Please recommend for me, an inexpensive all-in-one printer/scanner for PC (or advise me if I even want this)...

January 12, 2010 2:27 AM

Please recommend for me, an inexpensive all-in-one printer/scanner for PC (or advise me if I even want this)...

Hello,

for some time I was using a canon pixma MP450 as an all purpose unit (scanning or copying documents, printing photos, printing documents etc.). It worked OK and the photo quality was very nice, but it has a big drawback, that the print cartridges - CL-51 and PG-50 - are incredibly pricey. PG-50 is close to $60 up here in Canada. Ouch. The cartridge refill people don't want to refill these anymore, and even when they did I wasn't happy with the results. The last time I tried to get them refilled, the guy bluntly told me to go get another printer rather than waste my money anymore...

I can ask this:

1. Can you recommend a good, inexpensive all-purpose unit that produces good results, but uses inexpensive print cartridges?

My feeble google-fu has shown up some favourable data on the Epson NX510 for instance, but I profess with all the new models coming and going, I am unfamiliar with the offerings. I'm hoping I can get some personalized recommendations...

2. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

Should I, for instance, abandon the notion of pursuing a good all-in-one, and instead focus on a decent document printer + scanner, and leave photo prints for the on-line photo labs? (it's easy to upload my jpegs to one of many photo store websites, and get prints made. Cheaper perhaps than running around buying pricey photo paper, and pricey ink...)

3. for that matter are there any decent all-in-ones, or decent printer+scanner w/o photoprinting, that include 35 mm film scanning? I've got some film, not a lot, that I'd like scanned. This is a minor item but I include it for completeness.

Anyhow maybe you can give me some guidance on how you approach your PC hardware at home.

Thank you.

posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey to Computers & Internet (12 answers total)

I've also been really happy with my Pixma all-in-one (a 510). I buy compatible cartridges - widely available, about half to two-thirds of the price of Canon cartridges, and inidistiguishable in my experience in terms of quality - the manufacturers of compatible inks seem to have made huge strides in the past couple of years.

It used to be that I'd have to pry the 'chip' from the front of my old Canon cartridge and stick it onto the replacement, but they seem to have that fixed now (cartridges come with chips attached). I've certainly never had to send a cartridge to be refilled. Take a look on Google for 'compatible ink cartridges' anyway, just to see what's available in Canada.

Another option (which is probably less relevant to you) is to get a continuous inking system. This is basically some plumbing you connect up to your printer to allow it to draw ink from large bottles. These can save you a ton of money if you're large volumes of colour printing.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 3:02 AM on January 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: thanks, I didn't know that there were 'no-name' print cartridges.

Nevertheless my 450 is defunct (long story), so I'm trying to assess what my options are.
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 3:45 AM on January 12, 2010

I've got a Canon Pixma MP620B, which I chose not only for the all-in-one functionality but also for the wireless connectivity. I mostly use it for printing docs and scanning/copying (not many photos), and I've been happy with it. Second le morte de bea arthur's suggestion to buy compatible third-party ink cartridges.
posted by Shoggoth at 5:20 AM on January 12, 2010

I have one of those new kodak printers. Black ink is $10 and color is $15 .

Works pretty good forr me and good quality and they are all in ones.
posted by majortom1981 at 5:32 AM on January 12, 2010

I have an HP C4380, which I think is no longer being sold from HP. They do have some updated versions though. The best part about it is that I can print wirelessly, which is a huge convenience.

The combo ink cartridge (black + color) is available on Amazon for $27. I find amazon usually has the best prices for ink.
posted by melissasaurus at 5:45 AM on January 12, 2010

I have the wireless Epson Workforce 600, which I love, and which runs $167 on Amazon right now. I bought one and then my ex took it when she left, and then I bought another one because I like it that much.
I really, really recommend the wireless capability if you already have a wireless router in your house. It's not hard to set up, and it is so nice to be able to print from the living room or the bedroom or wherever without having to hook up cables.
posted by aabbbiee at 6:30 AM on January 12, 2010

I am very happy with my Epson Artisan 810 - it prints pictures well in addition to regular printer duty and the scanner has been good. It was a real dream to set up both with my PC and my Mrs HotBot's mac. Though today the Artisan 710 actually seems like a better deal.

I don't think you can get a slide scanner built into an all in one, though I might be mistaken.
posted by shothotbot at 6:53 AM on January 12, 2010

I would try to keep the 35mm film scanning separate from the all in 1. If you want to scan film it is worth doing it with something decent rather than some half arsed add on to an all in 1. Perhaps you have a photography mad friend who has a scanner; perhaps there is a local agency which would do the job; perhaps you could even buy a separate specialist scanner and then sell it when you are done.
posted by rongorongo at 10:28 AM on January 12, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks for the data. I'll follow up by asking more specifics:

I have one of those new kodak printers. Black ink is $10 and color is $15 . Works pretty good forr me and good quality and they are all in ones.

Can I ask which model?

I have the wireless Epson Workforce 600, which I love
I am very happy with my Epson Artisan 810

Can you give me any info on how the ink costs look, with either of these two units?

thanks again
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 12:19 PM on January 12, 2010

Response by poster: oh and thanks for the comments re: wireless but right now my printer would be next to my PC (and I don't have a router anyhow) so wirelessness is not a priority.

Main priorities are (a) very low-cost ink (b) low overall printer cost and (c) respectable overall quality of printer & printouts.

thanks again
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 12:31 PM on January 12, 2010

35mm film (I assume you mean negatives) need to be scanned with a proper film scanner. The difference between a decent film scanner and a flatbed (with the film holder doohicky which lets it scan negatives) is night and day. If it's only a little bit of film, call some photo shops and see if they will do it / price.

We have a canon pixma..something all in one. Works ok, but recently we got a laser printer (B&W) for the majority of the printing, since 99% of it is B&W and we get photos done online, as they are tons less hassle than anything we can do at home.
posted by defcom1 at 4:15 PM on January 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

I have an HP 6500 that works fine for me.

Warning: in almost all cases, the lower the price tag on the ink, the more expensive it ends up being on a per-page basis. $10 carts are probably only going to last a couple of hundred pages, more or less.
posted by gjc at 7:02 PM on January 12, 2010