printers

Baz · Apr 09, 2009, 20:41:04

may have had this before but im in the market for a new printer. Looking at another all in one as have had one for a while now and it was ideal for our needs.Wireless so I dont need the main system on to print from the laptops,card facilities,one that gives good quality prints, needn't be top quality photo just good,maybe able to take compatibles.Have been offered one from my daughter but I cant see her getting it in her bag to bring it back from Manchester.

wimp..........

recommendations welcome.Thanks

Simon · Apr 09, 2009, 22:18:16

My personal recommendation would be for a Brother. I've had one for just over a year, and no problems at all, with only one set of cartridges needing to be replaced. Compats are available from places like http://www.choicestationery.co.uk/, as recommended in another thread, and are reasonably priced. Here's an example of one like mine. although not the exact same model:

http://www.ryman.co.uk/Brother-MFC235C-AllInOne-Printer-Scanner-Copier-Fax-1225022271.asp

Oh, and here's a wireless version:

http://www.ryman.co.uk/Brother-DCP585CW-AllInOne-Wireless-Printer-1225032276.asp

Lance · Apr 09, 2009, 23:16:18

I tend to recommend HPs as I always find them built solidly. I've got a Photosmart c5180 and it's bigger brother would fit your needs. Canons also get plenty of good reports and recommendations.

Rik · Apr 10, 2009, 10:12:32

I'd go with HP too. I've had an all-in-one, including the fax, for five years now and it's still going strong. Economical on ink too.

Sebby · Apr 10, 2009, 11:45:51

I think HP are the best for quality products and quality output. I've had 2 Brother machines as they're cheap to buy, cheap to run, and they last well. The output isn't fantastic, but for everyday use they're great.

Baz · Jun 21, 2009, 09:38:34

well finally got my hands on a new printer....well my daughter brought hers back , shes off travelling soon so I can 'borrow' the printer

she'll not see it again

any way its a HP Photosmart C8180. seems very good so far just a bit noisy in every thing it does, printing, copying, scanning even the maintenance or whatever it does itself is noisy. My wife has ust printed some documents from her laptop wireless so that works ok, did them on draft and its quick as anything and not bad quality on draft too, but still noisy

tried a couple of photos on photo paper printed from a memory card and these turned out very good well impressed with them, only took a short time to print too.

had to fit a new ink cart. for some reason one was empty while the other colours all showed the same level and she said it hasnt been used much too

so far.

Sebby · Jun 21, 2009, 12:14:23

Nice one, Baz.

Lance · Jun 21, 2009, 23:27:08

I've got the c5180 and that's a noisy printer too! But as you say the draft quality is absolutely fine for most uses and is very rapid. I'm going to guess it was the yellow cartridge you replaced? That certainly seems to be the most used in my printer!

Baz · Jun 22, 2009, 14:33:49

it was indeed Lance, does that seem strange to you or not

stevenrw · Jun 22, 2009, 15:05:44

I've got no axe to grind with HP but you may well find that the cartridge replacement is more costly since the cartridges come with a new head everytime.
Epson just has the ink.
Having said that none of the inkjet printers I've ever owned are exacly whisper quiet.
As Simon recommended, take a look at Choice Stationery supplies for replacements. They do even cheaper deals from time to time. I think they just finished 11 for £19.99

Baz · Jun 22, 2009, 15:17:40

yeah use Choice now Steven, have done for ages for my Epson printer carts. Do they do compatibles for HP do you know. Will have to take a look

Lance · Jun 22, 2009, 16:15:01

I'm guessing that the yellow is used more often in the formulation of other colours.

I think there are arguments for and against heads on cartridges and the fact that if the head is on the cartridge you shouldn't have any problems with quality swings it for me!

Sebby · Jun 22, 2009, 18:51:10

Given that my Brother's print heads, which are not built into the cartridge, are blocked, I'd say it being on the cartridge is better!

john · Jun 24, 2009, 00:35:48

Has anyone any experiences with a Canon Pixma mp620?

Seems to have good reviews at Amazon and Canon are also giving £30 cashback via a voucher scheme which brings the price down to £82.80 for a WiFi multifunction device.

Choice stationary have compatible cartridges from £4.75 but you have to swap the chip from the original ones.

I've had a Canon printer (i865) before and was very satisfied with the results but it is only a printer and doesn't have a scanner built in.

Simon · Jun 24, 2009, 00:48:32

Sorry, John, no personal experience, but generally, you can't go far wrong with a Canon.

Lance · Jun 24, 2009, 06:37:05

I've only seen good things about canons and rik seems pleased enough with his.

Sebby · Jun 24, 2009, 13:11:14

And he's not easily pleased.

