I need help picking out a printer fast....

[w00t]

My mom has this project for school and we have an old printer but it won't work with my computer since I don't have the parallel printer port. The printer is old anyways and we need one that can print photos. I really don't know anything about printers I did a quick search alot of mixed things I need to find one fast by today she wants to pick it up on the way home.

I need one that prints photos, can be hooked up to my wireless router and can be printed wirelessly, it needs to be able to print regular documents text photos and such. hmm we don't need a faxer a scanner would be okay.

after looking at some reviews how is the Canon Pixma MP500?

i'll be refreshing the thread every couple min as my mom is going to want me to call back with an answer ASAP.

edit: I forgot to mentioned it needs to be mac compatible too
edit: I keep forgeting stuff we have a Canon PowerShot S60 and a Lexar Professional 512MB CF

 

[bruceb]

It is not too bad a unit ... see review here:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1887779,00.asp

As to printing over your wireless network ... that is not
a function of the printer, but in the way you set up the
printer software on it's host computer to allow the printer
to be shared.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: bruceb
It is not too bad a unit ... see review here:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1887779,00.asp

As to printing over your wireless network ... that is not
a function of the printer, but in the way you set up the
printer software on it's host computer to allow the printer
to be shared.

so the other computers have to go thru my computer to print correct? does that mean my computer has to be on? will that give me any slowdown?

btw: no one answered really in time so my mom is going to kinkos in the morning o well I couldn't even fine the Canon MP500 really hard to find I think it's being discontinued.

 

[Zepper]

Yup, the MP500 has been superseded by the MP530. If you don't need the scan/copy features, I recommend the iP4300. A separate scanner would do you just as well and the combo would cost less. If space is a problem, just create or buy a stacking rack for them. Any Canon printer with separate ink tanks for each color would be just fine. Hard to find a better combination of output quality and long-term cost than Canon.

Luckily you can now get replacement ink for the MP530 or iP4300 at swiftink.com (the Official Ink Supplier to the AT Forums) - see their sale notice at the top of the Hot Deals section.

.bh.

 

[Doh!]

Originally posted by: w00t
so the other computers have to go thru my computer to print correct? does that mean my computer has to be on? will that give me any slowdown?

btw: no one answered really in time so my mom is going to kinkos in the morning o well I couldn't even fine the Canon MP500 really hard to find I think it's being discontinued.

You can use a wireless router w/ a printer port or a seperate print server. Not too costly.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Doh!

Originally posted by: w00t
so the other computers have to go thru my computer to print correct? does that mean my computer has to be on? will that give me any slowdown?

btw: no one answered really in time so my mom is going to kinkos in the morning o well I couldn't even fine the Canon MP500 really hard to find I think it's being discontinued.

You can use a wireless router w/ a printer port or a seperate print server. Not too costly.

I already have a wireless router and I don't have a spare computer. atm

I think maybe i should look for one i can just plug in thru my current router thru an RJ-45 cable they do make those right?

could I do this my parents are getting my comp and they will be using wireless and plug the printer into there pc than print from another comp? so there comp would be the "print server" the problem is that comp would always have to be on to print and it would have to commincate wirelessly i guess it would work though right?

 

[Lemon law]

Either Canon would be your best choice for economy---but in terms of built in wireless networking support you need a Canon with a R suffix.---which adds about $100. to the price.

But I did not suck in-- and I share my Canon printer on my network---just as any printer can be shared.
All you have to do is plug the printer into one PC--and then share it with other computers on the lan.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
Either Canon would be your best choice for economy---but in terms of built in wireless networking support you need a Canon with a R suffix.---which adds about $100. to the price.

But I did not suck in-- and I share my Canon printer on my network---just as any printer can be shared.
All you have to do is plug the printer into one PC--and then share it with other computers on the lan.

example

my comp hooked up directly to router
my parents comp hooked up wirelessly
later on a macbook pro wirelessly

could i hook up the printer to my parents computer and print from the other computers? I'd like to know if i would get any performance decrease when it's hooked up to mine if someone else on the network prints something since it has to go thru my comp would that do anything? I wouldn't like to be in the middle of gaming and have a huge lag spike because someone printed something.

 

[Zepper]

And wireless USB is either out or about to be - just like a direct USB connection except without the wire. You buy a computer end device for each computer to use the printer and a printer side device for the printers.

.bh.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Zepper
And wireless USB is either out or about to be - just like a direct USB connection except without the wire. You buy a computer end device for each computer to use the printer and a printer side device for the printers.

.bh.

that's not what I really want though

I just want one that connects into my wireless router so all the printers connected to the router can print.

 

[Zepper]

Add a wireless print server and you're set or just share it from one of the computers on the network.

.bh.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Add a wireless print server and you're set or just share it from one of the computers on the network.

.bh.

sharing it from one of the computers sounds a logical choice either that or finding a printer that can do what i said.

what i'd really like to know though is does it slow down the system that has the printer connected?

 

[Doh!]

No, but that computer has to be on all the time.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Doh!
No, but that computer has to be on all the time.

well, you mean it has to be on for other people to print and since basically my computer is on most of the time it wouldn't be too bad correct? as long as i don't get slow downs and stuff from it i really don't care and i'd like to have it in my room as it might get messed up outside my room I can keep a watch on it from my room.

I see what you mean though I'd really just like to connect it to my wireless router on the network and be able to share it thru the router itself instead of a computer. that seems like the best way for me

 

[Zepper]

Yeah, we know. It's not screwing up the printer, it's printing out the screwing... Shame, shame! Can you see my finger wagging from there?

.bh.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Yeah, we know. It's not screwing up the printer, it's printing out the screwing... Shame, shame! Can you see my finger wagging from there?

.bh.

Videos > Pictures

unless you can watch porn on the built in lcd on the printer heh

 

[krose]

This is a couple days too late but the Canon ip5200R is a good stand-alone wireless printer. It functions wirelessly and by USB. I have had mine for nearly a year and have had no problems. Great photos and text.

 

[w00t]

I am still looking for a printer it seems the MP500 is being discontinued. This stuff is to confusing it's not like there is a clear winner everyone has mixed opinions right now i can still buy the MP500 but I've been kinda looking at the MP800R since it has network capabilities but it seems that it's actually worse in printer quality.

I've been looking at Top 10 charters on various sites: I know CNET probably doesn't have the best creditability but they seem to update a lot.
MP800R:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_Pixma_MP800R/4505-3181_7-31785801.html?tag=lst
http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_Pixma_MP500/4505-3181_7-31481114.html

if you look at the full review part it shows charts on print qualitys and such the MP500 does better i don't understand why the i should get the MP800R when the print quality is worse than the MP500 a way cheaper printer.

Edit: PC World has the MP500 as #1 but it hasn't been updated in awile:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123861;page,1/article.html

 

[bruceb]

Most home users do not need Network capabilities .. you can share the printer in XP
thru your own in home network ... look for the best print quality, best scan / copy quality,
best speed for color & b/w printing .... if you want to do Photos or Envelopes look at the
ratings for Photo Printing and see if the printer will accept Enveloopes .. some do not.