Print Servers

swinnie · 23 Oct 2010 at 23:15

My Grandad is currently after a network print server, preferably ethernet to share his printer between his three machines. Do you guys have any experience with these things, or is it worth it just forgetting it all together?

Many Thanks in Advance

vsmora · 23 Oct 2010 at 23:44

They are very variable dependant on the printer model. If the printer is a budget model it's sometimes only slightly more expensive but much more reliable to replace it for one with a NIC built in.

JonJ678 · 24 Oct 2010 at 00:31

I've been trying to use an old laptop as a print server for a while now, via cups and samba. It's not working very reliably yet, so I wouldn't recommend this approach.

If one of his computers is always/often turned on, then plugging the printer into that and giving window's printer sharing a try may be worth doing. Print servers seem to cost around £50, which buys quite a lot of electricity to leave a desktop running.

J.B · 24 Oct 2010 at 09:16

In my experiance the little stand alone print servers arent very good, well they are a bit flakey. Windows printer sharing is much more reliable.

PhillyDee · 24 Oct 2010 at 09:55

But an HP JetDirect. Pricey, but they work!
However, I do not know about compatibility with other brands. I have one attached to an HP LaserJet 1320 and it is perfect. Always works, never fell over and has been running for months! Printer is fantastic too, 2 trays and duplex to boot

swinnie · 24 Oct 2010 at 10:27

Thanks Guys.

The thing is he's trying to simplify things for my Nan who uses the computer to write letters to family etc.

From your opinions on the print servers, I think I shall stick with my original recommendation of attaching the printer to his Synology NAS Box and sharing it via that as that has the functionality to do so, and the advantage is he's not wasting £30+ on another piece of hardware.

pumaz · 24 Oct 2010 at 16:47

I have a canon printer i've been trying to share on my network (mostly windows) but for the love of god i've never been able to get the MacBook (Snow Leopard) to work with it. My next printer will be a wireless one that is confirmed to work with both PC and Macs.