D-Dan · Jun 24, 2009, 19:27:24

I've tried all the big names:

Lexmark (ughh)
HP (felt cheap)
Epson (expensive running costs)
Canon - can't fault.

To date, there is nothing that would tempt me away from Canon. Good quality, quick, and cheap running costs. Best of all, unlike HP and Epson, the inks don't seem to dry up after a period of inactivity. They get a

from me.

Steve

Ray · Jun 24, 2009, 19:35:39

Another vote for Canon here as well.

Glenn · Jun 24, 2009, 19:45:04

Another Canon vote here too, my MP610 is great

john · Jun 24, 2009, 20:24:02

Thanks for your replys guys, I've just ordered one.

Found it on Amazon a couple of quid cheaper than yesterday which brings it down to just over £80 and third party replacement cartridges from Inkredible for £20 for a set of 5 (or even less if you buy more than one set).

Sebby · Jun 24, 2009, 20:30:37

Nice, I may think about a Canon next in that case, if I can't sort my Brother out.

john · Jun 24, 2009, 20:33:00

Note that the £30 cashback offer is valid until the 13th July Sebby (although under their terms and conditions it can be withdrawn at any time).

Sebby · Jun 24, 2009, 20:33:56

Thanks, John.

john · Jun 24, 2009, 20:39:51

You're welcome Sebby but I'm not sure what you're brothers got to do with it, is he going to buy it for you ?

Sebby · Jun 24, 2009, 23:32:42

Baz · Jun 27, 2009, 17:22:02

does anyone who has an HP printer use compatible carts. if so what are they like.have you done much photo or top quality prints with compatible carts.

I have been trying some photo printer with my new printer and I have to say they are superb

even at normal setting. I have tried some at normal setting and some at 'best' setting and couldnt really see the difference, that could be me though

well impressed so far.

Baz · Jul 17, 2009, 17:49:14

first problem ive come across with this printer or it may be the laptops i use is, I leave the printer on all the time so others in the house can printer to it via wireless and I dont need the main computer on.very now and then when wanting to print to it from one of our laptops wirelessly it just wont print sometimes on the laptop it will say that not able to connect even though it is connected and actually surfing at the time. the only way I can solve it is to go to printers in control panel,delete it then add printer again and it works straight away.

the printer does go into stand by or power save, whatever HP call it, after about 30 mins I think but the fault has happened when it has been in normal mode too soo I dont know

Rik · Jul 17, 2009, 17:50:55

Are you using a fixed IP address for the printer, Baz?

Baz · Jul 17, 2009, 17:54:04

hmmm i think so Rik how do I tell

Rik · Jul 17, 2009, 18:01:25

Have a look at the Properties > Ports > Configure ports setting from Printers and Faxes, but also check the setting on the printer itself, usually by browsing to that fixed IP address.

Baz · Jul 17, 2009, 18:07:07

yeah I think its fixed Rik. Looked at the IP setting in router attached devices page put it in browser and it brought up some HP page with loads of info on

Rik · Jul 17, 2009, 18:08:06

It sounds like the printer may not be using a fixed address, Baz, which Windows doesn't like.

Baz · Jul 17, 2009, 18:18:21

ok Rik I've added the printer to the routers Address Reservation list so it gets the same IP every time. will that work

Rik · Jul 17, 2009, 18:20:17

It should, but the printer also needs to be set to use a fixed IP, Baz.

Baz · Jul 17, 2009, 18:24:45

will it not just pick it up auto as the router is saying 'this address is for the printer' there is a setting in the printer set up that says its already set to look for the address automatically

Rik · Jul 17, 2009, 18:26:59

When it looks for it automatically, Baz, it uses DHCP, so the reserved address won't be offered to it.

Baz · Jul 17, 2009, 18:31:13

doh!!! getting a headache now

got this in the router help about DHCP

Unless told to change these settings by your ISP, leave the Use Router As DHCP Server check box checked.

If your ISP has you clear this check box, you must have another DHCP server within your network or else you must manually configure the computer.

its already set to be used as such.when I had a reserved address for the sons PS3 it did always give it that one.Sorry Rik I'm getting confused now......I hate network stuff

Rik · Jul 17, 2009, 18:35:28

Check the printer manual or online help, Baz, see what that says. The symptoms you suggest suggest to me that the printer is obtaining an IP address automatically, and not always the same one.

