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Need suggestions: computer, laser printer, scanner

N

Napalm

Platinum Member
We are putting together another system at work and I could use some suggestions.

We need a pwoerful, yet cheap computer system. I am thinking along the lines of a Duron 700, but need help on the most stable motherboard. Alternatively, we could go with an Intel system, but they seem to be to expensive/slow in comparison.

We also need a decent (i.e., fast, good quality and cheap) laser printer. Our HP is starting to flake out big time.

Finally, we need a decent scanner. I am most interested in good optics and fast USB throughput. I personally have the Acer 620U, but I am convinced that the optics could be a bit better.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Napalm
 
i suggest you go read the print publications' sites.

like http://www.pcworld.com or http://www.pcmag.com

personally, at home, i have the 6Lse (poor paper management, paper jams are a nightmare, whenever there is one) and the Epson Perfection 636 U (u for USB). both are great.

there are cheaper and better monochrome laser printers out, it depends on how much you want to spend. the 6Lse has been discontinued, and replaced with the 1100, $400 retail.

The 636U has also been discontinued, and replaced with other perfection models. And the quality remains.

I do recommend reading those sites.

And there is also http://www.cnet.com related sites such as http://www.computers.com where you can get some user (of the product) feedback, as well as http://www.shopper.com.

of course you want to check here and at http://www.deja.com for more user comments.
 
A good SOHO printer is the NEC SuperScript 870. Great performance, pretty decent paper handling and good upgradeability. Check some reviews out on it. Only thing is that the Win2K drivers are a little feature-thin compared to the Win9x drivers.
 
For the scanner, you have to go for an Epson Perfection 1200U.

I am not that familiar with laser printers, so I cannot recommend in that area, although, I always thought HP was the way to go.

With reference the the Duron system, I think that would be a good way to go, a good motherboard with that would be the Asus A7V
 
I've checked out several of the reviews on all the stuff I'd mentioned but what I was hoping for was some real user feedback.

The review sites suggest that an ASUS A7V coupled with a Duron 700 would be a good bet. I'd probably do a V6800 GeForce DDR and a large capacity ATA66 7200rpm drive. The rest of the system would probably would probably be standard issue stuff.

The printers I have narrowed it down to are, in order, the Brother HL-1240, the HP LaserJet 1100Axi, the Lexmark Optra E310 and the NEC Superscript 870.

As for the scanner, I'd probably go with the Epson Perfection 610 judging from the reviews.

Anyone have feedback on those parts?

Cheers,
Napalm
 
Everything looks pretty good. However, I have a suggestion on the scanner. Since this is a work/professional system, a SCSI scanner makes sense. There is still a very good hot deal going on for the Canon Canoscan 1200FB. This is pretty much a professional product which happens to be priced at $130 before rebates! It has gotten good reviews. It comes with an Adaptec PCI SCSI-1 card.

The rebates and free shipping can knock it down to around $100, but even at $130 it is a good deal.

I just got one and the quality seems pretty great. Photo scans are its forte. B&W and line drawing seems a bit slow.
 
AMD Duron 700 OEM (30 Days warranty)- $150.95 shipped
Asus A7V - $160 shipped
Total - $310.95 shipped


Intel Pentium III 700 Retail (3 years warranty)- $194 shipped from Onvia
Asus CUBX - $135.25 shipped
Total - $329.25 shipped

So an Intel 700 system is not much more expensive than a Duron 700 system and plus, you get a longer warranty with the extra $19 spent.
 
Very interesting - had not priced it out that way. And, the P3 is faster than the Duron... 🙂

I wonder if a P3 650E and a CuBX would be a better idea - this is cheaper and you could overclock the sh!t out of it.

Napalm
 
Try the MSI K7T Pro for a Duron motherboard. I have one, and like it very much. Anand has just reviewed it. I'd spend the price difference between it and the Asus on extra memory or something along those lines.

I personally like my Canon Laser printer (LBP 660 - not available any more - current is LBP 800) but it's a WPS device so may not work well under Y2K.

No suggestion on business scanner (I use a Plustek 9636T at home).

Regards

Greg
 
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