Small office fax printer copier LASER recommendations?
Discussion
Chaps
Would really appreciate a quick recommendation for a LASER printer / fax / copier (in that order of requirement). I need to buy one today and will probably have to drive to a PC World or something.
I didn't add to the other thread as that was suggesting inkjet printers and I refuse to even consider inkjet scams - even if there's a pikey scheme to buy a new printer every time the 'sample' ink runs out - I won't be responsible for such wanton waste.
It's a small office, primary duty is monochrome laser printing from a network of Mac boxen (primarily Intel but two G4s that will never die and I won't let them die either!). I have a network printer box so doesn't need Ethernet (nice to have) and definitely NOT wifi (won't be using it - wired only for core network devices). The important thing is quality of Mac drivers, and ideally NO Mac drivers at all - if it prompts me to install 200 MB of bloatware with admin rights then it will go in the bin.
Secondly is sending faxes. This is a very basic straightforward requirement. I also use Demon's fax to email so it's more the outbound requirement.
Copying isn't such a big deal - I want it, but don't need flat bed.
I've currently got a Brother MPC 9070 and it's been great. Just using the CUPS driver rather than the Brother bloatware, printing is fine. Don't need the scanner functionality and when I first bought the printer, Brother didn't have a Mac driver anyway so had to use the CUPS stuff.
OK then - is colour laser worth considering or is it as expensive as inkjet?
It is for an office, so photo printing etc. is not a requirement - just crisp, clear laser documents (my company correspondence, invoices, etc.) and must be able to fax out on a normal phone line. Parallel input not a problem but would prefer Ethernet. Do NOT want USB (and need it connected to a 'master' Mac at all times) and won't use wifi so not a feature I'm happy paying for.
Availability is a big issue - I need it today whilst I have a 'day off' ie not working for a client but have all my own company stuff to sort out. PC World etc is fine. I've tried John Lewis and the Apple Store but they only sell inkjets which I have zero interest in.
Perfectly happy spending proper money (a few hundred quid) for a high quality unit that will work flawlessly with OS X and will accept affordable toner refills infrequently. The Brother MPC 9070 has lasted more than 6 years but is now chewing stuff up and the drum is shot.
Just want a quality laser all-in-one really with network support, ideally with native (ie supplied by Apple) drivers or CUPS support. I don't want 'home use' bells and whistles and no teaser price bulls
t where the printer lasts two pages and then it's £50 for ink. This particular scam makes me ANGRY and I will not pay to perpetuate such dishonesty. Happy to pay for good quality kit though.
Please recommend me something decent I can buy from a reasonably nearby bricks and mortar shop - can't wait for internet delivery unfortunately.
TIA cyberface
Would really appreciate a quick recommendation for a LASER printer / fax / copier (in that order of requirement). I need to buy one today and will probably have to drive to a PC World or something.
I didn't add to the other thread as that was suggesting inkjet printers and I refuse to even consider inkjet scams - even if there's a pikey scheme to buy a new printer every time the 'sample' ink runs out - I won't be responsible for such wanton waste.
It's a small office, primary duty is monochrome laser printing from a network of Mac boxen (primarily Intel but two G4s that will never die and I won't let them die either!). I have a network printer box so doesn't need Ethernet (nice to have) and definitely NOT wifi (won't be using it - wired only for core network devices). The important thing is quality of Mac drivers, and ideally NO Mac drivers at all - if it prompts me to install 200 MB of bloatware with admin rights then it will go in the bin.
Secondly is sending faxes. This is a very basic straightforward requirement. I also use Demon's fax to email so it's more the outbound requirement.
Copying isn't such a big deal - I want it, but don't need flat bed.
I've currently got a Brother MPC 9070 and it's been great. Just using the CUPS driver rather than the Brother bloatware, printing is fine. Don't need the scanner functionality and when I first bought the printer, Brother didn't have a Mac driver anyway so had to use the CUPS stuff.
OK then - is colour laser worth considering or is it as expensive as inkjet?
It is for an office, so photo printing etc. is not a requirement - just crisp, clear laser documents (my company correspondence, invoices, etc.) and must be able to fax out on a normal phone line. Parallel input not a problem but would prefer Ethernet. Do NOT want USB (and need it connected to a 'master' Mac at all times) and won't use wifi so not a feature I'm happy paying for.
Availability is a big issue - I need it today whilst I have a 'day off' ie not working for a client but have all my own company stuff to sort out. PC World etc is fine. I've tried John Lewis and the Apple Store but they only sell inkjets which I have zero interest in.
Perfectly happy spending proper money (a few hundred quid) for a high quality unit that will work flawlessly with OS X and will accept affordable toner refills infrequently. The Brother MPC 9070 has lasted more than 6 years but is now chewing stuff up and the drum is shot.
