printer help! need laser, colour, wireless and scan function

[JedwardScissorhands]

I need a new printer. Print a reasonable amount so laser makes sense. Has to be colour and wireless. And I need a scanner.

So... Have looked at wireless colour laser all in ones, and they seem to be around £200 for something basic by HP, brother, Samsung etc.

Does anyone know of anything cheaper? Have thought about a separate hand held scanner, but don't know if they are any good. Can anyone help??

[CruelAndUnusualParenting]

This isn't immediately cheaper, but you get a lot more than just starter cartridges, so it should save you money in the medium term.

[niceguy2]

Personally if you need an all in one then for £200 I'd go for it.

A while back I switched from ink jet to colour laser and I will never ever go back. My new laser printer is wired and I have kept my old ink jet for the occasional scanning but omg the overall experience is just so much better.

It just prints now. I don't have to faff about with cleaning the heads, replacing crappy ink cartridges because I haven't used it for a bit. The kids & fiancee have stopped hassling me either.

Yes the toner is more expensive but it lasts a lot longer. if you choose the right printer you can check to see if you can get unbranded toners.

[JedwardScissorhands]

Hmm, the 'free printer with cartridges' looks interesting. Shall investigate the lifespan of the toners. Hadn't seen that site before so thanks for the pointer.

I'm definitely going laser, I don't need to copy or fax but will need to scan. I'm trying to decide if it's worth getting an all in one, or a colour laser with separate scanner.

[niceguy2]

If it helps I've got a Dell laser. Had it over six months now and whilst I don't print out loads, it's still working like a champ with the starter toners. No idea when it will need replacing. They do seem to last a lot longer but then I guess that's reflected in the price of replacements.

[JenaiMorris]

My first ever printer was an B&W Apple Laser job back in the 90s. It cost about a million pounds - as did the replacement toner hence I had to get rid. I screwed up the cable in about 2002 (all those dinky little pins) and had to beg the nearest Apple reseller to let me have one. They sold me a filthy old thing for about £15, the thieving barstewards.

Anyway I digress. I have an HP Photosmart 6520 e-all-in-one wireless printer which was under £100 (and clearly not a laser job) and seems to do the trick. When I was looking, I bored to tears fascinated the young chap in PC World with my Apple printer story.

As you were

[JedwardScissorhands]

Ha, I had a very bulky mono laser in the 90s. Huge, but mine was very cheap to run and lasted over 10 years!

Photosmarts see inkjet, aren't they?

Anyone have any thoughts on standalone scanners?

[JenaiMorris]

Yup, inkjet. I don't print enough to justify a laser, although I'm quite [envious]

That Apple printer was slightly larger than my printer now, but the ink lasted for ever.

[mindingalongtime]

jen we had an apple too, it is over 20 years old and still going strong, likewise a 20 year old Brother laser that I gave to a charity, also churning out B&W by the 1000.

My question, I need a really quiet printer, as I print from my office wirelessly to DH's office where the printer is and he gets irritated if he is on the phone as it is so noisy he can't hear and ends up switching it off and I wonder why nothing has printed!

I find Epsons very economic on cartridges, the HP 'free' with my macbook pro used at least one a week! Also very mac compatible, is a must.