Wireless Printer Advice - MBClub UK

stats007 · 03-01-2008, 12:39 PM

My flatbed scanner has recently packed up so I'm thinking of getting an all-in-one scanner / copier / printer. I like the idea of a wireless printer so I can print from my laptop or desktop. Not looking for photo printing - just emails - letters and scanning the odd photo etc. Not looking to spend much more than £50.

Rose Chap · 03-01-2008, 12:44 PM

Pretty tall order for that little money, especially with built in wireless.

Do you have a NAS device? If so, lots of them support attached printers.

The logic beind if you can connect to your NAS (across your WLAN), you can print to the connected printer.

Alternatively, buy a combo printer with ethernet port and plug that into your router. That's what I did and it works faultlessly, though you need to know a little bit about IP addresses etc to set it up - I'm sure you'd be ok.

I bought an HP 7something combination fax/copier/scanner/printer, and paid around £80 ish.

Satch · 03-01-2008, 12:58 PM

Was think of getting a wireless printer server for existing printer but they were about £60. Now just going wireless with the Lexmark X4550 for simple stuff and will suffer the bore of having to plug in a USB cable (sigh) for better quality print jobs.

http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Photo/ca...eless-Printers

stats007 · 03-01-2008, 01:04 PM

The X4550 is the one I was looking at - £64 delivered.

I currently don't have a printer and the wireless router is in a room where I wouldn't want one - so an ethernet connection is out.

To be honest it will probably gather dust more than get used.

IanA2 · 03-01-2008, 01:07 PM

I use this:

http://www.networkmagic.com/nmlp/hom...FRMXQgodhDzbWQ

Easy to set up and handy for file access.

My printer is hard wired to desktop but I can print from anywhere.

My multifunction device is HP, I've always found their kit good. You'd probably want any multifunction machine hard wired to take advantage of all it's functions. hth

stats007 · 03-01-2008, 01:13 PM

What functionality is limited by the wireless connection? I'm assuming you can scan directly to a media card in the printer?

IanA2 · 03-01-2008, 01:25 PM

Afraid my HP multi whatsit is pre media card so I don't know the answer to that. Mine does lots of clever things via a control panel on the desktop, not sure if I could access these via wireless, haven't really had to find out as wirelessly I only really use it for printing.

stats007 · 04-01-2008, 01:11 PM

Popped into Currys to have a look - had a sale on so got the X4580 for £70 - threw a PS3 game in for nothing too

.

Cheapest wireless print server I saw was £30 - so there was the option of getting the next model up without wireless but with fax capability but that was £110 all in.

gina2201 · 04-01-2008, 01:39 PM

We have a HP one that cost £60/£65, does all the things you need and is very good!

stats007 · 04-01-2008, 06:51 PM

Just set it up - all straight forward. A basic A4 scan wirelessly into Photoshop (the printer downloads a list of applications to scan to) takes 30s and is very quiet:

At 50%

At 25%

An A4 600dpi scan took 2.5 minutes - this is cropped from 100%:

Can't complain at the price really.

03-01-2008, 12:39 PM	#1
stats007 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hampshire Car: 575M Posts: 5,888	Wireless Printer Advice My flatbed scanner has recently packed up so I'm thinking of getting an all-in-one scanner / copier / printer. I like the idea of a wireless printer so I can print from my laptop or desktop. Not looking for photo printing - just emails - letters and scanning the odd photo etc. Not looking to spend much more than £50.

03-01-2008, 12:44 PM	#2
Rose Chap Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire Car: W208 CLK Posts: 1,443	Pretty tall order for that little money, especially with built in wireless. Do you have a NAS device? If so, lots of them support attached printers. The logic beind if you can connect to your NAS (across your WLAN), you can print to the connected printer. Alternatively, buy a combo printer with ethernet port and plug that into your router. That's what I did and it works faultlessly, though you need to know a little bit about IP addresses etc to set it up - I'm sure you'd be ok. I bought an HP 7something combination fax/copier/scanner/printer, and paid around £80 ish.

03-01-2008, 12:58 PM	#3
Satch Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Surrey Car: S211 E320Cdi Avantgarde Estate & Toyota Land Cruiser Posts: 3,229	Was think of getting a wireless printer server for existing printer but they were about £60. Now just going wireless with the Lexmark X4550 for simple stuff and will suffer the bore of having to plug in a USB cable (sigh) for better quality print jobs. http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Photo/ca...eless-Printers

03-01-2008, 01:04 PM	#4
stats007 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hampshire Car: 575M Posts: 5,888	The X4550 is the one I was looking at - £64 delivered. I currently don't have a printer and the wireless router is in a room where I wouldn't want one - so an ethernet connection is out. To be honest it will probably gather dust more than get used.

03-01-2008, 01:07 PM	#5
IanA2 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: East Mids Car: SL60 AMG, GES300, Lexus GS 430, Lexus 300RX Posts: 2,875	I use this: http://www.networkmagic.com/nmlp/hom...FRMXQgodhDzbWQ Easy to set up and handy for file access. My printer is hard wired to desktop but I can print from anywhere. My multifunction device is HP, I've always found their kit good. You'd probably want any multifunction machine hard wired to take advantage of all it's functions. hth

03-01-2008, 01:13 PM	#6
stats007 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hampshire Car: 575M Posts: 5,888	What functionality is limited by the wireless connection? I'm assuming you can scan directly to a media card in the printer?

03-01-2008, 01:25 PM	#7
IanA2 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: East Mids Car: SL60 AMG, GES300, Lexus GS 430, Lexus 300RX Posts: 2,875	Afraid my HP multi whatsit is pre media card so I don't know the answer to that. Mine does lots of clever things via a control panel on the desktop, not sure if I could access these via wireless, haven't really had to find out as wirelessly I only really use it for printing.

04-01-2008, 01:11 PM	#8
stats007 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hampshire Car: 575M Posts: 5,888	Popped into Currys to have a look - had a sale on so got the X4580 for £70 - threw a PS3 game in for nothing too . Cheapest wireless print server I saw was £30 - so there was the option of getting the next model up without wireless but with fax capability but that was £110 all in.

04-01-2008, 01:39 PM	#9
gina2201 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Plymouth Car: B5.5 VW Passat Estate TDi Posts: 2,783	We have a HP one that cost £60/£65, does all the things you need and is very good!

04-01-2008, 06:51 PM	#10
stats007 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hampshire Car: 575M Posts: 5,888	Just set it up - all straight forward. A basic A4 scan wirelessly into Photoshop (the printer downloads a list of applications to scan to) takes 30s and is very quiet: At 50% At 25% An A4 600dpi scan took 2.5 minutes - this is cropped from 100%: Can't complain at the price really.

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