title states, i'm looking for a good wireless printer to use around the house or maybe bring with me to college.

If used at home, it would be hooked up with a USB cable connection to my desktop which is in the living room, in front of the house. I would like a 802.11G wireless printer with a decent range, maybe close to that of a wireless router but im not sure if thats possible.

I've checked out the Lexmark Z series but more recommendations are welcomed. Preferably something under $100 but I can go up to $150 if necessary.

TIA

 

I think HP makes the friendliest wireless printers. If you want to keep your current printer, you could buy a USB server (like the Keyspan US-4A) instead. Plug it into your router, plug your printer into the server, install the server software on your computer, and you are all set. Unlike print servers, the USB server has two way communication, so you get the printer status.

I have one, and it definitely does the job. Plus, I can use any other USB device that way, including my scanner. All of my computers have access to the printer and scanner, instead of just one.

 

I would dump the usb connection for a true network printer. Then you would never need to connect it to your pc. HP does sell a wireless card for some of there printers. But would not bother if it had a nic port. I use a network laser and love it. Extremely fast, has 144meg of ram and supports a hd to store form documents in.

 

With the USB server, you never have to connect the printer to the PC. It's not like a print server, where you have to connect the printer and install the drivers. Since the USB server has server software that's installed on each client PC, as far as the computer is concerned, the printer is connected directly to the PC. That's why I like using the USB server.

Plus, it's cheaper than buying another printer.

 

what about a standard usb printer that's plugged into a wireless router with a print server function instead? then you kill two birds with one stone and can use it no matter what

 

im new to the whole wireless print server thing. i have thought about maybe plugging in a wireless USB stick into a USB printer, or connect via ethernet in a ethernet printer but i'm not sure.

can all printers with USB ports accept a wireless USB adapter and print wirelessly this way?

I'd rather just buy a new printer, of course the ones with the built in wi-fi are a bit expensive. My current printer is a super old (probably 7-8 years old now?) HP Deskjet 612c that still works, but it's slow and the quality is only decent.

 

No. The USB port is for the USB cable that goes to the PC; the printer doesn't have any built in "brains" to use a network card. If a printer has a NIC card (or wireless networking) then you can use it as a network printer. If it doesn't, you need a USB print server/USB server, or you need to connect it to a computer that's connected to the network, and then share the printer.

 

i'll try to network my old HP printer then, but it's using an old parallel port to connect, shouldn't be a problem right?

if anything i'll just pick up a wireless printer in the future, a lot less hassle.

 

HP makes a wireless interface to fit most of their printers. They are not cheap though. eBay may be a good source to get one cheaper.

 

we've had the lexmark X4550 for over 8 months. a great wireless printer. heck, it even comes w/ a usb cable to assist in initial setup. it's a G wireless, but works fine w/ our n router since they are backward compatible.....

we got it on sale for about $95 US.