My wife and i got a rather nice refund on our taxes and want to go out and get a All-in-One fax/scan/copier. We want to spend between $200-300. Any ideas?
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All-in-One fax/scan/copier for my Mac
- Thread starter AtHomeBoy_2000
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Epson Stylus CX4800
I would suggest the Epson Stylus CX4800 - its a great little machine. Its a great 3 in 1 copy, print, scanner (but does not have fax capabilities). It does however have a 4 slots for media cards as well as usb connection for printing straight from the camera. The ink is relatively cheap if you go with a 3rd part say www.123injets.com - they offer 28% coupon all the time and free shipping cant go wrong.
The scanning feature is pretty amazing considering its a three in one and the life of the ink is excellent if you use and change the different modes for the print quality you need.
Hope this helps.
I would suggest the Epson Stylus CX4800 - its a great little machine. Its a great 3 in 1 copy, print, scanner (but does not have fax capabilities). It does however have a 4 slots for media cards as well as usb connection for printing straight from the camera. The ink is relatively cheap if you go with a 3rd part say www.123injets.com - they offer 28% coupon all the time and free shipping cant go wrong.
The scanning feature is pretty amazing considering its a three in one and the life of the ink is excellent if you use and change the different modes for the print quality you need.
Hope this helps.
I am leaning towards the Hewlett-Packard Photosmart All-In-One Printer/ Copier/ Scanner Model: 3210. It seems preety nice with all the functions I need.
I used to swear by HP's but having tried to set up the all in one hp I have here to work on a pc and mac network and having them refuse to support it I no longer have much faith in them.
If you are hooking them up directly it shouldn't be a problem.
If you are hooking them up directly it shouldn't be a problem.
If fax is a must there are a lot of HP models that can do that. Unfortunately the rest of the machine will blow compared to what else is out there. HP photos are downright disgusting. Even on high quality using premium paper you can see dot patterns. HP markets their 14 second photo printing using HP advance paper on fast draft mode. These photos are horrid looking and the paper is not archival. Although this type of print will cost you 24 cents, its' hardly worth it. The ink tanks in the 3210 are tiny. Sure they are only 10 bucks apiece (for color), but the ink in each cartridge is different from 3.5 ml to 6 or 6.5 ml I believe. I work in retail and I like Canon against other manufacturers. They simple offer the best quality and features per dollar. I can't recall how many times I've tried to sell someone an mp800 or comparable model and they buy the HP. Then come in a week or so later complaining how fast they run through the cartridges.
If fax is something your willing to forgo I would check out the canons. Their print technology is years ahead of HP's and epson's right now. I also believe that Canon is bringing back a model that is a fax as well but im not positive which stores will carry it. Its ultimately your choice but if you would rather have quality over faxing I would check them out.
Feel free to pm me or anything if you have any questions. I unfortunately know too much about printers.
If fax is something your willing to forgo I would check out the canons. Their print technology is years ahead of HP's and epson's right now. I also believe that Canon is bringing back a model that is a fax as well but im not positive which stores will carry it. Its ultimately your choice but if you would rather have quality over faxing I would check them out.
Feel free to pm me or anything if you have any questions. I unfortunately know too much about printers.
AtHomeBoy_2000 said:
I have a brother 7820N. It's networked, so both my wife and I can use it. Almost no problems (it seems to freeze sometimes after my wife prints adn then I try to print). They make a non-networked version for less than $300. It plays nice with the Mac.
Being an HP loyalist, I ventured on a limb and picked up a Canon Pixma 780 and so far I am quite impressed.
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Le Big Mac said:
I just bought this same model and I think its great. The Mac software actually has all the same features as the Windows software -- which I was surprised at. Only difference is that the Windows install gives you PaperPort too (a nifty program). The quality of the printer is also really good, and its $300 after $50 mail-in rebate. It's also a 1200dpi color scanner.
HP Drivers
I had an older HP 6110 and the drivers were really poor. Documents would not print on a regular basis, very frustrating.
In addition, the build quality was suspect. The machine would throw paper out of the printer so hard some of the plastic parts broke. I gave up!
I have jumped to a Canon and am quite impressed as the other poster said. No fax, which I did not realize (stupid, I know) when I bought it, so I will use the internal Mac fax support.
AtHomeBoy_2000 said:
I had an older HP 6110 and the drivers were really poor. Documents would not print on a regular basis, very frustrating.
In addition, the build quality was suspect. The machine would throw paper out of the printer so hard some of the plastic parts broke. I gave up!
I have jumped to a Canon and am quite impressed as the other poster said. No fax, which I did not realize (stupid, I know) when I bought it, so I will use the internal Mac fax support.
If you want a fax, the Canon MP500 is out. Otherwise it is a great multifunction.
You need to decide if you are going to share the printer with more than one mac. If not, get the Canon MP780. It will not let a Mac print to it if it is plugged into a Windows computer. Also, it will not allow scanning if not plugged in via USB. Granted...these aren't an issue if you share one computer.
Get the HP 7310 (wired) or 7410 (wireless) if you want more than one computer to print and scan without messing with cables. It plugs directly into your home network. I have experience with all of these machines and many others, so this is what I would do.
If you want a great color laser multifunction, look no further than the Epson CX11NF. It is about $700 but it is a great machine for the more demanding user.
You need to decide if you are going to share the printer with more than one mac. If not, get the Canon MP780. It will not let a Mac print to it if it is plugged into a Windows computer. Also, it will not allow scanning if not plugged in via USB. Granted...these aren't an issue if you share one computer.
