# Printer Advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099 "2010-05-20T03:57:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/1 "2010-05-20T03:57:05Z")
Looking for a printer, under $300. It’s got to be able to do wireless, scan, fax, blah, blah, blah. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/2 "2010-05-20T04:46:58Z")
Two suggestions: I have a Canon Pixma MX850 (new model [MX 870)](http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Wireless-Office-Printer-4206B002/dp/B0032AN4M6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274330384&sr=8-1) at work. Wireless, sheet feeder, faxes, scans, prints from both the magizine (8.5X11) and a rear feeder for whatever size you want. Auto duplex printing and super easy to use software. I love this printer. so when I needed a printer at home I caught a swinging deal on a [Canon Pixma MP 990](http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Wireless-Inkjet-Printer-3749B002/dp/B002M78HX6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274330397&sr=8-1), All of the features of the 850, except one more ink tank, and no sheet feeder. Again I love this printer. They work great, and I have yet to have a problem with either one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/3 "2010-05-20T13:29:16Z")
Do a lot of photos? Epson Artisan 810 $199 at Staples Not a lot of photos? Epson Workforce 610 $129 at Staples ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/4 "2010-05-20T14:03:02Z")
Black and white only? Go with a ‘laser’, imho. I got a Brother MFC 7420 (N?), a wireless print/scan/fax combo, a few years ago and works great with the toner cartridges lasting MUCH longer than inkjet-based printers. IIRC, think it cost ~$250 back then. Wireless setup was painless, too. I go to WalMart (or similar kiosks elsewhere preferably) whenever I need photos/colors printed - usually pretty inexpensive for that stuff (for me anyways). I know little abut color printing nowadays other than (most) cartridges being a bitch to deal with long-term, particularly when printing only occasionally. There’s a lot of options, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/5 "2010-05-20T14:17:22Z")
I just bought the Canon MP640, which gets rave user reviews. Nearly every other printer I researched had problems right out of the box, particularly the HP line. I don’t use the wi-fi feature, since I’m a single user. Oh wait, it doesn’t have scan. But you might look at other Canon models. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/6 "2010-05-20T14:44:25Z")
I think we’ve nailed it in one, unless someone hops in with a better printer. The printer is for someone else, so I don’t know exactly how many photos he plans on printing out (probably not that many), but this should work. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/7 "2010-05-20T15:12:00Z")
Any thoughts on the [HP C309a](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828115451)? We just picked one up for $180 at Sam’s Club, but have yet to install it. We’ll hardly use it. Between six and ten faxes come in a year, and another handful or so go out. Printing is mostly done via an old workhorse Laserjet or an Epson wide-carriage ink jet, so printing isn’t a high priority. We don’t want to constantly buy ink to let it run through it’s self-cleaning routine (had a Brother that ate ink tanks every four to five months just sitting there). We’d really like to have received faxes get sent directly to the computer (had an Epson for a week, it wouldn’t do that so we took it back). Are we likely to get pissed or at least be complacent with this unit? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/8 "2010-05-20T17:32:28Z")
Do you really need to print color? If not, I’d recommend returning that HP C309a and getting a monochrome laser all-in-one instead. (You can always get your photos printed at Walmart, Walgreens, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/9 "2010-05-20T18:16:40Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I think we’ve nailed it in one, unless someone hops in with a better printer. The printer is for someone else, so I don’t know exactly how many photos he plans on printing out (probably not that many), but this should work. My bad: it scans, but it doesn’t fax. My excuse is that I was fasting for bloodwork when I wrote that. And now I’ve quoted the wrong response. Think I’ll go back to bed. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-advice/540099/10 "2010-05-22T13:40:20Z")
I opted for an inkjet printer and a laser printer, sitting next to each other. I did it for about $300, buying at Amazon based largely on customer reviews. I’m sure there’s no $300 single printer that does so much so well, and I have the advantage that if a printer completely dies I still can do many kinds of printing, especially in a pinch. In particular I wound up with an Epson Artisan 50 inkjet and a Brother HL-5250DN (with built in two sided printing), and both work very nicely, but it’s really the principle I mean to endorse.