[dabigkahuna]

I presently have a Brother HL-1440 laser printer. It has started printing out black spotches about 3:75 inches apart (3 on a normal sheet vertically). Looking online, someone else had exactly the same issue and found it wasn't the cartridge, but a damaged drum. So I figure it probably isn't worth the investment to fix it (the printer is almost 6 years old).

I also have a problem with this printer because it ONLY works when the USB connector is plugged into the computer directly. No hub, powered or not, will work. BTW, this is a Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop.

So, I'm need to consider another printer and I lean towards another laser. Years ago I constantly had trouble with ink printers cartriges clogging up and I would rarely have a need for color, though I wouldn't mind it for special situations so feel free to include that capability if you know of a good deal. It doesn't get heavy use - usually just a few pages a day with very occasional exceptions where it might have to do 50 or so.

I definitely want minimal trouble. I want it to be able to run off a USB hub (I only have two built into the computer and the printer takes one and the wireless keyboard and mouse takes the other because it won't work any other way either).

Looking to the future, I'd want it to be able to work if plugged into a wireless router and work on a Mac (just a possible future purchase).

Oh, and it needs to be able to print to 3x5 index cards.

That's the major stuff I can think of (I'm open to other suggestions for things to consider).

I think a horizontal paper holder may be better than vertical and, of course, holding more paper at once is always a plus.

Any suggestions on what to buy that isn't real expensive?

Thanks.

Bob

[Adama]

Hi, Kahuna. I purchased a HP Photosmart C-4180 All-in-one (Printer, Scanner, Copier) Injet printer a few months ago and I've been very happy with it. I got it at Staples for $79.99.

There are many sales going on right now. Have you tried your local BestBuy, or Stapes? Or maybe even CompUSA if you have one close by? they're closing down all their stores, so I'm sure they have terrific sales on printers too.

[dabigkahuna]

Haven't checked into anything yet - wanted to get some ideas of what to look for first. While I don't need a fax option, I could benefit from a scanner so I guess I should factor that in.

And while I'm leary of inkjets, a friend of mine who runs a printing business and so uses various printers said that for light use, he thinks the HP's have less problems with the cartridges clogging (and my use is light). For heavy use,he thinks the Epsons are good, but clog if not used much. But he has only been in the business for a few years so I don't know how wide his experience is.

Thanks.

Bob

[Adama]

Hi, Bob. A friend of mine has had an HP printer for about 6 years and still working as good as when she first got it. That's what inspired me to get an HP, with the added benefit of a scanner.

Sometimes Laser Printers give you a lot of paper jams. Here's the link to a Document I wrote recently about clearing the jams forums.pcworld.com/docs/DOC-1392|d-1392

I think that you'll enjoy having the ability to print and copy and scan. I'm having a lot of fun with mine, more than I ever imagined.
Message was edited by: Adama

[dabigkahuna]

Does no one know of any laser printers that will work with a USB hub rather than having to plug directly into the port on the computer? From things I've seen elsewhere, it seem it may at least be possible if you're lucky with the one I have - but usually not, but I haven't found anything that says some other laser printer is designed so this isn't a problem.

And if anyone knows why a printer should have this problem, I'd be interested in knowing. To me, it makes no sense at all. I mean, the computer is just sending data to it, right? And the computer itself has it's own power.

[rgreen4]

You might consider a printer that connects with ethernet rather than USB. Laser printers take a lot of juice from the household electrical connection, especially color. I have an HP color laser (CLJ 2605dn) and if I don't turn it on before the other computer equipment, it won't pull enough power to start. HP warned me not to plug lasers into to UPS devices because of the power draw. I also have an HP Laserjet P2015dn that I love. It is strickly B&W but is fast, duplexes, and has a drop down manual feed for cards envelopes etc.

If you have an open card slot, you might consider adding additional USB ports. the P2015dn will connect either with USB or ethernet, but I doubt you can connect it on a hub either.