Get the HP 7310 (wired) or 7410 (wireless) if you want more than one computer to print and scan without messing with cables. It plugs directly into your home network. I have experience with all of these machines and many others, so this is what I would do.
If you want a great color laser multifunction, look no further than the Epson CX11NF. It is about $700 but it is a great machine for the more demanding user.
The HP 7210, 7310, and 7410 are all good machines as noted by nels0360
On the Canon side, the MP780 is nice too. It has, however, been replaced by the new MP830.
Differences between the 780 and 830?
- 25ppm black vs. 30ppm
- 17ppm color vs. 24ppm
- 4800 x 1200 dpi color print res vs. 9600 x 2400 dpi
- old ink vs. new ChromaLife100 series (resists fading better)
- 2400 x 4800 dpi scan res (9600 x 9600 max) vs. 2400 x 4800 dpi (19,200 x 19,200 max)
- 2 picoliter drop sizes vs. 1 picoliter drop sizes
The MP830 is also more solid, better built, and IMO has a better, cleaner, more modern, and sleaker design. But it's also ~ $60 more.
On the Canon side, the MP780 is nice too. It has, however, been replaced by the new MP830.
Differences between the 780 and 830?
- 25ppm black vs. 30ppm
- 17ppm color vs. 24ppm
- 4800 x 1200 dpi color print res vs. 9600 x 2400 dpi
- old ink vs. new ChromaLife100 series (resists fading better)
- 2400 x 4800 dpi scan res (9600 x 9600 max) vs. 2400 x 4800 dpi (19,200 x 19,200 max)
- 2 picoliter drop sizes vs. 1 picoliter drop sizes
The MP830 is also more solid, better built, and IMO has a better, cleaner, more modern, and sleaker design. But it's also ~ $60 more.
all in one
I bought a canon 800R. It's pricy, but I wanted the functionality of wireless printing (took quite a while to set up though). The quality is excellent. Not sure how it works as a fax machine - I'm still playing about with it.
A warning though - You have to connect to it wirlessly via a wirless router (airport to router to 800R), i.e. I don't think it allows you to connect straight to it using inbuilt airport. If I'm wrong about the above statement please, people, correct me.
I bought a canon 800R. It's pricy, but I wanted the functionality of wireless printing (took quite a while to set up though). The quality is excellent. Not sure how it works as a fax machine - I'm still playing about with it.
A warning though - You have to connect to it wirlessly via a wirless router (airport to router to 800R), i.e. I don't think it allows you to connect straight to it using inbuilt airport. If I'm wrong about the above statement please, people, correct me.
I'm happy with the Brother MFC line. Since, I didn't care about color printing (already had a inkjet color) , got the MFC 7420 laser. Has flatbed for copying, color scanning, and printing. Can also send/recieve faxes. The only real problem is the paper is a little curled after initial printing. Pretty happy otherwise.
I hate HP. They're way over-priced and are constantly breaking down. Just because it's bigger doesn't mean it's better, and HP lives to that unfortunate billing.
I've purchased 2 HP All-in-ones (with fax), HP 7130 and 7310, and have taken out the bat all 2 times. In addition to breaking down (in less than 2 years of use no less) the ink cartridges are overpriced. Unless you trust those factory-refilled ones (un-official ink cartridges) from breaking your printer (which happened to both machines).
I know the refillable ink doesn't affect everybody's all-in-ones, but consider everything else I have to say that owning an HP was the worse experience for a once-in-a-while fax/scan.
IMO, the best bang for your buck all-in-one belongs to Canon. They're just wonder machines and very affordable. The individual ink cartridges are awesome a helluva value. The MP830 is arguably the best all-in-one with fax, so I'd look at that. For 284.54 final price, I'd go after that one. It's only a matter of time before I save up enough money to purchase it.
I've purchased 2 HP All-in-ones (with fax), HP 7130 and 7310, and have taken out the bat all 2 times. In addition to breaking down (in less than 2 years of use no less) the ink cartridges are overpriced. Unless you trust those factory-refilled ones (un-official ink cartridges) from breaking your printer (which happened to both machines).
I know the refillable ink doesn't affect everybody's all-in-ones, but consider everything else I have to say that owning an HP was the worse experience for a once-in-a-while fax/scan.
IMO, the best bang for your buck all-in-one belongs to Canon. They're just wonder machines and very affordable. The individual ink cartridges are awesome a helluva value. The MP830 is arguably the best all-in-one with fax, so I'd look at that. For 284.54 final price, I'd go after that one. It's only a matter of time before I save up enough money to purchase it.
I searched and came up with this....
I want an all in one with an emphasis on photo printing. I'm going to China in mid-May and i want a new printer as my hp photosmart 7960 is starting to show its age. I looked at the hp 3210 and the 3310, seems cool but is their anything else? Anyone have an experience with these models? On the 3310 it has wireless printing, how does that work with scanning things? how does it compare to using my airport express? Is their anything else to look at? I'm not a canon fan as i bought to of their printers years ago and both sucked.... if apple only made printers... ( i like my style writer
)
I want an all in one with an emphasis on photo printing. I'm going to China in mid-May and i want a new printer as my hp photosmart 7960 is starting to show its age. I looked at the hp 3210 and the 3310, seems cool but is their anything else? Anyone have an experience with these models? On the 3310 it has wireless printing, how does that work with scanning things? how does it compare to using my airport express? Is their anything else to look at? I'm not a canon fan as i bought to of their printers years ago and both sucked.... if apple only made printers... ( i like my style writer
)