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Home office printer

BaghdadBob

BaghdadBob

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 13, 2003
810
0
Gorgeous, WA
OK, not that this hasn't been done a bazillion times, but I'm asking for advice on a printer here. I've been shopping around, and it's pretty indeterminate.

So here is the criteria in level of importance:

$100-$200 range (slightly flexible if something is really worth it)
PC & Mac compatible, networkable is good
Reliability
Good B&W printing
Prints labels well
Good ink usage
All-in-one is a plus, but not necessary
Color is nice, but not top concern.

Everything I read on printers in this range you'd think photos were all anyone bought printers for anymore. Some of us have other priorities, you know?

It's easy to feature shop, but I need personal recommendations because you never know how good a piece of hardware is until you get a first-hand account of it. Reliability and quality are real hard to judge, more than anything else.

If y'all have tips, I appreciate it.
 
i would recommend spending a few more bucks now and getting a laser printer. they run a lot less these days, and in the long run it may save you some money.

it will print b&w great, tons better than an inkjet.

quick price check (might fit below $200 easily)

it will be VERY ink-economical. up to 5,000 pages per cartridge. 10x better than most ink jets.

vary fast.

great, waterproof labels.

color will cost you.

better chance of being ethernet/wireless network-able

VERY reliable compared to an ink jet.
 
Re: Home office printer

Originally posted by BaghdadBob
OK, not that this hasn't been done a bazillion times, but I'm asking for advice on a printer here. I've been shopping around, and it's pretty indeterminate.

So here is the criteria in level of importance:

$100-$200 range (slightly flexible if something is really worth it)
PC & Mac compatible, networkable is good
Reliability
Good B&W printing
Prints labels well
Good ink usage
All-in-one is a plus, but not necessary
Color is nice, but not top concern.

Everything I read on printers in this range you'd think photos were all anyone bought printers for anymore. Some of us have other priorities, you know?

It's easy to feature shop, but I need personal recommendations because you never know how good a piece of hardware is until you get a first-hand account of it. Reliability and quality are real hard to judge, more than anything else.

If y'all have tips, I appreciate it.
Click to expand...

what is your mean purpose of the printer? labels? are you going to print alot, perhaps serveral times hourly or just once and awhile. does printing speed matter?
 
It's for heavy ebay/online store usage. Invoices and shipping labels, also product labels. That will be its primary use, and we're talking about hundreds of items of merchandise per month, so speed is not of utmost importance.
 
Apple LaserWriter 12/640.

Yeah, they're only available used, but they're solid machines.

LaserWriter 16/600's are even better in my opinion, as long as you don't have to do straight-through printing.
 
Originally posted by BaghdadBob
It's for heavy ebay/online store usage. Invoices and shipping labels, also product labels. That will be its primary use, and we're talking about hundreds of items of merchandise per month, so speed is not of utmost importance.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat. I have considered one of the Brother printers with networking support, can't remember which model I came close to getting.

Let us know what you decide on, I need to do the same kind of printing!
 
Originally posted by idkew
i would NOT recommend buying a 10 year old printer. just because it has an apple logo on it means little.
Click to expand...

A) Neither printer I mentioned is actually 10 years old.
B) Have you ever used one?

Apple's workgroup laser printers are as solid as it gets.

12/640's have a minimum life cycle of 300,000 pages.
16/600's are rated for 450,000+.

Both have the transfer mechanisms in the toner cartridges, which are far from spendy, and are TRUE PostScript printers, rather than emulated. Native lpr and ethernet, which that (refurbished) Lexmark you linked only has as an option. Not to mention supporting attached hard drives.

Just because something is nearly a decade old doesn't mean it's a piece of junk, sorry to say.
 
I'd note that you should try to look for LW 16/600's locally if you can. They're on eBay, but unless you're lucky you'll be paying $200+ on there for one.

And the resale value is NOT because of the six color Apple logo, I assure you.
 
Originally posted by iShater
I keep hearing of a laser printer's life cycle, what is that?
Click to expand...

Basically how long the mechanical parts are good for... rollers, motors, etc.

Basically all of the lasers Apple made, aside from the very first ones, use HP mechanisms, which are as good as it gets for lasers. They have the added bonus of Apple controllers, which means TRUE PostScript, AppleTalk (not really an issue anymore, but useful), and just generally looking nice.
 
Originally posted by tiktokfx
A) Neither printer I mentioned is actually 10 years old.
Click to expand...

