Info wanted on printers

[Stanfordian]

My trusty printer, a HP Officejet 4500 connected to my computer by cable, has given up the ghost.

I have bought a HP Envy 4502 which has just arrived and is sat here in its box. I think I may have bought the wrong type of printer. The printer I want is required to be attached from my static computer. This new one looks to be designed for smartphone and tablet printer using wi-fi.

I was wondering whether to try to connect this or buy another, if so what type?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My trusty printer, a HP Officejet 4500 connected to my computer by cable, has given up the ghost.

I have bought a HP Envy 4502 which has just arrived and is sat here in its box. I think I may have bought the wrong type of printer. The printer I want is required to be attached from my static computer. This new one looks to be designed for smartphone and tablet printer using wi-fi.

I was wondering whether to try to connect this or buy another, if so what type?

It sounds as though you've bought an air printer, without the option of using a cable. It could remain sitting in its box forever, so maybe you should replace it with a different printer. Most printers accept a USB cable. Some still accept parallel cables too.

[Stanfordian]

It sounds as though you've bought an air printer, without the option of using a cable. It could remain sitting in its box forever, so maybe you should replace it with a different printer. Most printers accept a USB cable. Some still accept parallel cables too.

Thanks Alpensinfonie,

There is a USB cable with it.

[Flay]

It says here that it has a USB port but you have to get the cable separately:

http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/printers/hp-envy-4500-e-all-in-one-printer

I feel sure you could use the cable from your old printer.

Have you just bought this new, Ian? The product sheet says that it has been discontinued. Also:

HP recommends that the number of printed pages per month be within the stated range for optimum device performance, based on factors including supplies replacement.
100 to 400

.

If you are able to return it to the seller then I think you ought to, and get something more straight forward.

[Stanfordian]

It says here that it has a USB port but you have to get the cable separately:

http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/printers/hp-envy-4500-e-all-in-one-printer

I feel sure you could use the cable from your old printer.

Have you just bought this new, Ian? The product sheet says that it has been discontinued. Also:

.

If you are able to return it to the seller then I think you ought to, and get something more straight forward.

Yes, I've arranged to have it sent back. What printer do you suggest I order?

[Flay]

Yes, I've aerranged to have it sent back. What printer do you suggest I order?

Good. I'll leave the recommendations to others. I use a Epson XP-415 printer/scanner which seems OK. Get one with separate ink colour cartridges - that's cheaper in the long run. Ideally one that can get generic refills. Printers seem cheap but it's the inks that are the cost.

[umslopogaas]

I have an HP Photosmart 3210 All-in-one. Its at least ten years old and has never given any trouble. It photocopies and scans as well as printing. The print speed is a bit slow if you want to do large volumes, but its fine for my relatively modest needs. I doubt its still made, but the modern equivalent should be just as good and probably faster.

[Dave2002]

It sounds as though you've bought an air printer, without the option of using a cable. It could remain sitting in its box forever, so maybe you should replace it with a different printer. Most printers accept a USB cable. Some still accept parallel cables too.

Doesn't this, from one of the HP manuals around page 54 explain the issue?

USB connection (non-network connection)
The HP ENVY 4500 series supports a rear USB 2.0 High Speed port for connection to a computer.
NOTE:
Web services will not be available with a USB direct connection.

To connect the printer with the USB cable (830U?)
1.
Insert the printer software CD in the computer CD-ROM drive.
NOTE:
Do not connect the USB cable to the printer until you are prompted to do so.
2.
Follow the on-screen instructions. When you are prompted, connect the printer to the computer by selecting USB on the
Connection Options screen.
3.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
If the printer software has been installed, the printer will operate as a plug-and-play printer. If the
software has not been installed, insert the CD that came with the printer and follow the on-screen
instructions.

I have had a few HP printers, and some have been quite good, but setting them up can also sometimes (nearly always ??) be a total pain, particularly with wireless.
One thing I don't like about several HP models is that it's not possible to see into the ink cartridges, which almost inevitably run out at inconvenient times, and cost a lot to replace, unless one simply ignores any constraints and/or guarantees and uses compatible cartridges. Some Canon printers are also expensive, but certainly the better ones allow one to see into the cartridges and check that there is, or is not, any link left. The check can also be done when installing new cartridges - it should be possible to see if there's any ink in there. To try to check this in the past with some models I often weighed the cartridges, but that's still not a good enough check. My concern about most printers, other than the Canons, is that they rely on some sort of electronic measurement or counter to decide when you should change the cartridges. This can lead to a total rip off situation - depending on the model, but I won't elaborate further. I have used Canon, Epson and HP printers. Of these my preference is for the more expensive Canon models - but note - they may be expensive. Consider getting cheaper models, and treat them as replaceable, and use compatible cartridges as an alternative to getting a more expensive model, which might actually last for years.