Baz · Jul 17, 2009, 18:38:03

ok will do Rik.Thanks.have just turned the printer off then on and it did get the same address but will keep an eye on it and see if the problem happens again

Steve · Jul 17, 2009, 18:54:35

If your using netgear Baz you can ask the router to reserve the same IP address for the printer under lan ip setup (it still uses DHCP but always gets given the same address)

Baz · Jul 17, 2009, 20:38:14

thanks Steve i eventually got there after looking through the settings and seeing that I had already tried it for my sons PS3, yes on the netgear

Baz · Jul 27, 2009, 20:37:59

still getting a problem with this when trying to print wireless from laptop. have reserved IP address in router for the printer and checked in the printer settings and both are the same. My wife tried today and it would not print as soon as I got in and turned on the main computer it printed what was in the queue

Simon · Jul 27, 2009, 21:17:21

Sorry to have to ask, Baz, but is this a wireless printer? If not, and you've just added it to a wireless network, with it connected to the PC by USB, it won't work unless the PC is switched on. I think.

Baz · Jul 27, 2009, 21:30:00

its a HP photosmart C8180 Simon.thats the problem I had before with my old epson all in one, I could only print when main PC was on, this one can do both and im positive I have had it working at any time wireless with PC off and from the main PC. Do you think it will not work then.

I hate network stuff too

Simon · Jul 27, 2009, 21:58:44

Just looked at a few sites, and it does appear to have wi-fi, so it should work, Baz, but I'm no expert on these things, so can't advise - sorry.

Only thing I can think of to suggest, is to set it up again wirelessly, in case it's lost some settings somehow, but I expect someone else will be along with a better idea.

Lance · Jul 28, 2009, 08:37:49

If it printed wht was in the queue when the main pc was switched on, it suggests to me that the printer iis shared on the main pc and the laptop has that shared printer set up rather than going direct.

Try this:

Go to printers and faxes
Click add new printer
Select "Local printer connected to this computer" and untick the box
Next screen, select create a new port and in the drop down select tcp/ip port
in the new wizard, enter the ip adress and click next, leaving the port box empty.

It should then find the printer, install the driver and you'll live happily ever after!

Baz · Jul 28, 2009, 13:39:37

sorry to sound daft here Lance but with the suggestion do you mean try it from the main PC or on the laptops

Lance · Jul 28, 2009, 13:50:13

The laptops, Baz

Baz · Jul 28, 2009, 13:56:17

right will try that thanks......another question though

you said enter the IP address, of what? the printer is set up in router to get the same address all the time, is it that one

Rik · Jul 28, 2009, 15:28:04

It is, Baz. Windows needs to know where the printer is.

Baz · Jul 28, 2009, 15:38:22

right ive tried the ideas and it has worked......so far. will keep an eye on it. one laptop has Vista so wasnt the same procedure as Lance said but I think it picked up the address itself

thanks for the help

Rik · Jul 28, 2009, 15:41:35

Lance · Jul 28, 2009, 16:26:58

Glad it worked!

Baz · Jul 28, 2009, 16:39:34

Quote from: Lance on Jul 28, 2009, 16:26:58
Glad it worked!

so far Lance, so far..........

Lance · Jul 28, 2009, 23:00:11

Have confidence!!

Rik · Jul 29, 2009, 11:16:29

... will travel.

Baz · Sep 06, 2009, 18:14:25

update to this the new printer I 'borrowed' :whistle:from my daughter is great so far but I have noticed that sometimes in between printing jobs it does a lot of 'printing preparation' or something similar it calls it, maybe cleaning the heads or something i dont know, but it goes on for a while and surely this uses ink up.can you stop this or not

HP Photosmart C8180

Rik · Sep 06, 2009, 18:15:56

What's the manual say, Baz. Normally, this is an inherent part of printer operation, but HPs generally aren't bad at wasting ink.

Baz · Sep 06, 2009, 18:16:52

doesnt say much in there will look again. think most may be on the CD cant remember now.will get back to you Rik

Baz · Sep 06, 2009, 18:18:30

its described as

Self Maintenance Sounds

The HP All-in-One will make mechanical noises at various times to perform periodic maintenance functions, such as replenishing the ink levels in the print head assembly or cleaning the print head. This is normal operation and is necessary to ensure the HP All-in-One produces the best quality printouts.

Caution A message on the display will notify you when the HP All-in-One is performing maintenance functions. Do not remove power from the device during this time.

Rik · Sep 06, 2009, 18:20:28

QuoteCaution A message on the display will notify you when the HP All-in-One is performing maintenance functions. Do not remove power from the device during this time.

Tells you everything, Baz.

Baz · Sep 06, 2009, 18:21:47

its a bit of a nuisance sometimes and the only thing ive found a fault so far $:-\$

Rik · Sep 06, 2009, 18:23:53

It would be more of a nuisance and it didn't print - Epsons were good at that.