[apatz]

I'd go with the vote for an Ethernet connection also. I have my Dell Color laser 3100cn hooked up to my wireless network and everyone is able to print to it from throughout my home with no issues. Printers through a HUB don't work as the power requirements. Even my small portable printer won't print through the hub so I doubt if anything out there will.

[rgreen4]

Curious question - while my two ethernet connected lasers are also connected through the network, do you know of anyone who has connected ethernet directly from the computer to the printer? There must be a way, but it is probably more trouble than it's worth.

[apatz]

It should work using a crossover cable instead of a straight ethernet cable. You just need to know the IP address of the printer (set one manually) and then create a printer port in your printer setup pointing to this IP address. I haven't tried it myself but it should work.

[rgreen4]

I agree it should work, it's just I have never done it, because I have developed a fairly large home network and everything goes through the router. In fact, I had to add a switch since I ran out of ethernet ports on the router. I was just curious, but you are right about having to set the address manually.

[dabigkahuna]

> You might consider a printer that connects with ethernet rather than
USB. <

I'm thinking of that too, though I'm not sure about my computer using that. This is based on the fact that I tried putting in one of those PC cards that has a couple USB ports on it and they never worked. Don't know why, but there is a possibility the problem is with the slot or motherboard so that a card for using ethernet may not work either. I'm not quite ready to buy a new computer yet.

> Laser printers take a lot of juice from the household electrical
connection, especially color. I have an HP color laser (CLJ 2605dn) and
if I don't turn it on before the other computer equipment, it won't
pull enough power to start. HP warned me not to plug lasers into to UPS
devices because of the power draw. <

But what I can't figure out is why there would be a big power draw from the USB. That should be coming (in my opinion anyway) from the printer's own power plug!

> I also have an HP Laserjet P2015dn
that I love. It is strickly B&W but is fast, duplexes, and has a
drop down manual feed for cards envelopes etc. <

Will it handle 3x5 cards? I have to have that because I carry a number of those in my pocket with various info (in very tiny print!) that I want easy access too. When a card gets kinda worn out from handling or needs info updated, I just print out another one. Maybe someday I buy one of those expensive phones (iPhone or similar) and have all the info in that, but for now I need the note cards.

> If you have an open card slot, you might consider adding additional USB
ports. the P2015dn will connect either with USB or ethernet, but I
doubt you can connect it on a hub either. <

Well, like I said, that card with the ports didn't work. Maybe I'll try it again someday. If a card does work, do the ports work as well as the built-in one? Or is it not better than a hub? If it's like a hub, there is not much for me to gain from it.

Oh, one more thing to make sure I understand the terminology. There are wireless routers, ethernet, and, when speaking strickly of printers, network printers.

How do all these relate? Specifically, is a wireless router and ethernet the same thing? Is a network printer a printer that works with either a router or ethernet (if they are different things)?

[dabigkahuna]

> while my two ethernet connected lasers are also connected through the
network, do you know of anyone who has connected ethernet directly from
the computer to the printer? <

Hmmm, this seems to relate to my prior question. What is the difference between "the network" and "ethernet connected"?

[rgreen4]

There are three types of networks - wired, wireless and mixed. A wired network uses a router just as a wireless network does, but the router has no wireless capabilities. These are rare today. Wired also connects all devices with a wire, called variously ethernet or CAT5. Since there are more than one version of CAT (I do not know what it stands for) the original being 5, then there is a 5e, and a 6. All use a modular connector (RJ45) that is slightly larger than the standard telephone plug (RJ11) and has 8 connectors. Ethernet has the advantage that new newer standard is fast and secure but has the disadvantage that you have to run wires.
Wireless is just that. You connect the devices wirelessly by setting communication up between devices. Bluetooth is similar, but more restrictive. Wireless routers generally have small antennas on them, and most if not all have 4 wired ports on the back so you can make a mixed setup.

