Simplest and most reliable printer for an iMac?
in [Printers]
|
Prev: OKI 5800 Reset counters
Next: Epson R-300
From: John Brock on 1 Jan 2010 23:29 My siblings and I bought our 80-some year old mother a new iMac for Christmas, and her Epson Stylus Color 740 -- unsupported by Snow Leopard -- is now junk. So we'd like to hear recommendations for a new printer. We're not interested in speed or ultra-high quality photos or multi-function; we're looking for robustness and simplicity above all. We'd like our mother to be able to change the ink cartridges by herself! Beyond that, we're looking for a major brand with good OS X support, and not overly expensive (especially the ink). Under $200 certainly, and under $100 would be nice. Given these criteria, what would be the best choice? -- John Brock jbrock(a)panix.com
From: TaliesinSoft on 1 Jan 2010 23:34 On Fri, 1 Jan 2010 22:29:02 -0600, John Brock wrote (in article <hhmi2e$3tc$1(a)reader1.panix.com>): > My siblings and I bought our 80-some year old mother a new iMac for > Christmas, and her Epson Stylus Color 740 -- unsupported by Snow Leopard > -- is now junk. So we'd like to hear recommendations for a new printer. > > We're not interested in speed or ultra-high quality photos or > multi-function; we're looking for robustness and simplicity above all. > We'd like our mother to be able to change the ink cartridges by herself! > Beyond that, we're looking for a major brand with good OS X support, and > not overly expensive (especially the ink). Under $200 certainly, and > under $100 would be nice. Given these criteria, what would be the best > choice? I have two Canon MP-470 printers and they have performed flawlessly for several years. I believe Canon now markets what is essentially an updated/improved version. The MP-470 is a combination printer, scanner, and copier. It uses two easily replaced ink cartridges, one black and one color. The printer can be purchased for around $100. I'm using Snow Leopard without anyl printer problems. -- James Leo Ryan --- Austin, Texas --- taliesinsoft(a)me.com
From: nospam on 1 Jan 2010 23:50 In article <hhmi2e$3tc$1(a)reader1.panix.com>, John Brock <jbrock(a)panix.com> wrote: > My siblings and I bought our 80-some year old mother a new iMac > for Christmas, and her Epson Stylus Color 740 -- unsupported by > Snow Leopard -- is now junk. So we'd like to hear recommendations > for a new printer. > > We're not interested in speed or ultra-high quality photos or > multi-function; we're looking for robustness and simplicity above > all. We'd like our mother to be able to change the ink cartridges > by herself! Beyond that, we're looking for a major brand with good > OS X support, and not overly expensive (especially the ink). Under > $200 certainly, and under $100 would be nice. Given these criteria, > what would be the best choice? pretty much any printer you'll find in a store is fine, however, the ink will be expensive no matter what you get. that's how they make money. you can sometimes buy a replacement printer with ink for *less* than just buying ink for an existing printer. also, stay away from cheap generic knock off inks since they tend to clog.
From: John McWilliams on 2 Jan 2010 00:03 TaliesinSoft wrote: > On Fri, 1 Jan 2010 22:29:02 -0600, John Brock wrote (in article > <hhmi2e$3tc$1(a)reader1.panix.com>): > >> My siblings and I bought our 80-some year old mother a new iMac for >> Christmas, and her Epson Stylus Color 740 -- unsupported by Snow Leopard >> -- is now junk. So we'd like to hear recommendations for a new printer. >> >> We're not interested in speed or ultra-high quality photos or >> multi-function; we're looking for robustness and simplicity above all. >> We'd like our mother to be able to change the ink cartridges by herself! >> Beyond that, we're looking for a major brand with good OS X support, and >> not overly expensive (especially the ink). Under $200 certainly, and >> under $100 would be nice. Given these criteria, what would be the best >> choice? > > I have two Canon MP-470 printers and they have performed flawlessly for > several years. I believe Canon now markets what is essentially an > updated/improved version. The MP-470 is a combination printer, scanner, and > copier. It uses two easily replaced ink cartridges, one black and one color. > The printer can be purchased for around $100. I'm using Snow Leopard without > anyl printer problems. .....But that's Multi function, which I'd also avoid for my Mom were I getting one for her. Pretty much Epson or Canon in my experience, but printer models change so rapidly I don't know what to suggest for a specific model, esp how easy it is or isn't to change carts. My Mac store stopped putting printers out for a while now, but Office Max/Depot usually has a shelf or two of them. There you could see for yourself the access process. == -- john mcwilliams
From: David on 2 Jan 2010 00:23
In article <hhmi2e$3tc$1(a)reader1.panix.com>, jbrock(a)panix.com (John Brock) wrote: > My siblings and I bought our 80-some year old mother a new iMac > for Christmas, and her Epson Stylus Color 740 -- unsupported by > Snow Leopard -- is now junk. So we'd like to hear recommendations > for a new printer. > > We're not interested in speed or ultra-high quality photos or > multi-function; we're looking for robustness and simplicity above > all. We'd like our mother to be able to change the ink cartridges > by herself! Beyond that, we're looking for a major brand with good > OS X support, and not overly expensive (especially the ink). Under > $200 certainly, and under $100 would be nice. Given these criteria, > what would be the best choice? Any of the HP or Canons in basic form should do the trick - certainly avoid Epson (even though they do print nicely) as she will be forever cleaning heads. With HP (I have had 4 of them over the past 15 years) they just sit there until you want to print, then they print. No trouble no fuss. Re cost of ink - generally the cheaper printers tend to be harder on ink than the more expensive units, but that is not such a problem unless you (or her) are going to do a lot of printing. One big advantage of the HP and Canon is that cartridges are available at most department stores and at post offices. Cheers David |