And no I won't just be proofing ads in black and white via the USB connection ;)

My formerly trusty Lexmark Optra E312 ( USB ) has developed a serious problem of not being able to feed one single sheet of paper at a time. I have tried everything from rubber rejuvinator to roughing up the roller and pickup pad to no avail.

Rather than spend any more of my time or money on it I have decided to replace it with a Network Laser Printer so that everyone in the house can get in on the fun without my having to leave a Mac on just to do USB printer sharing.

My wife does a substantial amount of printing on the laser every day, sometimes several hundred pages, for her third grade class. Though not the kind of output you would find in an office it still adds up to a lot of pages every month.

I'd like to stay under $450, duplexing is a plus and it needs to work with OS 9 as well as X (since my sons 3400 is never going to be able to run X).


I don't want to have to pay $$$ for an add on ethernet connection (think JetDirect)!

So far I like the Brother HL-5170DN or HL-5250DNT [www.brother-usa.com]

I am looking for suggestions of printers from other manufacturers and appreciate your hands on experiences.

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Aloha, Ken


“I have developed significant attachments to several members even though I wouldn't recognize them if I sat next to one on a park bench. I'm often tempted when in an airport to walk around, hollering "The Løpe", to see if anyone other than the Homeland Security people will acknowledge me. ” - The Løpe

"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us." Justice Robert Jackson



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2006 04:53PM by Harbourmaster.

For home-duty cycle printing, I like the 5170DN.

Little dissapointed with it's consumable life in moderately high volume use though.

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
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Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
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Eureka, CA

I've been happy with my HP 1320n, so far.
Got it from newegg for about $350.AR
Plays well with OSX, don't know about OS9.

I stuck with HP because I can get toner replaced by a friend for almost nothing.
(basement toner cartridge refill and repair business)

Another vote for the Brothers.

My research also led me to the Brother model you noted. Staples had refurbs online at one time.

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bradsdad
---no signature required

with the brother line of laser printers

i was concerned about the cost of the toner which seemed appropriate

but what about the cost of the drum!

that pushed the combined costs of consumables over the top for me.

i ended up w/a hp laserjet product (though not ethernet)

i'm sure there is a hp w/does have ethernet

just one person's opinion

be well

rob

I'm happy with my Konica Minolta 2430DL

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The Taoist Zhuangzi said, "Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone".
The sociologist, and historian, Adam Ferguson described the phenomenon of spontaneous order in society as the "result of human action, but not the execution of any human design".

The drum? I guess I need a lesson on laser printers. Why/when would you replace the drum?

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bradsdad
---no signature required

LaserWriter 16/600.

Seriously. It's a tank, consumables are cheap and easy to find, perfectly networkable (I have three OS9 machines, two X machines, and a Windows box printing to it).

It's also cheap to buy.

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In the words of DharmaDog: "it may or may not be utter horse@#$%&, but it shouldn't be dismissed simply because it doesn't agree with your opinion."

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Trying is the first step to failure. -- Homer Simpson

Monster Wrote:
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> I'm happy with my Konica Minolta 2430DL

No Postscript, no OS 9 support.

When I get ready to buy a color Laser I will give it my full consideration.

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Aloha, Ken


“I have developed significant attachments to several members even though I wouldn't recognize them if I sat next to one on a park bench. I'm often tempted when in an airport to walk around, hollering "The Løpe", to see if anyone other than the Homeland Security people will acknowledge me. ” - The Løpe

"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us." Justice Robert Jackson

With the Brother lasers, I'd look closely at the print quality difference between the old 2400x600dpi print engine in the old 20xx and 51xx models versus the new 1200x1200dpi engine in the new 52xx models. The old ones were never reknown for their print quality.

The drum is the light sensitive roller that the laser "etches" the image onto. It attracts the toner powder, which is then transferred to the paper's surface and bonded by heat from the fuser.

In most (all?) of the older laser print engines (Canon, especially), the drum was contained in the toner cartridge and replaced together as one unit.

Separating the drum from the toner like Brother does is supposed to lower the cost of consumables, since the drum (in theory) needs replacement only once for every three (IIRC) toner cartridges, or some such ratio. As such, it carries a higher cost. I haven't run the numbers, but a quick calculation will tell the tale.

even with a drum -- the brothers are hard to beat

if you are looking for a supertank -- you might want to look used -- say something like a HP laserjet 4000/4100/4250

although older -- they are "business" laser printers that cost well over $1200 new (i have client with several of these)

4100 for $400 with extra 500 sheet tray

[cgi.ebay.com]

add a duplexer for $50

[cgi.ebay.com]

I can print from OS 9 with my 2430DL

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The Taoist Zhuangzi said, "Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone".
The sociologist, and historian, Adam Ferguson described the phenomenon of spontaneous order in society as the "result of human action, but not the execution of any human design".