Mixed is just that, a mix of wireless and wired devices. In my case I have a Linksys wireless router with wireless connections to an HP AIO printer, an HP Media Center desktop and two laptops. It also has connections to 5 wired devices, an HP Color Laser printer, an HP B&W Laser printer (the P2015), two desktops and a Network Attached Storage device. (I had to add a switch to expand beyond 4 devices, connecting the switch to the router in one of the ethernet ports, and then the color laser and one desktop to the switch). You can expand the wired section of a network by adding additional switchs which are available in a number of port configurations 4, 8, etc.


Most laptops can be connected either by wireless or wired. This came in handy when visiting this Christmas when visiting my friends and he had a new router from the last time I visited and he couldn't find the access code at first. We simply hooked up my laptop with the ethernet cable and I was in business, but then I was tied to one location. Almost all desktops available today have a built in ethernet port on the back, but wireless is generally an add-on, some times a card, sometimes a USB device.


Printers come today with USB connections, USB and ethernet connections or USB, ethernet and wireless connections. There may be some that offer USB and wireless, but I have not come across any yet, but if the manufacturer spends the extra money to add a wireless capability, the ethernet port addition is very cheap. It the network configuration (used for both) that costs the extra money. My two lasers are USB or ethernet. My AIO has all three and is connected wirelessly (the first time I had used that type of connection for a printer). You can also buy a print server which is a network connection device to which you connect a printer that is not network capable (USB or the old Parallel connection).


I hope this helps clear up the connection types. What apatz and I were speaking of is the fact that the ethernet cables have an in connector and an out connector. When you connect to a router or a switch, the crossover is handled there. But if you directly connect two devices that are normally connected to a router, you have to have some way to handle the crossover or the out pin on device one will be connected to the out pin on device 2, not the in pin, and it won't work. There is a special cable called a crossover cable made for this so that the two wires are crossed in the cable, so the out pin of device 1 connects to the in pin on device 2. It's sometimes called a poor mans network. BTW a router has a swich built in and the router comes in as it routes the broadband connection. The switch just connects internal network devices.


One of the reasons that you cannot connect modern printers to a computer through a hub is that the printer has to send back and fourth communications to the computer and the hub is not set up to handle this. I am sure that an Electronics Engineer can explain it all in boring detail with specifications, but it is enough for me to know that it will not work.


Cards, 3x5 in particular can be printed by the P2015. I have done it many times as I use them also for presentations. I had standing behind a podium, and the 3x5 cards free me to walk about during presentations. The Color laser also prints 3x5 cards, but to print more than 1 at a time, you have to reconfigure the tray, where as the drop down manual tray of the P2015 handles 10 or so at a time.


The card with the USB ports should have worked just by inserting it in the slot and turning on the PC if you are running Windows 2000, XP or Vista. If you are running an older version, you would have to install drivers. I put a card like that in my late sister's machine because the build in ports were 1.1 and we needed 2.0 ports. I was also assuming that your machine had an ethernet port as most machines built in the last 4-5 years have them already. If yours does not, a card would have to be installed and drivers (regardless of which version of Windows) installed.


I hope I have answered all the questions we raised, if not please let me know, or if you have any other questions, just ask.


If you look at the back of your PC and you see what looks like a bigger fatter telephone connection on the backplane of your computer, that is likely the ethernet port.

[Adama]

Hi, rgreen. You should consider making your answer/post into a Document, it has great information, IMHO.

[dabigkahuna]

Well, that sure gives me a lot to chew on!!!

> There are three types of networks - wired, wireless and mixed. A wired
network uses a router just as a wireless network does <

Okay, so basically I can figure on getting a router and it may as well be wireless, but with the option to plug some stuff in directly.

> Wired also connects
all devices with a wire, called variously ethernet or CAT5. <

Is that the same port that I plug my cable internet in with? It's like a very large telephone plug. If I got a wireless router, would I still plug in this cable to the computer or would it go into the router or what?

> Wireless routers generally have small antennas on them,
and most if not all have 4 wired ports on the back so you can make a
mixed setup. <

That sounds like a good option. My apartment is small so wireless is less important, but it may still come in handy.

