Buy which multi-function (all in one) printer? Mono not colour. Laser?

Martin_Knott-Lewis

I need a printer for home use. I'm not a techie so would like some advice please.;)

My last printer was bw and colour but wouldn't print in greyscale if any of the colour cartridges was running low. Irritating and expensive!

I don't want colour anyway, just mono.

If I spend a bit more what extra can I get?
Laser?
Wireless?
What about replacement toner costs?

Thanks.

Martin_Knott-Lewis

BTW, my budget is about £50

timbim_2

If you only want to print b&w, and you print a lot of text, a laser will be the way to go. I don't think you'll get a laser all in one for £50, but remember that the maintenance costs of a laser a much lower.

totalsolutions

Brother lasers are very good, all in one's too, not expensive either. www.brother.co.uk

Rich44_2

You won't get a laser MFP for £50 that's for sure (well unless you're very very lucky)

This is close though

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=316276&CatId=0

Followed by this

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=295568&CatId=0

Martin_Knott-Lewis

Thanks for this.

I went to Tesco, Currys and Ryman at lunchtime today. Saw the following brands:

Brother
Samsung
HP
Epson
Canon.

Staff not overly knowledgeable (one just read out the product sign to me) but another warned me off HP because of the high replacement cartridge costs.

Bearing in mind my budget, I was drawn to the following two machines:

Brother MFC-235C (Yes, the one you recommended Rich44)

http://www.ryman.co.uk/Brother-MFC235C-AllInOne-Printer-Scanner-Copier-Fax-1225022271.asp

and Cannon MX310

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.202-6082.aspx

Both have fax function as well.

I think I'd be getting more use for my money at this price level with one of these machines rather than an entry-level, basic laser printer.

What do you think and which is the better spec or more reliable brand please?;)

Martin (not Lewis)

totalsolutions

I told you the Brother is fine. Ring the service dept for a chat, ask what they think. Also ring Cannon for the same info. Then see what you think. The Cannon model is a colour ink jet model you said you did not need this. Go for the Brother. They will look after you. No I don't work for them and I do use their products and I get excellent customer service.

spoken from a Lewis household

Martin_Knott-Lewis

No doubt and Brother give a one year on-site warranty.

I just want to compare the technical spec of both machines and I believe both are colour.

Here's what Canon website says:

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Multifunctionals/Inkjet/PIXMA_MX310/index.asp

Rich44_2

Just remember the B+W print quality of these wont be as good as with the laser Samsung for the same price and of course running costs will be higher as ink is expensive but if it's colour you're after then most MFPs are fairly samish now

There's also the Epson BX300F as well which may be worth thinking about

Martin_Knott-Lewis

Rich

I don't need colour particularly and certainly won't be printing photos but those two I mentioned do have copier, scanner and fax facility.

The Epson looks promising, again it's an inkjet.

andy2004

the epson bx300f uses the same cartridges as my sx200, they are around £14 for compatibles but that is for £12 cartridges each cartridge will have between 12ml to 18ml depending on where you get the compatibles from ebay and that includes p&p aswell. which is at least twice as much as the orginials, you could also use a program called inksaver to save upto 70% if you wanted a draft look. Though 30% setting is not noticable at all.
Just my 2pence worth.