Multifunction Printers

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

I'm getting closer to getting a multifunction printer. The one I think I like best is the HP LaserJet 3330 printer-copier-scanner-fax.

Anybody using a multifunction printer?

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

I guess I'm just spooky about multi-function anything. If something happens to it, then you have more than one thing "down." My dream purchase would be a color laser printer one day, and keep the scanner and FAX separate. My scanner has interefered with more programs than any other thing. I have learned, after many, many heated discussions with HP, the computer tech, etc., etc. that the scanner is the "hidden beast." I now have it hooked up to one of the networked computers all by itself. I'm tempted to put a chain link fence around it. It kept throwing everything down when it went into some kind of "sleep mode."

Perhaps, however, the machine you are talking about would be more effecient and better technologically than mine.

But - I didn't answer your real question, did I?

 

[Dale Smalley]

I got the Brother MFC 8500 from Office depot and love it. But I never use the scanner Just the fax and laser printer. Not color but fast and sharp faxes.

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Dale,

I have the Brother 8300 Fax/Laser/Scanner and I recently needed a drum unit which was $170 at Office Max. They had the Brother 1440 laser printer on sale for $199 which included the drum unit and the toner cartridge which are the same ones in the 8300. So I bought the laser printer for parts and actually saved money. 8O 8O Talk about a throw away society......the guy was trying to sell me a warranty on it and was shocked when I told him what I was doing with it.

If your's uses the TN460 cartridge, they are really easy to refill and also cheap to refill. Beats paying $70 for them. Just pull the plug out of the side and pour the bulk toner in.

Ben

 

[TC]

Pam

I vote against the multi-function machine, if it goes down, you are out of luck, especially if you recieve orders via fax. Keep your current fax machine, since it will be obsolete fairly soon as PDF begins to replace it; buy a decent scanner for 150 and use it as a copier also; printers are so cheap, take your pick. There, I just saved you some cash. No charge.


TC

 

[Tony Lehn]

What TC says make a lot of sense. However, I did recently purchase an HP d145 and I love it. It is an all-in-one that seems to work very well. The thing I looked for mostly was the print speed. 19ppm black & 16ppm color.

I do scan with it. I scan my entire work file into Wintotal, then burn it all to a disk. The scanner works great, and is fool proof, which is a bonus for this fool.

 

[Joe Sloan]

I bought the HP G85 which has all four functions. I use it as a backup fax, and backup printer. I like receiving all faxes on the computer. I have printed 0 appraisals in the last 9 months (All PDF). I use an HP 2000 for printing (mostly MLS, internet stuff). I do use the multi-function for making copies and as an occasional scanner, but don't scan much anymore. Since I don't print reports for clients, it is hard to get motivated to spend the money for a laser anything.

If your clients need hard copies, your needs are different than mine.

Good luck.


Joe

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I have a Brother 4650 fax, printer, copier that I use as a fax machine and as a back up for my copier and printers. I personally like having seperate components just in case something goes down. It doesn't make for a very neat looking office but sure works well.

Copier ...Sharp AL 1610 digital
Fax... Brother 4650
Printers ... HP 2000c and LaserJet III (both work at the same time)
Computers...HP 761c with CD R & W, HP 4455
Monitor...Microtek C783 17" LCD
Scanner...HP scanjet 2200c
Cameras...Kodak DC 210 and DC 215

Back up Color Printer....HP 672c (on back-up computer)

Darn...that is a lot of stuff, isn't it?

 

[Dennis Ross]

I have been looking at this machine (HP3330)also. I have been hearing a lot of bad things about the brother machines. I have also been hearing from sales people that all of the multifuction, printer manufactures have cheapen the product lines and they are not as good as they used to be including HP. My question would be is this machine is like the old HP (never a repair) or the new HP (lots of repairs). What makes me nervous is that the fax machine is a addition to the basic machine that does not come with a fax (3300). Also like someone else stated, some of the software programs have a difficult time with the scanner in a multifunction machine. I don't know if this is the case with this maching or not but its worth looking into. I use Alamode and there support also mentioned that the scanner sometimes are a proplem with the multifuntion machines. If your like me the last thing I need is more problems so if you get the real scoop on this machine let us all know.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Have used a brother laser fax, copier, printer, scanner for several years now and no problems with it at all. I purchased it for $299 (list price was $799) as it was a discontinued model. I really like the laser fax .... doesn't smear, fast, and quiet.

We originally thought it would back up our printer, copier, and scanner but have not had any trouble with any of them so didn't need it, at least not yet.

My copier is a Sharp AL -1610 digital. Scanner is a HP 2200c which was less than $100. My printers are an old reconditioned Laser jet series III. Third one I have owned, about $300 reconditioned with extra memory. For color pictures I use a HP 2000c.

Alamode software lets you run two printers at the same time thus cutting your printing time in half. I no longer print color copies for my files. If I need to make another copy of the report just load the CD and print it off. EDI has lessened my need to send out hard copies by 90%. Really cut down on paper, toner, and ink carts. Thinking about eliminating a hard file copy completely and just keeping the file on disk.