> Mixed is just that, a mix of wireless and wired devices. <

That would include what you just described - a wireless router with wire ports on it too, right?

> In my case I
have a Linksys wireless router with wireless connections to an HP AIO
printer, an HP Media Center desktop and two laptops. It also has
connections to 5 wired devices, an HP Color Laser printer, an HP
B&W Laser printer (the P2015), two desktops and a Network Attached
Storage device. <

Hmmm, right now I have one laptop, though I'll be looking for another computer eventually and might want to set up the old one to experiment with Linux, so that's two items. I'll probably just go with a B&W laser printer because I don't use color enough and I can print out that stuff on an inkjet at school in a pinch. Might add one here if it becomes more important. So that is two printers maybe. I guess a network hard drive may be useful too.

Don't know what else can be set up this way, but I have a wireless keyboard and mouse (sensing units plug in via usb port - which, combined with my printer, is using up both my usb ports). And I have a digital camera that I connect via USB to transfer pictures - have to unplug the printer to do it.

That's all I can think of at this time or what I can project.

Question: What do I need to look for in a printer to be sure it will work with a wired/wireless router?

And do switches work as well as the ports on the router itself? IOW, it isn't like the USB hubs where things work when plugged into the computer but not when plugged into a hub?



> My two lasers are USB or
ethernet. <

I've seen info on printers that say "network ready". I've seen some that specify ethenet. Would both these mean a wired connection of some sort?

> You can also
buy a print server which is a network connection device to which you
connect a printer that is not network capable (USB or the old Parallel
connection). <

That's a little confusing, but I've seen some router info that mentioned a usb port on it and they seem to also specify it is for a printer, though I think the Apple Airport Extreme says it can be fore either a printer or hard drive.



> One of the reasons that you cannot connect modern printers to a
computer through a hub is that the printer has to send back and fourth
communications to the computer and the hub is not set up to handle
this. <

Ah, so it isn't so much about power. But it also sounds like it should be able to create a hub that would do this - just cost more.



Your 2015 printer sounds pretty good - though checking prices, it may be more than I would want to spend!

Handling multiple 3x5 cards is nice, but I'm usually only printing out one at a time - on a big day, maybe 5!



Thanks for the info.

I am thinking of putting a new HD on my laptop (it only has 30 GB and runs at 4200 rpm). I want to bump both up, though I have to wonder if I'd be better off applying the money to a new machine.

I'm not ready for that yet though - gotta figure out some things like how to use my original restore disk on the new drive without it screwing up my old drive's registration (just in case the new setup has problems, I want to be able to switch the hard drives back while I try to work it out. But this may not be possible with Windows XP, even though I'd only be using one of these hard drives at a time. Once I had the new one running properly and all updates applied, I'd take it off the old one and use it as a back-up drive maybe. Or just leave it as is, stored away in case the new drive ever self-destructs!

[rgreen4]

I think there are three questions in there, and I will try to answer all of them.


1. The Ethernet cable from the gateway devices ("broadband modem' to some) to the computer, would now go to the wireless routher, plugged into the socket labled WAN (Wide Area Network) or Internet. What we are setting up is a LAN (Local Area Network). Then a second cable is connected to one of the 4 LAN ports on the router and then to the computer.


In the case of one computer which is a laptop, you will still need the second cable to connect the laptop to the router on a temporary basis while you set up the wireless configuration on the router.


2, A way to connect a printer to a router would free up the connection to the laptop, so you could print without having the printer connected to the laptop. If this is not important, you can simply go with a USB printer and connect it that way when you need to print. I do recommend a network ready printer which should by definition have at least an Ethernet port. Without that, it is not network ready. A wireless printer usually advertises that fact loudly in their ads. And a wireless print will generally have an ethernet port as well.


For an inexpensive local printer that connects with a USB cable, the HP 1020 is a good bargain. I am at a friends house and he has one. Early on there were driver issues with Vista, but they now have Vista drivers on the HP website. He has not printed 3x5 cards, but the specifications lists card stock and 3x5 in the sizes. Here is a link to Newegg's listing.

