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Printer/scanner recommendations?

ONLY NICE THINGS

10:50 / 16.09.02

Although I very rarely print, and have been largely untroubled by the need to scan, my emergency purchase of an Apollo p-1200 is clearly inadequate even for the needs of somebody who very rarely prints stuff.

So....I'm thinking of getting a shiny new, footprint-saving, all-in-one printer/scanner, to go with my shiny new computer. At present am eying the Lexmark x73, which seems to be a decent solution for someone who doesn't need this functionality at too high a level (except to photoshop pictures of ex-partners into pictures of great historical disasters and then cry, "See? Proof if proof were needed!"). Any thoughts?

w1rebaby

11:31 / 16.09.02

I'm not a fan of printer/scanners, since they lack the flatbed, which means it's very hard to scan small things. The vast majority of things that I scan are polaroids, tickets, flyers, etc - fiddly or impossible with most models. Even normal photos can be tricky.

It also makes scanning your cat pretty much impossible, too, unless you've got a trouser press.

ONLY NICE THINGS

11:35 / 16.09.02

Normally I'd agree, but the X73 has a flatbed scanner. PLus, my cat is now the size, shape and thickness of a sheet of A4. You just have to fax them enough...

The Return Of Rothkoid

11:36 / 16.09.02

Seriously. If you want to scan anything that's not reasonably large, then stay the hell away from an all-in-one. My parents have one, and I've been trying to get it to do anything useful; nothing bulky will fit in, and anything smaller than about half a sheet of A4 has to get taped to *another* piece of paper and fed through; that's assuming it doesn't get mangled by the feeder mechanism.

It's really, really worth the extra expense - and the way USB scanners are priced now, it's not that terribly huge an expense anyway...

Persephone

11:40 / 16.09.02

What's the flatbed, the glass part where you put the thing to scan? Like on a copier? Because at work we have a printer/scanner/color copier that has that. It's an HP of some kind... I can look when I get to work. It works okay. At home we have separate Epson scanner and color printer, which are both great.

Persephone

11:42 / 16.09.02

Oops, I'm too slow...

Bad Horse

11:44 / 16.09.02

Even though this monster has a flatbed I will still avoid any 'all in one' solution as I have some really not fun experiences trying to get them working, keeping them working and fixing them when they are broke. Most modern scanners are of the 'when it breaks, buy a new one' variety, HP even list the whole scanner as a pare part now on their system. Dont put yourself in the position of buying a new printer coz the bulb went on your scanner. There is a reason why they don't do cooker/washing machine and fridge/dishwasher combo appliances despite the space it would save in your kitchen.

w1rebaby

11:46 / 16.09.02

Ah, I see, it's got the flatbed on top. (lexmark x73). Hmm, should be okay then, though I've seen a few reviews saying people had trouble installing the drivers.

Logos

11:48 / 16.09.02

Ideally, I'd say go for the hp 750 or 950. Alternately, the Canon Multipass series are pretty swell.

ONLY NICE THINGS

11:56 / 16.09.02

That's a very good point, UF. Also, when last I looked MicroAnvika were selling a decent Canon printer and functional scanner as a bundle for £99.99, which may be a better idea. I think I like the philosophy of the all-in-one, but I can see that, scanners being generally more temperamental than printers, it might not be the best idea ever to bundle them.

Logos - cheers - will check them out. Why them, in particular?

Mazarine

14:57 / 16.09.02

I'd avoid HP scanners, though you haven't mentioned them yet, as they stopped providing a functional driver for mine about a year after I bought it, thus rendering it useless with my non Windows-95 OS.

I agree with the others about the perils of the all-in-one. Congratulations on your prospective purchase- I drool over the scanners every time I walk through Office Max or Staples. Then they ask me to stop it.

The Return Of Rothkoid

15:41 / 16.09.02

Avoid the HP 750 like the fucking plague.

It's what's in the office next door. It is a plastic-covered, dinky-toy piece of shiteating death. Honest.

Persephone

16:42 / 16.09.02

Okay, the scanner/color printer here is an HP OfficeJet 1150c. Like I said, it's okay. It doesn't take up too much room. One thing is, this printer uses one color ink cartridge and one black ink cartridge; so if you run out of blue ink (we print lots of pictures with blue in them for some reason), you have to replace the *whole* color cartridge. Ours at home has four separate cartridges for CMYK.

Fist Fun

19:17 / 16.09.02

Have a look at the HP K80 printer/scanner/fax.

netbanshee

04:13 / 17.09.02

Epson will get you what you need via some USB connectivity. Print quality from their wares is good on the right paper, and they make decent optical solutions like the 1220U. Check epson's site to look at prices.

Oh...and I agree with the group out of personal experience. Get seperate units. All-in-one always go to hell after a while and now you're left with either option.

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