Best AIO Color Printer Under $500

[araknis]

I've been given an $500 allowance for a AIO printer to use in my home office. Any suggestions on how to effectively use this allowance? I was looking at the HP Officejet 7310 as this seems to be an overall good AIO. I would really like a color laser AIO, but these all seem to be greater than $500.

 

[spikespiegal]

Ton's of color lasers under $500. We have several Dell 3000's on staff, and love em'. Also look at Ricoh given they have the lowest cost per page.

Avoid multifunction gizmos at all cost. If you want a frikken fax machine, buy a fax machine. If you want a scanner, buy a scanner.

 

[Zepper]

If you can find a Canon MP-780, you will be ahead of the game. Very low TCO using 3rd party ink tanks. My nearest Staples still had one left last Friday - in the recent past they even had a $50. rebate available.
. The 780 is discontinued - but I don't recommend the new Canons as they use active tanks which haven't been cloned yet, so consumables cost will be a minimum of 3x higher than 780 until/if the ink tanks are cloned. Plus with the 780 you'll be the fair-haired boy that came in WAY under the $500 budget, and kept on saving over time. The MP-780 performs all of its functions well above average.

.bh.

 

[Doh!]

I have the best experience w/ Canon AIOs in terms of quality. I also have tried Samsung & HP but their quality is much lower than that of Canon (more expensive though).

 

[Lemon law]

In terms of an office printer, I would always say having a backup printer is imperative. An office should also have a means to also copy, fax, and scan. The main printer should probably be a monochrome laser.

It would depend on what type of color output the office requires as to making decisions in regards to a color Laser or a color inkjet. But the $100.00 or so for a MP780 at present makes that way up on a short list---invest another $200.00 in a decent monochrome Laser AIO---that still leaves $200.00 left over for mucho office supplies.--with an office open for business and able to endure the failure of one device.

 

[n7]

Yeah, Canon MP780 + good laser printer (or AIO) for teh black n white stuff.

 

[Zepper]

The B/W printing of the iP4k print engine (as used in the 780) up against any laser for day-in, day out printing (including cost-wise). Now if you're printing a lot of 6 pt. or smaller, then maybe a laser. Otherwise, if you do a tight manual alignment of the 760's print head, the text will be sharp enough for anyone that's not AR.

.bh.

 

[nealh]

I love my MP780..I have had for about 1 yr now....

 

[13Gigatons]

HP 7310 review: click me there

 

[pkme2]

I believe an AIO has its faults and here my reasons why.
If something goes out, you got nada.
No AIO can produce like a single dedicated component.
To get quality, you need a specific unit.
With all that said, the only advantage is that it saves space.
Better get a backup if you're in business.
If you're in business, lease your components so you can turn them over, every 4 years.