09-02-2008, 07:45 PM
We're looking for a new printer here in our office. We're an all-mac shop running 10.4 and 10.5 on various machines. We print a lot of text, some graphics (charts/graphs/etc), and even fewer photo elements. Although when we do print photo elements, it's usually as a soft-proof for a client's brochure or other print piece. So it does need to handle text and graphics equally well. We need a printer with built-in networking (ethernet) as well. I know about USB print sharing, but that's not an option we'd like to mess with for now. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
We're currently using a Xerox Phaser 6120N, and while it's worked acceptably well for us, we do have a few complaints with it:
1. Long wait for first page
2. Bad handling of envelopes
3. Expensive consumables (xerox brand, anyway)
4. Expensive drum replacement (somewhere around $200 every 25000 or so pages)
With those issues in mind, I've been tasked with finding us a new printer. Our requirements:
1. built-in ethernet
2. Sub-$500 if possible
3. Good paper-handling of various media sizes (don't need tabloid, although if it was included, we'd use it)
4. Good text and graphics reproduction(both computer-generated and photographic elements)
5. Mac-friendly
6. We don't need huge volume--probably on the order of 1000-2000 pages/mo
7. We'd like to start trying out some generic toner options, so a major brand printer probably gives us more options than a lesser-known printer
8. Long drum life (so we don't have to shell out for a new one every 25,000 pages)
I have a Brother B&W at home that has been rock-solid for me, but I haven't used their higher-end color lasers. My dad has several HP b&w lasers at their office, and they've been great, but again, I've not had experience with HP color lasers. A newer xerox is a possibility, I suppose, but only if they've addressed the issues I've described above. I've done a bunch of reading of reviews, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone out there has recommendations for us.
Thanks!
We're currently using a Xerox Phaser 6120N, and while it's worked acceptably well for us, we do have a few complaints with it:
1. Long wait for first page
2. Bad handling of envelopes
3. Expensive consumables (xerox brand, anyway)
4. Expensive drum replacement (somewhere around $200 every 25000 or so pages)
With those issues in mind, I've been tasked with finding us a new printer. Our requirements:
1. built-in ethernet
2. Sub-$500 if possible
3. Good paper-handling of various media sizes (don't need tabloid, although if it was included, we'd use it)
4. Good text and graphics reproduction(both computer-generated and photographic elements)
5. Mac-friendly
6. We don't need huge volume--probably on the order of 1000-2000 pages/mo
7. We'd like to start trying out some generic toner options, so a major brand printer probably gives us more options than a lesser-known printer
8. Long drum life (so we don't have to shell out for a new one every 25,000 pages)
I have a Brother B&W at home that has been rock-solid for me, but I haven't used their higher-end color lasers. My dad has several HP b&w lasers at their office, and they've been great, but again, I've not had experience with HP color lasers. A newer xerox is a possibility, I suppose, but only if they've addressed the issues I've described above. I've done a bunch of reading of reviews, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone out there has recommendations for us.
Thanks!