Need Advice!!

[TEEB]

I have to make a recommendation on a printer. This printer will be used as an office printer in a 7 bay auto repair Shop.
They are presently using a Lexmark dot matrix printer that has lasted 10 years.

What should I recommend? a Laser? what brand will provide the best long time service?

Hope you can help.

[bailey]

a hp laser would be best, model fitting you budget

[TEEB]

I always lean towards the HP printers. I never buy anything else for my self, but I don't know about lasers and business printers.
I see your sporting a new A+ logo. Is it new? If so congrats!!!!!

[glc]

Do they need to print multipart forms? If so, a dot matrix is the only reasonable way. Do they need color? Do they have a network?

[TEEB]

No on the multipart forms. She said "color would be nice" and they have a small network, 3 units! Probably only print from 2 of them!

[glc]

If they can afford it - HP2500n color laser with print server - $1699 CDN.

If they don't want to do that but still want color, HP 5850 inkjet with print server, $299 CDN but the cost of ink will kill them in the long run, as will all inkjets.

Monochrome laser with print server - HP 1300n, $799 CDN.

With a network, it's a lot nicer getting printers with the server built in, just plug it into their switch and install the drivers on all the machines. You can get external print servers cheaper than the premium HP charges for the internal server, but you get what you pay for - *nothing* beats a HP Jet Direct with a HP printer.

[TEEB]

I was looking at the HP 1100dtn. Does "HP Jet Direct" mean it has it's own server? becasue the 1100 has that.

[glc]

Yes. That's an inkjet, make sure they realize that if they do a lot of printing, they will soon become aggravated with ink costs, it's not like a dot matrix where you can get months of use out of a $10 ribbon or a laser where you can get thousands of copies out of a $100 toner cartridge. It should be a very reliable printer and give them excellent print quality.

[TEEB]

Thanx glc, appreciate it!!

[LawyerRon]

You can go with the built in "Jet Direct" or save a hundred or so bucks with an external print server from Dlink, etc. The downside to the external print server is room; you have to accomodate its footprint (tho small) and it's one more power cord to plug in. If they print substantial volume, the laser is the only way to go IMO. The HP 2300 is a very nice Laser Jet and quite fast too. I think you can pick them up for around $600US w/o Jet Direct. Fifty bucks will get you a Dlink print server. This model has no color though, only black.

[glc]

For a business situation, I recommend paying the premium for a Jet Direct if you use a HP printer. The cheap print servers have limited ram for spooling, etc.

[wackyjackie]

Definitely HP, nothing else but HP, HP, HP, HP!

I have an HP Laserjet4050 Network Printer, something along these lines may serve well with inexpensive printing costs. This is a business printer designed for networking, has a network port in addition to regular printer cables. It works like a hound dog. Every computer can see it and print to it without having to even install. If they can afford a color laser, even better, but I would add an additional color printer for color printing when necessary (keeps printing costs down) Problem with printing costs, is that we really don't need to print everything in COLOR all the time.

(I"ve printed over 3,000 pages and still havent run out of ink, what would that cost on a color printer?)

Jackie