# Recommend a printer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289 "2020-05-22T14:18:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/1 "2020-05-22T14:18:36Z")
A month or so ago, I received a document that had been signed by the people who needed to sign it. I needed to print it, sign it, scan it, and save it to where it needed to be saved. I tried to scan it on Mrs. L.A.'s printer from my MackBook Pro, but I don’t have the correct driver or something. Mrs. L.A. scanned the three pages from her Windows computer and emailed them to me. I took screenshots of the pages and pasted them into a Word document, then exported the Word document as a .pdf file and saved it. So there was a solution. The company president called last night and said my retiring boss said the company should buy me my own printer. He wants me to tell him what to get. My requirements are: [ul][li]Must be able to scan from a MackBook Pro running Mojave to a .pdf file;[/li][li]Must be able to connect wirelessly;[/li][li]A nicety would be for it to have the capability to scan multiple pages into a single .pdf file.[/ul][/li] And of course, it should be as inexpensive as possible while having the listed functions. I rarely print anything at home. I use the printer in the office when I need to print something, and that’s where I always scan to .pdf. (The pages are scanned, and then emailed to me.) So it’s not going to be used a lot; just when I need it while telecommuting. What do you suggest? ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/2 "2020-05-22T18:05:50Z")
My research about 3 months ago looking for an ink jet (not my preference, but lower $$ vs laser) with scanner (all-in-one) found that, at that price point, Brother brand seemed to get the best reviews and happiest users. She also uses a MacBook. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/3 "2020-05-22T18:52:46Z")
I’ve never owned a printer/scanner combo, but I’ve been happy with Brother laser printers for decades. I will repeat the frequently offered advice in threads like this that if you don’t print often, a laser will save you lots of money in wasted ink over the long term, regardless of how cheap the initial price of the hardware is. Even when someone else is buying it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/4 "2020-05-22T19:01:09Z")
I agree with the choice of a Brother printer but I’ve been all-in on laser for years now after dealing with clogged nozzles and the price of ink. If you’re okay with monochrome prints, I can recommend the [Brother DCPL2550DW](https://www.amazon.com/Brother-Monochrome-Multifunction-DCPL2550DW-Replenishment/dp/B0764P8F5J/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=brother+mfc&qid=1590173345&sr=8-6). I’ve used it many times for your specific use case and it’s been relatively painless. That’s as good as printers get. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/5 "2020-05-22T19:10:11Z")
I’ll look at Brother. Mrs. L.A.'s printer is an HP. I looked for one today and found [this one](https://smile.amazon.com/HP-OfficeJet-Productivity-Replenishment-1KR57A/dp/B07QPWKYG9/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1C64VJUPTBASI&dchild=1&keywords=printer%2Bscanner%2Bcopier%2Ball%2Bin%2Bone%2Bwireless&qid=1590171426&refinements=p_n_feature_six_browse-bin%3A5662334011%2Cp_n_feature_four_browse-bin%3A5928098011&rnid=5662319011&s=office-electronics&sprefix=printer%2Bscanner%2Caps%2C230&sr=1-4&th=1). HP doesn’t look promising: > [@](#): > > this printer does not have that functionality for Macs yet, and the workaround is to scan to your email (convoluted & clumsy) or use their mobile app (less convoluted & clumsy, but still aggravating). these are their new top of the line, not-cheap models, and they don’t have the most basic functionality for the way people work today. my printer is not near my computer, they don’t need to be anymore, which is why i like being able to scan at the printer itself. > > after searching online and chatting with HP support, i finally spoke to someone after going through their terrible automated customer service line. he said the functionality will come, but they haven’t finished the software for it yet. i don’t know when that day will be, so if you need to scan from the printer direct to your Mac and don’t want to do the clumsy workaround DO NOT BUY THIS PRINTER. That is, he can’t connect to a _new_ HP with his Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/6 "2020-05-22T19:26:28Z")
Not surprising. Printers as a category tend to suck but I can confirm that the Brother MFCs are Mojave-ready. The only issue I had was the printer disconnecting from the wifi on my Eero mesh system. I had to turn off band steering on the Eero and all was well. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/7 "2020-05-22T21:11:38Z")
I’d also recommend Brother laser printers. Years ago, I bought a [Brother MFC-L5900DW](https://www.brother-usa.com/products/mfcl5900dw). It’s still going strong, even after years of alternating months-long periods of zero demand and months-long periods of constant use. This machine is one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/8 "2020-05-23T15:29:37Z")
Also see [this thread.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=896244) ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/9 "2020-05-23T23:04:55Z")
As a side note, smartphone cameras have finally reached the point where they can serve as a scanner in most cases. There are some excellent apps for this–I use Scanner Pro from Readdle. These apps let you photograph a document, apply simple de-skew by selecting the page corners, and then convert it to a really nice B&W pdf that looks exactly like a photocopy, before storing it in your favorite cloud service. I use this app for photocopying tons of sheet music, and for copying receipts. If I had to print, sign, and scan a doc, this would be my go-to app. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-printer/854289/10 "2020-05-26T18:47:34Z")
I’ve looked at these: > **[Brother MFC-J5330DW All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Wireless Connectivity,...](https://www.amazon.com/Brother-MFC-J5330DW-Connectivity-Automatic-Replenishment/dp/B01LZ9DGT0)** > > Buy Brother MFC-J5330DW All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Wireless Connectivity, Automatic Duplex Printing, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision! > **[Amazon.com: Brother MFC-J6545DW INKvestmentTank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer...](https://www.amazon.com/Brother-MFC-J6545DW-INKvestment-Wireless-Printing/dp/B07GDHNJST)** > > Buy Brother MFC-J6545DW INKvestmentTank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with Wireless, Duplex Printing, 11" x 17" Scan Glass and Upto 1-Year of Ink-in-Box, MFC-J6545dw, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready: Everything Else - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY... > **[Amazon.com: Brother Monochrome Laser Printer, Compact Multifunction Printer and...](https://www.amazon.com/Brother-Monochrome-Multifunction-DCPL2550DW-Replenishment/dp/B0764P8F5J)** > > Amazon.com: Brother Monochrome Laser Printer, Compact Multifunction Printer and Copier, DCPL2550DW, Refresh Subscription and Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready, Black : Office Products The president says the middle one looks like a newer version of the one he has at his home, for which he paid about $300 for.