3. You should be able to easily add a newer and larger HD to your laptop. I use Acronis True Image 11 to clone drives, and by purchasing a USB adapter to fit the HD such as this one which adapts not only 2.5" IDE but also 3.5" IDE and SATA drives. This is not the cheapest or most expensive, but has fairly good reviews. By installing Acronis and attaching the new drive to this device, you can clone from you current drive to a new one. Then swapping drives, you boot up on the new one and all you files are there just as on the old drive and Windows works fine. This will not work, however, to take windows from computer A to B for the registration will not match the computer internals.

[dabigkahuna]

Okay, so I get a router and plug the cable internet connection into that (the WAN or internet socket of the router).

And then another cable from the LAN port to the computer - but is this just if I'm going the wired option? If I attach a wireless card to my computer, this wired connection would only be until the wireless configuration is set up (not looking forward to that!).

As for the printer, a hassle I have now is having to unplug it any time I need to plug something else in. Doesn't happen a lot, but it's still inconvenient. So I guess I either need an printer that will work with a network (ethernet or wireless) or have a router that will have a USB port (like Apple's) that accepts a printer. Though I don't know if those routers will definitely work with every laser printer.

> For an inexpensive local printer that connects with a USB cable, the HP
1020 is a good bargain. I am at a friends house and he has one. Early
on there were driver issues with Vista, but they now have Vista drivers
on the HP website. <

It looks like a possible option, though network capability would be nice - and I'm not sure if it would work on one of those routers that has a USB port capabiblity. My brief research into it so far shows there aren't drivers for a Mac (which might be my next computer). Don't know if that matters if it will work through the router since I have no experience with those. Also wish it held more than 150 sheets at a time, though that isn't a real big deal.

> I use Acronis True Image 11 to clone drives, and by purchasing
a USB adapter to fit the HD such as this one
which adapts not only 2.5" IDE but also 3.5" IDE and SATA drives. <

That looks interesting - I gather you simply plug the device into the old drive (no enclosure) and into the computer?

But while I will need True Image for future cloning, it won't solve my problem now. I've had the original OS installation (plus updates, of course) since I bought the computer in early 2004 (or maybe it was 2003). I have various reasons to think it needs to be redone from scratch.

For example, Zone Alarm will ask me to allow this or that and I checked the box to "remember" the choice - but it doesn't remember at least some of these things. Now, that could be a problem with ZA, but some time back I downloaded some software which was supposed to repair the registry - after making a backup of it. Well, when I tried to make the backup, I got a message saying it couldn't because the registry was damaged or something. So that may be a factor in the ZA problem.

I can't use my restore disk on my existing setup because once you upgrade to SP2, the original won't work. So I'd have to either install from the original (I think SP1) disk on the new drive, do all the updates (I hope to download as many as I can in advance so I can install them without going online with the new drive first).

I think there is a place to get all the XP updates as one file. Not sure about Dell drivers or anything else Dell would use though and, of course, software is going to be needing updates. Have to get the details for transferring all my mail (Thunderbird) too. I think bookmarks (Firefox) are something I already know how to do.

So, in case I mess something up, I need to be able to switch the old/new hard drives so the problem doesn't keep me from getting email, etc.

Once I know the new HD is working with all the software, I'd probably make a full ghost image of the new drive OS partition to the old drive to use as a basic backup in case I want to start over again later should something really screw up my system.

> This will not work, however, to take
windows from computer A to B for the registration will not match the
computer internals.
<

Everything on the computer would be the same, except the hard drive. Not trying to use the OS on two different computers - just two hard drives so I can switch them if if necessary until I know everything is working on the new one.

Thanks.

[rgreen4]

You have the connections correct. Depending on the router, you may be able to connect wirelessly from the start, but once you have it set up with security, you will have problems if there are any glitches. But you will always be able to connect a computer with Ethernet cable because it is by its nature secure, wireless is not.


