All-in-one printer/scanner

Be warned, this is going to seem like an inane reply!

For scanning, whilst I fall back onto the office scanners if I can't be bothered, usually I get out the digital camera and take a photo(s) of the documents - avoids need for a multi function scanner/ printer.

I bought a brilliant A3 Epson printer a couple of years ago - hardly ever used it and the cartridge replacement costs were horrific.  Plus of course they have a relatively short shelf life once installed.

I also bought a simple HP laserjet B+W printer.  It has been absolutely fantastic - totally reliable.  I have had it several years and have yet to replace the toner cartridge.  I don't print alot but it is fab to know that I have a device which I can plug in any time and it will print, and print at high speed with great text quality.

Apologies if this is a bit left field, but it works for me!

Peter

I've had great luck with the Dell 2335DN. Might not be a fit for you - relatively large, and only B&W laser printer. However, the fast printing, lower cost and good sheet feeder were well worth the move from my previous HP inkjet, which was killing me. Scans to email right from the device, which I love. Works on a Mac running OS 10.6, didn't work well on an older one running 10.5.

I've switched to ordering prints online,  much cheaper and higher quality vs printing yourself.

I have a Canon MG6150 which I'm happy with

I went through a period of being slightly less happy with quality until i realised that Adobe PSE and Canon software were mucking each other up, so once that sorted, happy again

It is wireless and works seemlessly from any PC on network. I have no Mac so cannot comment on that aspect.

You can change speed and quality to suit and it is reasonably quiet and you can use all sorts of paper with it. (It's not very quiet after switch on when it's warming itself up for a few seconds but actual printing is OK but nothing like the relative silence of a laser printer)

Has grey printer cartridge so good with B&W.

All ink cartridges are relatively small though so it does go through them at a rate. Course, would be better if I could convince everyone else in the household that they don't need 'best' quality when copying this week's school dinner list or a Google Map of wherevershire...

I had a Canon printer before this and aftermarket cartridges and paper worled OK with it but Canon brand stuff was better I found.

And it looks smart.

I did see a new epson the other day in Staples which was very stylish with a smaller footprint which might suit if you like epson? Can't see it on their website though.

I have an MP980 on the "network, it seems to do the job with an iMac and 2 Windows laptops.

Obviously it depends ultimately on your budget and requirements but I've had great results with my Epson SX515W wireless printer/scanner. It's probably been superseded by now but it was inexpensive and it's been reliable, cheap to run and produces high quality output faster than any other home printer I've seen.

Here's a review.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/...inter_Printer_review

Having had a couple of the all-in-ones (both HP) I'm afraid that both were a major step backwards from their separate predecessors. Admittedly they were only about £100 each but seriously, the quality of either scans or prints was pretty poor.  Both seemed to drink ink with a thirst that would have shocked even Burton & Harris, and both eventually stopped printing in black.  As for the scan quality - marginal at best.  My previous stand-alone scanner was an Epson Photo Perfection and the quality of scans was incredibly good.  The scans from the HP all-in-ones were dreadful with all kinds of banding and artefacts.  No amount of tweaking could improve this.  About the only good thing was the networking feature on the last one.

Anyway, I now have a stand-alone Samsung mono laser printer again.  Cheap to run and fabulous print results every time.  And I'm now looking for another stand-alone scanner, probably another Epson I imagine.

So be warned.  Make sure you can try before you buy.

Another vote for keeping the functions in separate boxes, if one function fails you do not lose the other function while you get it repaired or replaced. You can also get the level of performance you want from each function ie a good printer but not so good scanner or vice versa.

With printers you might find it more economical to replace the printer rather just change the cartridges  - extreme I know.

.....I'm another member who's not going to answer your exact question (!!) I'd go for a Canon printer and for your needs a iP 3600 would be fine ....I bought one a few months back and it's fine.  ....loads of 3rd party cartridges available on Ebay for a comparative pittance ...it's widely available for approx £60

Couple it with a Canonscan 210 (about £66 at Amazon) and you'll find they'll out perform a combo unit which are always compromised.

Just bought one of the HP wireless ones that work with iPhones. Didn't feel we'd really use that facility BUT it's bloody brilliant!

So I now have the five PCs in our house talking to it wireless or bluetooth as the mood takes them, plus the three iPhones in our house. Also, you can have anything on the phones or remote computers printed by calling the printer's dedicated e-mail address. It was just plug-and-play or I would never have got it to work.