Looking for Decent Multifunction printer

[Glenn]

Any suggestions for a decent Multi-function printer, I have been looking at a Canon Pixma MP610, it seems to be a very good all round printer and is cheaper to run than the 630 that replaces it.

[Rik]

I'd go with Canon, HP or Brother, Glenn. In has a Brother, I've got an HP atm, though I've also got a dedicated Canon photo printer which I've been very pleased with. Are you looking for in-built fax and/or networking?

[Tacitus]

Any suggestions for a decent Multi-function printer, I have been looking at a Canon Pixma MP610, it seems to be a very good all round printer and is cheaper to run than the 630 that replaces it.

I've got an HP Photosmart C7200 which so far runs without problems from either the Mac or the PC.  Comet have (or had) some good deals on them, depending on which model you want.  The reasons I went for the 7200 is that it has an inbuilt duplexer for automatic double sided printing and also has a network connection.

[Glenn]

Doesn't need to have fax or networking, it will be connected to my WHS which acts as a print server.

[Rik]

Well, there's the thread we had yesterday.

http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=11822.msg270903#msg270903

though I'd probably step up to this personally.

[Sebby]

If you want something cheap and cheerful, the Brother range are good and consumables are cheap.

[Rik]

Worthwhile point, Seb, as that's where a lot of the cost comes from.

[Baz]

do you use compatible cartridges in yours Rik

[Rik]

No, Baz. I tried refills once, but they weren't worth the bother.

[Sebby]

It very much depends on the cartridges used. Refills/compatibles are not all the same. I find it's best to look for some user opinions and take it from there.

[Rik]

I did, Seb. This user thought they were rubbish. I have to concede, though, that much of my thinking is conditioned by my working days, when the cost of consumables were tax deductible and a badly printed job cost a lot more in my time than the manufacturer's ink cartridges would have done. Same for laser toner.

[Sebby]

I can understand that.

[Glenn]

I've just been looking at Canon printers, I thought I would take a look on ebay and I stumbled across the Canon refurb site http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsxQ3asstQQtZkm looks to be some good deals on there, all come with a 12 month manufacturers guarantee

[Rik]

A dye-sub printer for £26, if you're quick. Has to be worth a look. 

[Steve]

Just wondering from the little that I have read, that a multifunction printer won't work on a WHS.It will only print.It would be nice if it did all three as I'd buy one myself.

[Glenn]

When my Epson DX6000 decides to work, all the functions work as far as I remember.

Steve, I'll let you know about the Duet when I get home.

[Rik]

I know that HP have been working to make all functions work across a network. Previously, only printing has really functioned.

[Simon]

Not sure what the wireless side is like, but this Brother at Ryman looks good value, at a shade under £78.

[Rik]

I know that In uses a Brother and swears by it.

[Tacitus]

Don't know if anyone's interested but this place do refurb printers.  They're north of Nottingham, based in an old school.  Dead scruffy but they appear to know what they're doing as I had a Laserjet repaired there.  I think they have another branch in Cardiff - hence the St Gallen.

[Rik]

There's some bargains to be had there, Tac, particularly if you need a plotter... The Laserjet 4 & 5 series are a steal too.

[Steve]

Off the subject slightly, using a Brother HL 5240 (b+w laser) networked via usb port on WHS,works well and eventually should work out to be very economical in terms of cost per sheet. I also have attached to the same device a Canon Pixma IP5300 for photos and colour printing

[Rik]

Lasers are worth investing in if you do a lot of text work, Steve, and more so if you need a Postscript printer.

[Steve]

Certainly my wife and kids do a lot of black and white work and the Brother was not very expensive,it was just over £100 with a toner cartridge fit for 2,500 sheets. I am also led to  believe that lasers are happier than inkjets to be left turned off for awhile.

[Rik]

Yes, I've rarely had problems with any of the ones I've had over the past 25 years. The worst I've had to do is clean them and give the toner cartridge a shake.

[Simon]

I know that In uses a Brother and swears by it.

He and I have the same one.  I bought mine on his recommendation. 

[Sebby]

I've had a few Brother inkjet multi-function printers and have been very pleased with them.

[Philip]

I'm surprised that Rik hasn't recommended one that costs so much, that a single purchase would lift us out of recession. 