Finding an inexpensive printer with networking and Mac compatible is tough. However, the HP 1022 from Newegg fits the bill as it comes with a wireless print adapter from D-Link. Full disclosure - the HP website lists the 1022 line as discontinued. I expect the 1018 and 1020 will follow shortly as their new P series is expanded downward. I note the presence of a P1006, and P1505 and P1505N in the lineup as new printers. I do not know anything about these new printers.

HP is noted for routinely changing their products, but they are very good about supporting older products for several years. However, the 1xxx series has always been considered throw-away printers since the cost of the printers themselves is fairly low. For example the 1020's discounted price is $99.99 and the toner cartridge (included) is $59.99. Some printers come initially with low volume toner cartridges, but this machines cartridge is good for 2,000 copies.

[dabigkahuna]

I suspect I'd have the computer connected to the router directly where I live now - at least at first. Any new computer I would do the same probably, but have wireless option too (mostly for when I visit others, but also if, for some odd reason, I need to move it for use elsewhere). My apartment is only about 750 sq ft so wireless is not a big deal here.

Looking at the pictures, I did note one thing that might be a hassle - both the main paper storage area and the special area paper are behind a door. I don't know the details of how the printer works so let me use my present printer as an example:

The paper tray slides in and out so that comes out about the same. The special paper slot handles single sheets but is not behind a door. Whenever the printer prints something, it FIRST takes anything from the special slot (single sheet only) and then continues with the main tray for all the rest. If the special slot is empty, it goes right to the main tray.

So, when I do note cards, I slide in one at a time and print one "page" (I have a file that contains all my 3x5 stuff on many pages, but I just print the one I want each time using a macro which only prints the page the cursor is on). Most 3x5 cards actually are run through twice as I have info for each side.

So I'm not sure how this 1022 works. If I understood some of the comments users made, the special slot holds more than one sheet, but since I never had that option, I don't know how you arrange for it to print from different slots. Also, since I'll still need to print both sides manually, will it print even if that door is open? It would be annoying to put a card in, close the door, print it, open the door, put the card in again, close the dore, print the 2nd side.

> Finding an inexpensive printer with networking and Mac compatible is tough. However, the HP 1022 from Newegg
fits the bill as it comes with a wireless print adapter from D-Link.
<

Maybe I missed it looking at the link. I only saw a USB connector. Also, while the specifications say it works with Mac, one reviewer said it didn't (maybe he was using a Mac OS that couldn't). But it looks like it may fit my needs. I figure anything under $200 to be okay so if it works with both PC and Mac and can work wirelessly with a router, that sounds good. Also noted the 260 sheet tray - definitely better than 150.

> Full disclosure - the HP website lists the 1022 line as discontinued. I
expect the 1018 and 1020 will follow shortly as their new P series is
expanded downward. <

I know nothing about the different series of printers. Is the P series basically the one I should check out?

I see what you mean about "throw-away" computers. Hard to beat sub $100 price that includes a full $60 cartridge (the 1020).

[rgreen4]

First the wireless is a second device shipped with the 1022. Note on the left side of the screen, under special offers, you'll see combo deals. There you will see the printer and the printer server bundled together for the same price as the printer only.

The P series is new, and as such doesn't have many discounts. It's kind of buying a car at the model year closeout when they come out with a replacement model.

As for the paper handling, with the paper in the main input tray, the door has to stay open as that is part of the main tray. The advantage of this over the normal inkjet where their tray also sticks out, is that with the paper removed you can close the front of the printer. I am not aware of the fact that the special tray will hold more that one, but if you put several cards in the special tray and only print one, the next print job will have to decide which tray to pull from.

On my printer, I can specify which tray to pull a particular form from, so normal 8.5 x 11 you can specify Tray 2 rather than automatically select. Or you can simply remove the unused cards. I am guessing a little here since I don't have first hand knowledge, and my friend only uses the special tray for envelopes and one at a time.