Best wi-fi printer ... color and easy to setup

[IHateMyJob2004]

I've tried this in the past. My last printer was a wi-fi printer. It was a pain to set up. It worked sporadically. I'd imagine things have improved.

I want a printer that will work easily on wifi with a multitude of operating systems. My wife has an Apple laptop from work. I have a windows 8 that is the main computer.

I want a wifi color printer that is easy to configure on both Apple and Windows PCs. I don't care about speed much. But I do want it to be economical in terms of ink replacement.

Budget? $100-$250. I'd really say that $150 is the target though and anything over $200 would require a hell of an argument.

EDIT:
I want to be able to grab this at Staples or Best Buy today.
I would consider an all-in one but it is not a need or want.
I'd be happy if someone could tell me what brand to go with. Or what brands to avoid.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Have you considered a simple wifi print server? Like this one:

http://www.tp-link.com/lk/products/details/?model=TL-WPS510U

It has the advantage of being totally printer agnostic, so you're free to use whichever type of printer you prefer.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Economical in terms of ink? Brother.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Have you considered a simple wifi print server? Like this one:

http://www.tp-link.com/lk/products/details/?model=TL-WPS510U

It has the advantage of being totally printer agnostic, so you're free to use whichever type of printer you prefer.

Not a bad idea.

 

[WackyWRZ]

Economical on ink replacement - best option would be laser. I bought my first laser years ago and never looked back. I don't have to worry about the printer sitting for a few weeks and having to use half the ink tank to clean nozzles.

I 2nd what VirtualLarry said - Brother FTW!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I should add that I would not be shocked to have this printer sit up to a month between uses. Are you saying that laser requires that it clean itself after long periods of inactivity?

 

[corkyg]

I should add that I would not be shocked to have this printer sit up to a month between uses. Are you saying that laser requires that it clean itself after long periods of inactivity?

Just the opposite. That is an ink spitter event. Lasers don't have to do anything.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Just the opposite. That is an ink spitter event. Lasers don't have to do anything.

Interesting.

Are good laser printers generally more expensive for color models?

I went to a brick and mortar. Andy advice for or against getting an all in one? I think we might actually get use out of the copier functionality.

 

[corkyg]

Generally, color lasers are more expensive.

Personally, I too will not go the AIO route - they are functionally complex and tend to be compromises of functions. I prefer a separate copier so my wife can use it and not mess with my PC. 🙂

 

[shortylickens]

Purchasing a color laser is more expensive than purchasing a black laser.
It is MUCH more expensive than purchasing a color inkjet.


Over the long run, using a color laser is cheaper than using a color inkjet.
But thats only for charts and graphs and clipart. If you want to print photos you'll still need an inkjet.

Oh, if you leave an ink cartridge sit for months you may as well toss it.
If you leave a laser cartridge sit for months all you gotta do is smack it once.

 

[Rottie]

Have you considered a simple wifi print server? Like this one:

http://www.tp-link.com/lk/products/details/?model=TL-WPS510U

It has the advantage of being totally printer agnostic, so you're free to use whichever type of printer you prefer.

It looks very interesting...I wish it would work with AirPrint. I will google check for like "AirPrint" server.

thanks

 

[Insert_Nickname]

It looks very interesting...I wish it would work with AirPrint. I will google check for like "AirPrint" server.

Some routers feature simple print servers too. You can properly find what you need with a little google-fu... :sneaky:

 

[RampantAndroid]

Purchasing a color laser is more expensive than purchasing a black laser.
It is MUCH more expensive than purchasing a color inkjet.


Over the long run, using a color laser is cheaper than using a color inkjet.
But thats only for charts and graphs and clipart. If you want to print photos you'll still need an inkjet.

Oh, if you leave an ink cartridge sit for months you may as well toss it.
If you leave a laser cartridge sit for months all you gotta do is smack it once.

This. We got a black laser printer. Only thing I hate? The lights flicker when it runs...if that's my worst complaint I can find the printer is great. We got a Brother from Staples on sale. My fiance uses it for her masters work and we're maybe at 9/10 full on the cartridge with a few hundred pages run off (and wedding stuff too, I guess.) Laser is really worth it.

 

[Rottie]

Some routers feature simple print servers too. You can properly find what you need with a little google-fu... :sneaky:

Yes I did and found one what I am looking for but it costs 100 buck. I will think about it. thank you very much