Alright. I've been a PC guy my whole life. But, since Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) came out, I am ready to buy a MacBook and own both a PC and Mac. My problem is, my Dell printer doesn't have a Mac compatible driver available. Now, I'm going to have to buy a new printer.

So, I need some help from anybody who knows: Which printer can I purchase that is both PC and Mac compatible?

Here are my criteria for my new printer purchase:

1. Printer has to be a laser printer.
2. Printer has to be an all-in-one (AIO) unit.
3. Printer has to be color.
4. Both Mac and PC compatible.
5. Printer has to have built-in wireless networking capability.
6. Budget: < $500.

Any help is much appreciated. TIA!

 

I knew this was going to be a bit difficult. After doing some research, I've only come up with one printer that fits my needs:

Samsung CLX-3175Fw Color Laser MFP 17/4PPM-Wireless

Let me know if you come up with something.

 

Most HP printers are Mac and PC compatible. I'd start with Best Buy.

 

Which HP's fit the criteria above?

 

This is the only HP I found that is close but it does NOT have wireless networking, only hardwired..

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...ABA&catLevel=3

Refurbished for $350
http://www.shopping.hp.com/store/pro...C431AR%2523ABA


... which is the same price as brand new since it has a $150 rebate

 

^ Thanks. Yeah, I went on the HP site and looked already. If it only had wireless capability...

 

Another option is the Brother MFC-7840W. The install manual says it supports Mac
http://www.brother-usa.com/mfc/model...7840W&tab=spec

 

Owait, you want color. The MFC-9840CDW has the features but out of your budget.
http://www.brother-usa.com/mfc/Model...tID=mfc9840cdw

 

Yeah. I know I'll have to pay $$ for the printer with all of the criteria I listed, but I can't justify spending too much for a personal printer.

 

Though I haven't used that particular brother printer I have set up some of the bigger brother printers in mac users homes and they work great.

I know you specified laser, but give the officejet hp 8500 premier a look. It was introduced to compete with the new kodak ink system and has a very low price per page for a inkjet. It also has a great feature set. Unfotunately I have i've never hooked a mac up to one.

http://computershopper.com/printers/...cejet-pro-8500

 

Can I ask what sorts of things you're printing that you have to have a color laser for a personal printer? It's just not a very common thing for personal use and is likely going to limit your choices considerably.

 

I laughed when I read your specs and at the end said it had to be under $500. I can't believe you found one. That's probably your only option.

 

It would be for mostly personal use. The majority of the time I wouldn't need the color capability. But, I want to have that option available.

I think I'm going to pick it up. I found the Samsung unit for a steal.

 

refurb Brother MFC-9840CDW <---- link

item # 775792

wireless
mac and pc compatible
$500 after $50 rebate


If you decide to buy it, I can get you an extra $30 off. Just PM me.

 

The HP OfficeJet 8500 premier is also a good printer. It's on sale at Staples for $350. Trade in your old printer and get an additional $50 off.... so $300.

The other option is to buy a non-wireless color laser aio and buy a wireless printer server for it to get wifi capability. Or, if you have a wifi router just plug in the wired aio to the wifi router to make it wireless.

Lots of ways to make it wireless if it isn't wireless from the factory. Plus, it opens up your options a lot.

 

same printer i was gonna mention

i actually work at staples now (since i lost my job)
i do the "geek squad" thing there

there are 2 models to the 8500.. one with wireless.. one without.

 

This is a good find. As of right now, it's between the Samsung and this HP unit. I wonder...which is better?

 

Wait, wait. I knew something was too good to be true. This printer isn't laser, it's an OfficeJet. So, it's off the list.

Samsung is still the only option.

 

Well, if it has to be laser.... what about the Brother MFC-9840CDW I mentioned above for $470 after rebate?

It would be cheaper to operate too in the long run since Brother offers high capacity toner cartridges for it.

If, for example, you buy Brother's high capacity black cartridge, it runs around $95 (lasts up to 5K pages) and the high cap. color carts. run about $92 each (each lasts up to 4K pages). That's 1.9 cents and 1.3 cents per page, respectively.

The Samsung carts run $75 for the black (lasts up to 3K pages) and the colors run about $100 for a 3 pack... so about $33 each (each lasts about 1K pages). That's 2.5 cents and 3.3 cents per page, respectively.



Prices will vary if you buy remanufactured carts though or buy the carts online... but the Brother should still be cheaper to run.

 

Azuser brings up a good point. You need to think of the long term cost as well as the up front cost

 

damn.. how many papers do u print normally? (on a monthly basis)

 

Well, I'm planning on keeping the printer forever, so I'll be using it a long time. But, I really don't print too often. As I mentioned, it's going to be used as a personal home printer. I just want one with all the options I listed in the first post.

The Brother printer is an option, but as I mentioned previously, I found the Samsung brand new for a steal. It's much cheaper than the Brother.

So, as of right now, I'm going with the Samsung, so far. I'll keep checking back here until Monday morning, when I order my printer.

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

I think the wireless print server is your best bet, since it opens up your options for a AIO with all the features you really want.

 

You'll have many more printers to choose from if you have a print server.

 

^

That's true, but it's not what I want.

 

In that case, just go with the Samsung then

 

Having wireless is awesome. We have our printer locked up in a cabinet because of it.

 

This is my plan, unless someone comes up with a better suggestion before tomorrow morning.

 

How much would you be getting the Samsung for anyways? Must be a really good price if that's the only one you're considering so far....

 

Here it is: http://www.pcnation.com/web/details....06&item=V07406

I waited 2 days, and it went up in price $65 . It was $333 shipped. I should have just bought it when I first saw it.

None of the other printers meet my criteria, that's why I'm not considering any other one. This one is a huge bargain.

 

Princely, check out Nextag.com. They have price histories for most stuff, so you can see when it might historically go down in price again:

http://www.nextag.com/Samsung-CLX-31...e-history-html

 

^ Stogie!

 

$349 at MacMall

http://www.macmall.com/ttsvr/p/52627...=MWBgooglebase


You snooze, you lose.. so jump on it now.

Both PC Nation (according to their website) and MacMall charge tax for CA buyers so MacMall is cheapest as of now..

 

^ Where? Also, is there free shipping?

 

$2.99 shipping from MacMall (according to their website)

 

For some reason, I can't find it, Ray?

 

From PC Nation:

 

Find what?

 

^ The deal on MacMall?

 

try this link

http://www.macmall.com/ttsvr/p/Samsu...60~pdp.fcgchgi