LaserWriter 16/600 PS

Logic Board:
Processor: AMD 29030
Processor Speed: 25 MHz
ROM size: 4 MB

Memory:
RAM Type: 72-pin SIMM
Minimum RAM: 8 MB
Maximum RAM: 32 MB
RAM Sizes: 4, 8, 16 MB
RAM Slots: 2
Minimum RAM Speed: 80 ns

Ports:
Serial: 1
Parallel: 1 Centronics
SCSI: N/A
LocalTalk: 1
Ethernet: 1

Printing:
Type: Electrophotography
Colors: 1
PD Language: PostScript Level 2, PCL 5
Paper size: Single sheet (A4), envelopes
Print speed (max.): 17 pages per minute
Maximum DPI: 600

Physical:
Power (watts): 790
Weight (lbs): 40
Dimensions (in): 12.1 H x 16.7 W x 16.9 D

Codename: Cobra
Introduced: September 1st, 1994
Click to expand...

and

LaserWriter 12/640 PS

Logic Board:
Processor: AMD 29040
Processor Speed: 30 MHz
ROM size: 4 MB

Memory:
RAM Type: 72-pin SIMM
Minimum RAM: 4 MB
Maximum RAM: 64 MB
RAM Sizes: 4, 8, 16, 32 MB
RAM Slots: 2
Minimum RAM Speed: 70 ns

Ports:
Serial: N/A
Parallel: 1
SCSI: N/A
LocalTalk: 1
Ethernet: 1

Printing:
Type: Electrophotography
Colors: 1
PD Language: PostScript Level 2, PCL 5
Paper size: Single sheet (A4), envelopes
Print speed (max.): 12 pages per minute, 8 with duplex unit
Maximum DPI: 600
Duplex unit: optional

Physical:
Power (watts): 790
Weight (lbs): 26.5
Dimensions (in): 9.25 H x 15.94 W x 16.65 D

Codename: Mongoose
Introduced: June 15th, 1996
Click to expand...
 
Yes. What's your point.

If you want to argue semantics, make sure your facts are right first. You said 10 years old. The oldest 16/600 in existence would be... 9 years, 5 months old. The oldest 12/640 would be... 7 years, 8 months old.

That also doesn't answer anything else I said about either printer.
 
Originally posted by tiktokfx

B) Have you ever used one?

Apple's workgroup laser printers are as solid as it gets.

12/640's have a minimum life cycle of 300,000 pages.
16/600's are rated for 450,000+.

Both have the transfer mechanisms in the toner cartridges, which are far from spendy, and are TRUE PostScript printers, rather than emulated. Native lpr and ethernet, which that (refurbished) Lexmark you linked only has as an option. Not to mention supporting attached hard drives.

Just because something is nearly a decade old doesn't mean it's a piece of junk, sorry to say.
Click to expand...

Yes, i have used a laserwriter.

Humm... well, with an 8-10 year old printer, even with "minimum" life ratings, has no warranty. a new or refurbished printer will offer some protection.

also- this guy is not a print shop. he has no need for external print drives, and true postscript. he needs to print web pages and labels.
 
Yes, God forbid that anything used could possibly work.

I mentioned them because they're an alternative with some definite good points, and you made an idiotic comment about "Apple logos."

If someone doesn't feel comfortable buying used stuff, that's fine, but there's no reason to jump to conclusions.

I've owned more printers than I can count, and have absolutely no qualms about recommending the two models I mentioned as being top notch, even used.
 
Originally posted by tiktokfx
Yes, God forbid that anything used could possibly work.

I mentioned them because they're an alternative with some definite good points, and you made an idiotic comment about "Apple logos."

If someone doesn't feel comfortable buying used stuff, that's fine, but there's no reason to jump to conclusions.

I've owned more printers than I can count, and have absolutely no qualms about recommending the two models I mentioned as being top notch, even used.
Click to expand...

you are the one making idiotic comments. how am i to know you are not some apple zealot? you gave no reasons for their "supremacy" except for it being a "solid machine". therefore, your comment looked fishy. i can't believe you are attempting to make this a personal issue. this is about printers, not how much someone knows, or how far you can pee.

i also find it amazing you can back up the condition of all laserwriters out there. can you also offer a year warranty? continuing support?
 
I don't recall saying that every single used Apple LaserWriter is in perfect condition.

I said that, even used, they are excellent printers, and they are.

I fail to see where I ever said that everyone must buy used printers. I was implying that they are a great buy for some people.

For what it's worth, someone would have to pay me at least $300 or $400 to part with my 16/600.
 
OK guys, please don't argue. I appreciate the advice, and I'm sure I will take both of your POVs into consideration as I continue to shop.
 
I'd probably be buying two printers for those needs. I've seen so many printers repaired because they had labels stuck in them. I would really suggest a specialised label printer and an inexpensive laser printer, such as those from Samsung.

If you're doing artwork, PostScript is a big deal, but otherwise, it's just extra money.

I've got an Epson CX5200, which is a great all-in-one and it's already been replaced with the CX5400. The small ink droplet makes for good text and it has a capable scanner, but if you really just want great text, get a laser and add some RAM to it.
 
Originally posted by iShater
I'm in the same boat. I have considered one of the Brother printers with networking support, can't remember which model I came close to getting.
Click to expand...

This is the Brother laserprinter I was talking about:


Brother HL-5070N Network Laser Printer

Link
 
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