Just want a quality laser all-in-one really with network support, ideally with native (ie supplied by Apple) drivers or CUPS support. I don't want 'home use' bells and whistles and no teaser price bulls
t where the printer lasts two pages and then it's £50 for ink. This particular scam makes me ANGRY and I will not pay to perpetuate such dishonesty. Happy to pay for good quality kit though.Please recommend me something decent I can buy from a reasonably nearby bricks and mortar shop - can't wait for internet delivery unfortunately.
TIA cyberface
Nope? Nothing at all?
I can't believe that there aren't any small business owners on here who need an all-in-one, but don't want their corporate correspondence to look like cheap rubbish with ink-jet bleed...
Oh well so much for the PH hive-mind today! Off to PC World and I'll see what they've got...
I can't believe that there aren't any small business owners on here who need an all-in-one, but don't want their corporate correspondence to look like cheap rubbish with ink-jet bleed...
Oh well so much for the PH hive-mind today! Off to PC World and I'll see what they've got...
Deva Link said:
There's more than 3 lines in your post, which is the maximum attention span of a PHer so no-one will read it.
Try again with a more focussed request.
fTry again with a more focussed request.
k it - people are quite fking happy to read when I'm helping *them* out with a problem.Screw that attitude, and I'm f
ked if I'm going to bother contributing anything other than smart-arse one liner putdowns in the future.cyberface said:
Deva Link said:
There's more than 3 lines in your post, which is the maximum attention span of a PHer so no-one will read it.
Try again with a more focussed request.
fTry again with a more focussed request.
k it - people are quite fking happy to read when I'm helping *them* out with a problem.Screw that attitude, and I'm f
ked if I'm going to bother contributing anything other than smart-arse one liner putdowns in the future.k smart arse.... Its all sex sex sex with you isnt it?????Pervert!
Now on a serious note mr grumpy What did you decide to do since I took the time to read and respond only saw it way too late?
Only just seen, apologies.
Whilst I'd normally advise quite strongly against multifunction, on the grounds of more moving parts equals more to go wrong, it's you, so if it does break, you'll just reflash the damned thing to create a small matter transporter.
Personally, I have nothing against HP, so the 1140 seems to do the job. Bloatware if you like it, boggo PS drivers if you don't.
Hope you sorted it, anyway.
Whilst I'd normally advise quite strongly against multifunction, on the grounds of more moving parts equals more to go wrong, it's you, so if it does break, you'll just reflash the damned thing to create a small matter transporter.
Personally, I have nothing against HP, so the 1140 seems to do the job. Bloatware if you like it, boggo PS drivers if you don't.
Hope you sorted it, anyway.
We've got an Epson CX11NF, which has been absolutely faultless. It appears to have been superceded by the CX21NF. I'm not usually keen on all-in-ones, as they tend to be jack of all trades and master of none. However, this one seems to do everything very well and the networking functionality is top notch. It also survived being dropped two feet directly onto a tiled floor with no ill effects. Ebuyer can get you one for Friday if that's still quick enough? I think you'll have trouble finding this sort of thing in bricks and mortar shops.
Edited by wiffmaster on Wednesday 7th April 23:21
If you've been that happy with it then why not another Brother MFC? I've had an MFC-8860DN for the last three years and its only just started complaining about low toner, I reckon I've done 2500-3000 pages (if it were switched on I'd tell you precisely but its on the other side of the house and I can't be arsed). £70 for a full unit this time which is claimed to last 7000 pages. I think I paid about £350 and that was including the duplex option. I don't use it to receive faxes much (don't want the junk) but sending, scanning and copying is a piece of cake. Overall I've been really impressed with it, I'd definitely have another if it dies in a few years time. It has a document feeder as well which has been useful for faxing long documents, contracts, etc.
Edited by theboss on Wednesday 7th April 23:30
theboss said:
If you've been that happy with it then why not another Brother MFC?
Brother are good stuffwe have 3x HL2150N in our factory for 'quick and easy' printing, and never had a problem with them
but for serious work we have a Ricoh 1022 & Ricoh 2550 both MFP's
but price is probably a little Over The Top
I have a Samsung CLX 2160N which is a couple of years old now. Not used for "business" although I do a fair amount of voluntary work which made me decide to go for a laserjet rather than inkjet. Not sure if it can fax or not, but might be worth looking at this printer family if you haven't bought already!
Chrisgr31 said:
I have a Samsung CLX 2160N which is a couple of years old now. Not used for "business" although I do a fair amount of voluntary work which made me decide to go for a laserjet rather than inkjet. Not sure if it can fax or not, but might be worth looking at this printer family if you haven't bought already!
You need one of it's bigger brothers to get fax functionality but I've got a 2160N and it's been superb for what it costs.Sorry, only just spotted this thread.
I have a Lexmark all-in-one inkjet that I use just for scanning since the cartridges dried up through a lack of use (due to poor quality) and have a cheap Samsung laser printer from Argos for output that does the job pretty well. It's not as convenient, mind.
I have a Lexmark all-in-one inkjet that I use just for scanning since the cartridges dried up through a lack of use (due to poor quality) and have a cheap Samsung laser printer from Argos for output that does the job pretty well. It's not as convenient, mind.
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