thats it need me a laser printer now

[T2urtle]

A while back i posted about wanting a new printer.

My current one that is i'm giving up on is a canon IP3000, it uses one those really cheap inks. Something like $3-5 per tank, no clue how many pages i get but 2 tanks a year covers me. They have clogg issues and i found niffy stuff forum clean it up and worked great. It guess it keeps getting clogged because i dont use it all the time. Simply no reason to. When i need it, i print a fair amount and then it will be 2-3 months before i need it again. So it gets clogged. I'm not in the mood to clean it anymore, so either selling or giving to my brother who can clean it all he wants and use it.

I'm in the market for a printer. Black only, laser. Budget $75. Maybe wireless.

I have a DDWRT modded linksys 160n for a router. I dont want to hardline it to the router as there isn't space where the router is. My computer is mainly the printing one but time to time i have 2 other computers and laptops that might require printing, with the laptop i just bring it and USB cable it up. The other computers i go thru the trouble of saving it and emailing and then printing it. Now i would love to leave the printer in my basement and just send it wireless there. But i'm not sure how you program everything. I read you need to setup LAN drivers on all computers, the router and printer need to hook up, i guess printer hooks up with a computer and gets all the settings and then it never needs the computer again?

newegg has a samsung 2525 but its not wireless for $50. If i find out setting up wireless is a little too much fuss i might go with that and call it a day, haven't looking at the toner prices yet.

or HL2170 staples has $70 AR

 

[Compman55]

Get a printer and connect a wireless print server. You will still install the drivers, but will print to a IP instead of a USB port. You do not have to buy a wireless printer. I can print to my old laserjet series II with a print server.

 

[gsaldivar]

You don't need a print server or a wireless printer. Just get a networkable printer (one with an ethernet jack) and plug it into your wireless router. Any computer on the LAN or WiFi will then be able to print to it as long as the proper drivers are installed on each machine.

Edit: The Samsung ML-2525 is USB only. The ML-2525W adds Ethernet networking and wireless.

 

[Lemon law]

To T2urtle,

Please tell is a little more about your computer network set up?

I don't have any complex networks, I can share any printer(s) with both computers in my simple two computer network, no wireless, ethernet based, print server based solution needed. IMHO, the 3 networking methods I cited is only useful in a large office sized networks or if you don't want to connect the printer to any computers.

 

[T2urtle]

My home setup is all wireless.

I have a WRT160N powering everything, this is in the center of the living room. There is no room anywhere in my living room to place a printer of any degree nor would i want it there. I have 2 main computers that i print with. One being in the garage and one being in the 2nd floor. And other laptops as well.

My old way of doing things was, i had my IP3000 in the basement. A computer was hooked up via USB to the printer and when i knew i had to do printing i would go on that. If i'm on my main computer and i was able to email a doc, i would do that to myself. Or if i'm on my laptops i would just bring it down and plug up the USB to that. It worked for me in the last 3-5 years but it was time consuming and at times wasn't worth it to print one sheet.

What i want is to have this printer be on its own in the basement. I can hit print on w/e computer i'm on like normally and have it print there. I read some wifi printing has a long LAG or just horrible setups. If i have to go back to my old style i will but I saw printers like the HL 2270, at staples for $100. its laser wireless pretty nice. I just dont know how to setup wireless print. I've heard its related to your router allowing XXX to be on. I've heard this process means it your PC ~> router ~> printer. Hence there is a lag.

Anymore details?

 

[gsaldivar]

IMHO ideal method would be connecting a networkable printer (via ethernet) directly to your wireless router, install driver on all your computers, and print anytime anywhere via LAN or Wifi.

However, this might not be possible if you can't run an ethernet cable to your printer. In that case, you can get a wireless printer and each computer will be required to print directly to the printer via wireless. While there shouldn't be any "lag" per-se, you will experience a noticeable delay in printing large print jobs due to the lower bandwidth of wireless compared to a hard line (ethernet). Additionally, your print jobs will be subject to the standard wireless interference and range issues depending on the location of your computer in relation to the printer when you are sending print jobs.

If you find yourself in the second situation with wireless range/reception issues, and are unable to resolve by running a hard line between the printer and router:

On laptops that are out of range of the wireless printer in your basement: Go into the printer control panel, and pause the print queue. (it's a good idea to make a shortcut of the printer on your desktop so that you can do this with a single-click in the future) This will allow you to print from any application, but will prevent the laptop from actually trying to send the print job to the printer. This is great in cases where you know the printer is out of range, or is barely in range (i.e. will print very slowly or error out) All your print jobs will be held in queue, until you right-click the printer and unpause the queue. This makes it very easy to walk around the house and send all your accumulated print jobs when you are safely within range of the printer downstairs.

Good luck!

 

[T2urtle]

i got my eye on that newer model HL2270, just got to wait for a deal to show up.

any other suggestions on a printer in the 75$ ball park.

 

[Dark Shroud]

Well I just purchased a Brother MFC-9320cw and plugged into the ethernet jack on my "Residental Gateway" from AT&T U-verse. I have to install the driver but any computer on the network can now print to it. At my sister's home I add her HP to the wireless since running cables isn't much of an option for her. Every thing works fine.

As far as laser printers go I've had good experiences with Brother & HP. Just make sure the read the details on the manufacture's site before you buy.

 

[wirednuts]

its a shame canon didnt put in their manual for the pixma series printers that if you leave the printer on 24/7 then you run much less risk of clogging.

i use my ip4000 a couple times every few months, and i dont have any major issues. at worst its just the first page that comes out streaky, then its fine. if i know its been a few weeks ill run a cleaning cylcle before printing, but usually i dont. i dont notice the power bill change either, although i havent actually researched how much current it draws while on.

ive had this for what, over 3 years i think at least. the only printhead i bought for it was when i first got it, because people did easily ruin those things.

the theory is that leaving the printer on keeps the printhead warm, greatly reducing clogs. might be info that canon didnt want people to know either.