Network scanning, printing, faxing - multifunction experiences and recommendations?

[StingMe]

I finally picked up an iMac for my parents and they are interested in a new inkjet multifunction machine as well (print, scan, copy, fax) - one with a flatbed scanner and automatic document feeder. I'm considering machines from Brother, Canon, and HP - all have networking capabilities and some are wifi enabled, which seems to me is a good idea if it actually works well.

Any experiences or recommendations you'd like to share will be greatly appreciated - thanks!

These models have caught my eye (add the $50 staples recycling rebate and there are some good deals to be had):

Brother MFC-5490 - wired print, copy, scan, fax up to 8.5x11"

Brother MFC-5890cn - wired print, copy, scan, fax up to 11x17"

Brother MFC-6490cw - wireless print, copy, scan, fax up to 11x17" for under $200?! Wow.

Canon MX860 - wireless duplex print, copy, scan, fax up to 8.5x11"

HP OfficeJet Pro 6500 - wireless duplex print, copy, scan, fax up to 8.5x11"

HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 - wireless duplex print, copy, scan, fax up to 8.5x11"

[Zoidberg]

Have had great experience with Brother (only time I moved on from a Brother, laser or inkjet, was when I wanted something newer).

Damn good luck with Canon (work great, great quality, but have had direct experience with two that, after a year or so, had a printing issue and the only viable fix was to replace the entire machine).

Bad, bad times with HP (at least since OS X came on the scene, and especially with their inkjet line; horrible software, bad printing, overall bad experiences -- was a mainstay in the 90s when I first started my business, nowadays they just appear to ride on their coattails, as it were).

As always, YMMV.

[Fritz]

my mom, 86, has a Canon MX850. I think the same except USB only.
Does an excellent job, is much better built then their previous stuff.
Scans with Image Capture or a driver version of OmniPage that was included with the printer.
Fax in/out NP. duplex scan, I think. All good.

[Robert M]

Sting,

I' ve had two Brother inkjet based multifunction machines and as a result will never under any circumstances purchase another Brother inkjet based machine again. Ever. Not even on super sale or free after rebate. Feature for feature, Brother machines offer a great bang for the buck. However, the quality of the output is mediocre at best and the machines just do not hold up well for the long term. The inkjet models I've owned breakdown _way_ too quickly. Avoid the inkjet based models at all cost. Not worth the money at all.

The HP machines I've owned over the years keep chugging away. Reliability is rock solid. Output very good overall. Features including scanning over the network and faxing over the network just work. I've had laser based multifunctions and inkjet based multifunctions. All rock solid. No concerns about clogged print heads either. Most HP models get a new print head each time you change the cartridge. I do have a complaint about the HP J4680. I don't like the design of the paper input/output tray. There is nothing covering the paper in the input area so I always worry that output is going to get sucked back in again. And, for the record, getting it to work with a wireless network took all of a few seconds and is awesome. I'd definitely shoot for a model with wireless given the choice.

Robert

[StingMe]

Robert M wrote: Most HP models get a new print head each time you change the cartridge.

That's always been seen as a plus (clogged heads can be very frustrating). One thing of note is that HP's removed the print heads from the cartridges of these new printers - the 8500 has two user replaceable ($60 a pop) heads that are supposedly rated at 50k pages. The 6500's carriage is probably a replaceable part, but some disassembly is likely required.

[davester]

I've had great luck with scanning and printing from my networked Canon (though mine does not have a fax feature).

I have had absolutely horrible experiences with HP software. The hardware is OK (though much pricier to operate than anything else). However, the multifunction printer software (which I still have to use for one of the office printers) is a joke. It's more like a virus, as sometimes it out of the blue grabs 100% of CPU time and brings my mac to a halt, with restart the only solution. This problem has been going on for years. HP is well aware of it, has never fixed it, and there is no solution other than keeping activity monitor on all the time and killing "HP communications" when it starts to go nuts. Apart from that, even when working the software sucks. It's possible that the HP model you get doesn't have this software problem but I wouldn't count on it.

I've never used a Brother.

[tenders]

I detest inkjet printers and have had consistently good luck with Brother lasers. I currently have an MFC 7820N and will never own a non-networkable printer again.

[StingMe]

Hmmm...maybe I should consider a Brother laser multifunction (MFC-7840W?) and a Canon photo inkjet (PIXMA iP3600?).

I really hate buying printers - too many models and none of them have the same features so you can compare apples to apples, so to speak. Nevermind that for the same model you can find one review that claims it is the best printer ever and another that states it is a piece of junk.

:banghead: :biggrin:

[Silencio]

Brother for mono laser, Canon for color inkjet. And ponying up for the network models is worth it IMO.

[StingMe]

Silencio wrote:
Brother for mono laser, Canon for color inkjet. And ponying up for the network models is worth it IMO.

That's what I'm leaning toward at the moment...

Brother MFC-7840W - $300 @ Staples - $50 instant - $50 recycle = $200 or so

Canon PIXMA iP3600 - $80 @ Staples

I think that will put them in a better place versus taking a gamble on the new HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 wireless - $400 @ Staples - $30 instant - $50 recycle - $50 HP = $270 or so. This is tempting, but my experience with HP software and drivers (Mac and PC both) has been less than stellar - and I'm very skeptical about things being much improved for this new line of printers.

The Brother MFC-6490CW ($300 @ Staples - $80 instant - $50 recycle = $170 or so) is still intriguing though, with its tabloid scanning and printing capabilities - but I'm sure performance doesn't compare at all to the mono laser.

I imagine 90% of their printing will be b/w so a mono laser + inkjet is probably the best way to give them the flexibility they want and the performance they'll appreciate at a reasonable cost.