I like your suggestion David. Sounds sensible to me ... my understanding is that the manufacturers often lose, maybe break even, on the printer itself in cunning anticipation of making fat margins on consumables thereafter. Your move puts a bullet in that plan! :-)
Daniel, after your Epson recommendation I'd probably take a closer look at Epson, but I'm all out of steam looking at printers - head is spinning. Too much choice. Marlene, I've had a mind change after taking a look at printers in a couple of stores today. I've moved from Canon to HP. I came across an HP Officejet Pro 8500, and when lifting the lid noticed that the flatbed looked larger than the others. It is. The 8500 has a flatbed scanning size which accommodates foolscap (legal) size paper. For me, that can be pretty handy at times. I couldn't find any Canon's on display which went beyond the usual A4 size flatbed. Bear in mind though that even if the flatbed takes only up to A4, I think scanning via the document feeder allows you to scan longer documents. My fear with scanning via the document feeder is that if it's an important or flimsy document, document feeders tear your original to shreds. The I spotted the newer 8500A. I assumed that must have a few extra features than the 8500, however the 8500A on display had only an A4 size flatbed. The Officeworks salesman claimed that that was a difference, and that if I wanted the bigger flatbed, I had to run with the older 8500. Coming home I've checked the HP web site, and not surprisingly the Officeworks salesman had it wrong. The 8500A comes in four different models ... the A910a, A910g & A910k (8500A Plus), and A910n (8500A Premium). Seems what I was looking at was the A910a because the A910g & A910n has the bigger flatbed. (Click here for other differences between 8500A models). I came across the Officejet 7500A wide format model as well. Ability to print to A3 is nice, but it doesn't provide a duplexing function (ie. double sided printing & scanning), so that takes eliminates the 7500A for me. So, I'm about to go online and order the 8500A A910g from somewhere. Cheers, Steven On 21/10/2010, at 3:47 PM, David Noel wrote: > Hi, I'm not an expert here, but the last time my (inkjet) printer started > playing up, I got a Canon MP140 Pixma from Officeworks for about $50. It was > one of their cheapest, and may have been a promotion. It's behaved very well > really, the scanning software is pretty intuitive and flexible, there is an > Omnipage facility for character recognition. > > I do remember a WAMUG member who said when his inkjet printer run out of ink, > he just went and bought another machine, at $50 a pop you can do this! Every > time I have got a new printer, the accompanying software has been a step up. > So that is a possible strategy for you, go and get the cheapest Canon which > does what you want, and if it plays up, get a new one! > > Cheers -- > > David Noel > 2010 Oct 21 > > ===== > > On 21 October 2010 12:44, Steven Knowles <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Marlene > > I've had a couple of recommendations. Apparently Choice ranked most highly > the Dell V715w, followed by the Lexmark IntuitionS505. I hadn't even thought > about those brands. I've looked at other reviews of the V715w - seems that > it's ink-hungry, and there was some mention that Dells aren't Mac compatible > or Mac friendly. Plus I read Dell-branded printers are made by Lexmark. Who > knows, but too many negative review for me to get comfortable. > > What I've decided to do is run with Canon. Big name, big range, Mac-friendly > I'm told, and generally positive reviews on most models. I don't know what > model yet, Canon told me Harvey Norman have the largest range on show, so > I'll drop into Harvey Norman today perhaps to see if I can find something > which does what I need, including double-sided printing and scanning, > wireless. Then I'l ring around for the best deal. Harris Technologies has > always been very competitive. Don't know what it's like these days. > > From what I've read in reviews, the Canon Pixma range ranks highly, so I > think you're on the right track. > > Cheers, Steven > > > On 21/10/2010, at 12:08 PM, Marlene Oostryck wrote: > >> Hi Steven >> >> I'm glad you asked your "dumb" question as I too have been looking at the >> shops recently with a view to purchasing a Multi-function printer - so I am >> looking at the responses you get. >> >> There is just such a huge range out there and it is so hard to decide what >> is right. All the retail "experts" have a different view! - and not many >> know what works well with Macs. >> I want my printer mainly for black and white text printing for home use - >> (photo prints I do at Harvey Norman). I also want to scan and copy. Don't >> need the fax. I will use usb connection. >> The main concern is best value for ink useage and the recommendations seem >> to be - go for a middle range (better value ink cartridges). >> I know laser printers are better value re ink - but the footprint is too >> large for my desk - so inkjet is the way I will go. >> I'm considering a Canon Pixma MP560 - but would love some personal >> recommendations from WAMUG users. >> >> Office Works have some good deals now, and JB Hi-Fi are offering 50% off ink >> (limit of 3) with a printer purchase. >> >> Good hunting, Steven! >> >> Regards >> >> Marlene >> >> On 20/10/2010, at 10:32 AM, Steven Knowles wrote: >> >>> At risk of asking a dumb question due to the multitude of options, I need >>> to grab a (preferably wireless but can hook into TC if not) multifunction >>> office printer / scanner. Not so bothered about a fax function - who uses >>> fax these days - but it'll probably have that anyway. >>> >>> Printing volume will be minimal, so will scanning for that matter, but just >>> need one around since my HP Officejet 7210 died. >>> >>> Interested in views on the best Mac-friendly brand available at the moment. >>> Anyone know what Choice recommended in their Multifunction printer report? >>> I'll buy it if not. >>> >>> Cheers, Steven -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[email protected]>