[Simon]

[Glenn]

I just ordered a Canon Pixma MP610, from all the reviews I have read, it seems to be the best in it's price range, even better than the printer that replaced it.

[Rik]

I'm surprised that Rik hasn't recommended one that costs so much, that a single purchase would lift us out of recession. 

I'm building the suspense, Philip. 

[Glenn]

Win a Brother MFP for free http://www.computeractive.co.uk/personal-computer-world/competitions/2233078/brother-mfc-990cw-multifunction

[Rik]

I struggled a bit with the question, Glenn.  

[Glenn]

It got me too

[Simon]

The winner can use the printer to print off all the subsequent spam they'll receive after entering the competition.

Oh, by the way, Rik, it's tea making.   

[Rik]

What, it does tea making?? 

[Philip]

I'm building the suspense, Philip. 

pity the poor beggar that falls for your sales technique 

[Rik]

Few do, it's why I never went into sales.

[Baz]

whats the difference between HP Officejet series and the normal Photosmart ones. Just been watching a demo of the C7280 and it looks very good. Ink carts look a tad small though. how much do they hold.

[Rik]

Usually the duty cycle, Baz, ie the number of prints they are designed to cope with per month.

[Sebby]

I believe it's simply that Photosmart printers are more geared towards printing photos, whereas the OfficeJets are more for documents.

[Baz]

ah  the officejet ones have FAx facility on too. They seem quite big.

[Rik]

Bigger, I wouldn't say big though, Baz - but then I have a bench full of printers.

[Baz]

you like HP Rik dont you. pros and cons of the model you have. Do they take compatibles? good enough for home use? reliability? ease of use etc. I like the wireless version will save me having the main system on if they are printing from the laptops

Thanks

[Rik]

I do like HP, Baz, I've been using their printers for more than 20 years: plotters, inkjet and lasers.

Cons of the model I've got. It's been superseded. Pros: it's worked faultlessly for almost four years, makes an excellent document scanner (I use a separate scanner for photos), photocopier and fax machine. It outputs about 10,000 sheets/year on 4 black and two colour cartridges. Easy to use, some excellent innovations since adopted by others.

[Baz]

I like the wireless version will save me having the main system on if they are printing from the laptops

Thanks

am I right in thinking this is how they work. Does anyone have one of these MFDs, or a printer, where you can print to disc. what are they like

[Rik]

I have a networked laser, Baz. Anything which can talk to the router can talk to the printer regardless of what other machines are on. My other printers hang off this machine, so are only available when it's on.

[Baz]

thats how i have it set up now, main machine with router etc. printer connected to it, other machines, sons upstairs and now the laptops can 'see' the printer on network but I presume will only be able to print when main machine is on, have never tried it.

[Rik]

If the printer is connected to the router, they will be able to see it and print at any time. If it's connected to your machine, however, and shared, then your machine has to be on.

[Baz]

yeah its connected to mine and shared.dont know if I can connect it to router

[Sebby]

If it doesn't have a network socket, you can connect it to a network via print server (wireless or wired).

[Steve]

If it doesn't have a network socket, you can connect it to a network via print server (wireless or wired).

Not tried this product but it is said to support multi function and is available on Amazon for £33.88,there is also a wireless version.

[Rik]

It will need either built-in wireless networking or an RJ45 ethernet connection.

[Glenn]

  My Canon MP610 arrived this morning, I've just unpacked it, I need to fit the printhead into the printer followed by the cartridges then its ready to print......... almost. Canon in their wisdom don't supply a usb printer cable Oh well it will have to wait for a test tomorrow evening once I have a cable.

[Lona]

I have an HP750 and the scanner has given problems from day one.  On HP forum everybody has the same problem with the scanner.

Also it doesn't have a driver that works with vista so I can't use printer sharing on my networked pcs.

I didn't know you could get printers that can connect directly to your router but I think that could be one of the pluses for me.

[Lance]

Its very rare for a printer to actually come with a cable, Glenn.

[Rik]

Which is an irritating example of penny-pinching by the manufacturers!

[Glenn]

I have 2 USB printer cables now, we throw them out at work 

[Rik]

I have a handful in the cupboard, Glenn, plus motley other stuff - probably including a few serial cables and SCSI leads.

[Sebby]

I miss SCSI.

[Rik]

SCSI was a great interface and I've never understood why it didn't get wider acceptance.

