I need a networked laser printer

growse

growse

growse

Soldato
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I'm getting more and more frustrated with my combination of samsung ml1510 and netgear print server (stuff just failing to print, printing out large amounts of blank paper etc) and I've decided that I want a decent network printer.

Can anyone recommend me a printer that is (a) reliable, (b) not too slow and (c) can have a network cable plugged straight in? A cunning sort of web console giving me paper levels like they have at work would be nice too.

I'm not really sure how much I want to spend. To be honest, I just want something that works, and if it costs £250, then fine. Although I imagine you can spend a lot more than that.

Any suggestions?

*edit* I'm just looking at the Canon LBP-3300 and the NB-C2 controller card. Looks good.
 
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I have a brother HL-2070N monochrome laser. Its got built in ethernet and it prints pretty dang quick. Its very small too and cost me just under £100.

You can see it on my desk inbetween a 20" WS (left) and a 22" WS (right)

DSCF0013-.jpg


It has a web console which has lots of details on such as drum life %, status of the toner, you can change the resolution, set network config etc etc..

One last thing to bare in mind, the toner replacements cost £18 (2500 pages per toner apparently) - google for "Brother Hl2030/2040/2070/5150 (Tn2000) Black Toner Cartridge - Compatible"
 
I also got fed up of printer servers and purchased a xerox phaser colour duplex network laser printer, great no fuss printer :)
 
I was just looking at the brother lot. Had my eye on the 5250DN.

I imagine that this will have similar stats on the web console as the 2070N? Got ipv6 and snmp support to, which are always things I like to play with :) My only concern with the networking is how "connect-and-go" it is? If I bring a laptop into the house, how easy is it to print something? I know some network printers allow you to just point windos explorer at the ip address, and it figures everything else out. Others you have to faff around with creating special TCP/IP ports and drivers.
 
Using Vista its very simple. I think I just clicked "add a network printer", it scans, finds the IP of the printer, I accept and it install itself automatically (I dont point to any driver) - takes about 15seconds to be up and ready.

Using XP I think I need to enter an IP manually, then use the "have disk" to load the driver. No more than a couple of mins as long as you have a basic shared account on the PC with the driver.

I am pretty sure this is standard with all network printers though, they wont work without a driver.

Check the cost of the consumables with the 5250DN though.
 
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I have the brother 2070N. Very solid reliable printer but terrible at anything other than text. b&w pictures, maps etc forget it. Unreadable. Tried all settings. Unless someone can tell me some secret to make them better.
 
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