Other hates about printers are those models which refuse to print because one of the colour cartridges has run out - or the printer thinks it has - when all one wants to do is to print black on white. Several behave like that. Also, some have a combi type cartridge, which has to be replaced even if only one of the embedded ink tanks runs out, even if one does not want that colour anyway.

Epson models are not without problems, but some models do have very cheap compatible replacement cartridges, so can work out cheap to run. We have one (830U?) which is at least 10 years old, maybe longer, which we still use on occasions. However, it's not good enough to print boarding cards for airports, and the alignment of the fancy digital codes is not good enough to activate the automatic gates, thus giving a hold up while a manual check is carried out on the ticket and/or boarding card.

Our Canon is an MP560, and currently we are also using an HP Photosmart 110a, which works using wireless, and will also print directly from iPads and the like.

[Stanfordian]

Thanks everyone for your help. It's much appreciated.

[gradus]

ps I have always used HP printers and my current Officejet Pro8500 does all that I want and plenty more besides, so an endorsement for HP from me. It is connected to an old-ish pc by cable so have never tried the wireless capacity.

[Anastasius]

ps I have always used HP printers and my current Officejet Pro8500 does all that I want and plenty more besides, so an endorsement for HP from me. It is connected to an old-ish pc by cable so have never tried the wireless capacity.

Another vote for HP.

We have an elderly monochrome HP laser printer still doing sterling work and an HP colour laser printer that is simply the DBs....I'd never go back to inkjet printers. The latter doubles also as a scanner and colour photocopier.

[gurnemanz]

Using a wifi printer has been great for us. We've had a Canon MG6250 for several years which has been superb and problem-free. You can hide it out of the way - ours is under the stairs. You could also connect it with a cable if you wished to do that way. It's easy to put on the network. I print from a Windows laptop and my wife from her iPad.

[Beresford]

Using a wifi printer has been great for us. We've had a Canon MG6250 for several years which has been superb and problem-free. You can hide it out of the way - ours is under the stairs. You could also connect it with a cable if you wished to do that way. It's easy to put on the network. I print from a Windows laptop and my wife from her iPad.

Agree entirely. I recently bought a USB + wireless Samsung M2020 laser printer from Rymans; it is straightforward and works well and quickly from my PC. Only B&W, and the blacks aren't quite as solid as my old inkjet, but straight lines are more accurate.

[Dave2002]

I may have bricked our HP All in One B110a - looks like the dreaded Ink System Failure message.

This doesn't encourage me to buy another HP printer, and I might just resite the Canon MP560 which is larger, but AFAIK still works.
OTOH, I notice that some new HP models, such as the Envy 4524 come with a 5 month trial of something called Instant Ink. Is that perhaps a good thing?

I really dislike the wastefulness of some of these printers, which may lead to them being scrapped because of what I think are probably very stupid failures. OK "it's only a machine" - but having units which are I'd guess about 98% good, which fail totally because of something to do with ink cartridges seems very poor to me.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I came upon this site:

http://www.urefilltoner.co.uk/test-lab-printer-reviews.html

Which provides some guidance how to avoid the control exercised over our printers by manufacturers (by buying models where the facility isn't embedded in the machine, etc). Their main business,not surprisingly, is providing toner refills for toner cartridges in laser printers; lasers have fallen in price -although they are not the cheapest printers (which are inkjets, and only priced that way to recoup profits on the cartridges, I think).

I'm on the verge of giving up the fight to avoid the fantastically expensive (cost per millilitre) printer ink with an Epson machine we bought only 18 months ago. I'll spend another hour or three trying any strategies I may garner from a google search (block access to the internet, etc). Or pay the price for their refills. One problem is that the colours (not much used) dry up and most of the ink is used on cleaning and keeping the head free for use.

As a second machine I had bought a mono -B&W laser - a Samsung M283X and am glad to see it was previously one of the suggested models on the above site. I had a laser provided by my employer when I was a homeworker and once I'd got the paper loading right for the machine, it was trouble free. I'm thinking hard about whether I need a colour printer in the house, and whether I need to have a copier as well. I have a separate document scanner. If I do, and I want a laser it is more expensive and for a Laser, much bigger. So I'll probably soldier on with the Epson and see if I can get away with compatibles. (I gather that the compatible suppliers re-set the chips in the cartridges to counter the latest update on the control software from the manufacturer. So, if I can stop the Epson updates, I might be able to buy compatibles that work!

Choices, choices......