Best all-in-one printer/scanner/copier?

[Voltron]

I have to get one of these to replace the latest one to die on me. I want something good that will last a couple years at least. For home use, kids and all, and color is a must. Any laser options for all in one? Please give me some ideas. Thank you.

[Pars]

I bought a Canon MP970 a few months ago (with a rebate, but can't recall how much it was, probably ~$150) that I have been very pleased with. Had a couple or three Epsons before this that just sucked.

[Voltron]

Thanks guys. That laser one is especially interesting because I am tired of ink cartridges and would like to get sick of toner cartridges.

[MrSlacker]

Anything by Canon will last for years

[Voltron]

Well, I went with the Reksomendation. I got the same type of Brother laser all-in-one but without fax capability for $300 cheaper. The somewhat simpler model I bought is normally $500 but was $309 at Office Depot. Paid $50 for the extra 2 years of free replacement given that I saved $200 off normal price and $300 off what I went there to spend. Anyway, it works like a charm and we have a document feeder for copies for the first time at home. High volume toner cartridges mean replacing them seldom, so I am pretty psyched. Thanks for the input Reks, Pars and Slacker. Oh, and the Canon models within reason were all monochrome so I went with the Brother for Color.

[Pars]

It's pretty hard to go wrong with a laser if you can find one that fits your budget. Glad you found something you like! When I bought the Canon, I couldn't find a laser cheap enough, since like you, we needed color for the kids particularly. Still on my first set of cartridges also.

[JBLoudG20]

It's pretty hard to go wrong with a laser if you can find one that fits your budget. Glad you found something you like! When I bought the Canon, I couldn't find a laser cheap enough, since like you, we needed color for the kids particularly. Still on my first set of cartridges also.

I bought my Brother Laser printer 5 years ago. I have spent exactly $45 including shipping to replace the toner once. It is still going strong. It was easily one of the best computer related purchases I have ever made.

[grawk]

I will recommend for your all in one you get one with wireless connectivity if you can. It makes life so much easier.

[Voltron]

Good to hear the Brother can last.

We have our printer on an Airport Express so I skipped the wireless models. It works really well from desktop and laptops all over the house. Excellent solution. If my wife wanted a music setup down there, I do that as well, but she just uses those little round Apple speakers that came with an older iMac (with an adapter (iFire?) I bought years ago).

One question for those in the know, is it possible to connect the AE to a printer with an ethernet input? The setup refers to USB printers and that is how I have always hooked them up, including this one. I was wondering if the ethernet would be faster or something.

[grawk]

what you get from the wireless ones that you don't get from the airport express is the scanner functions wirelessly

[Voltron]

dammit! The printer has an ethernet connection so further to the question above can I use that for wireless scanning?

[Pars]

I have our Canon plugged into the Linksys router via Ethernet. I can scan, print etc. all over the house wirelessly. So, yes, you should be able to use the Ethernet connection if it can plug into a router.

[grawk]

yes, if it's got network,t hat's good enough

[naamanf]

One think to also look at is if it can scan over the network.

[guzziguy]

I will recommend for your all in one you get one with wireless connectivity if you can. It makes life so much easier.

If anybody has a non-networking or non-wireless printer and no easy network connection, I have a Linksys wireless print server that I'm willing to part with for a song.

[Jeepster]

Wireless is slow as hell, best bet is something with a NIC. Plug it into your router and your good to go. We have a Brother MFC has been great, it about 5 years old and never a problem. Definitely go for the Laser if you can. My only gripe is I have B/W set as default and you would think I could replace a B/W cartridge once and awhile, but, noooooooooooooo, the fucking color tanks get used for the ocassional cleaning process even though I dont use them in the first place. Its in the firmware and cant be changed. They will get you one way or the other. I had limited space and this model worked size wize so I opted for the inkjet, big mistake, get a Laser with a NIC.

[Dusty Chalk]

Well, you ought to use your color tanks once in a while anyway, so the nozzles don't dry out.

[Jeepster]

Well, you ought to use your color tanks once in a while anyway, so the nozzles don't dry out.

I see what you mean but Brother has taken care of that. Every third Black tank and I need to replace the color tanks. Oh, forgot, it will not print at all unless all the tanks have adequate ink levels.

[Dusty Chalk]

Yeah, I agree -- it's still a rip-off.

[fordgtlover]

Printers are just ink delivery mechanisms. Soon they'll be giving you the printer so you feel better about how much the ink cartridges costs.