[Glenn]

Still the interface of choice for most high end servers

[Rik]

Though not the consumer market. I've always wondered why economies of scale didn't start to bring the costs down.

[Sebby]

I wonder if it's because the interface (physically) was a bit clunky.

[Glenn]

Setting up the MP610 takes about 30 minutes from sealed box to a print of your choice. 1st thing to so is install the software, which comes on 2 CD's. Once the printer is out of the box, the printhead needs to be fitted in to the heart of printer, then the 5 ink cartridges, all complete in in around 15 minutes. Aligning the printheads take a further 13 minutes but once complete the printer is ready to go.

I must say after a couple of full A4 borderless prints on Glossy paper I am more than impressed, the print completes in about 25 seconds and it is hard to find fault with it. On plain paper the same print is very good quality but not as vibrant as would be expected.

Would I recommend the printer? Yes, I think it is one of the best printers in it's price bracket, £90 - £150, mine came from Canon's ebay refurb shop at a discount on the new price but with a full test report and 12 months warranty.

[Sebby]

Great stuff, Glenn.

[Rik]

I wonder if it's because the interface (physically) was a bit clunky.

Certainly, externally, the cables were a bit of a pain. As an internal, HD, interface, though, it wiped the floor with everything.

[Rik]

Would I recommend the printer? Yes, I think it is one of the best printers in it's price bracket, £90 - £150, mine came from Canon's ebay refurb shop at a discount on the new price but with a full test report and 12 months warranty.

Good to know, Glenn. 

[john]

My Dell All-In-One 926 that I got 'free' with my laptop 2-3 years ago may have a fault as it won't align the cartridge even though it was new but purchased many months ago.

It could be a faulty cartridge but I'm reluctant to buy another at around £15 as it may really be the printer thats at fault. It needs a new black cartridge too, also around £15 so I thought it best to put the £30 cost of the cartridges to a new multifunction device instead.

I've looked at the Canon Pixma MP610, as bought by Glenn, and it has mainly very good reviews on Amazon (who are currently selling it for £85).

The only thing is that I rarely if ever need to use it for printing photo quality pictures, usually I just need to print text documents and web pages so it may be a bit over the top. However I suppose a more suitable all-in-one machine would not be a lot cheaper and may in fact work out more expensive in replacement catridges as the MP610 seems to have quite a reasonable yield of pages/cartridge.

If I need to prints of photographs I usually wait until I've got 20 or more and take them to a shop to print out as I think this is less expensive than using the cartridges in ones own printer.

[Rik]

I generally print my own photos, John, as it gives me more control. The Canons are first rate printers, and they know a fair bit about scanning too. I find the print heads don't dry out if not used and are always 'ready to go', unlike some Epsons I've owned.

[john]

I find the print heads don't dry out if not used and are always 'ready to go', unlike some Epsons I've owned.

After reading your reply Rik I decided to try and resurrect my old Canon i865 printer which has been in a box in the garage for well over two years.

I downloaded the software form the Canon website plugged it in and it said the cartridges needed aligning which I did. I then printed out a test page and the black printed perfectly although the colours are very muted. However the cartridges are not original Canon ones and it reports the yellow and magenta ones are running low. I've tried to do a deep clean of the print head but this didn't make any difference but I'm sure that with new cartridges it will print okay. Even if it doesn't most of the pages I print out are monochrome anyway.

I was really surprised the thing worked at all after so long though so thanks for prompting me to try it Rik 

A multifunction device would be more convenient though so I think I'll still look around for a suitable one. The Canon MP610 is favourite at the moment although I have read reports that the cartridges are chipped (apparently to prevent the use of compatible ones and refilling) and this may be troublesome as people say that they sometimes prevent you printing even when they're still half full. I think I'll see how Glenn gets on with his first.

[Rik]

HP would be the other brand I'd recommend, John, but I think they also chip cartridges.

[Glenn]

Today only

HP C7280 under £100 http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/316905/hp-c7280-all-in-one-printer-96-80-j/

[john]

Thanks for posting that Glenn, unfortunately the John Lewis website reports it's out of stock although they may have some in the stores.


Amazon are selling it for slightly more at £115.97 and it has fairly good reviews but many reviewers have expressed concern about the size and cost of the replacement cartridges.

[J!ll]

I have an HP 2575 all-in-one, blue tooth etc.