Printer offered with the Macbook. Which one?

Hi again,

I am curious about the printers that Apple offers with every sold Macbook. [To be precise, Apple offers a $100 rebate for the printers it carries.]

In particular, I have been looking at the HP and Canon printers, offered at a price between $99 and $150:

- HP Photosmart C3180 All-in-One Printer, for $100.
- HP DeskJet 6940 Printer, for $130.
- HP Photosmart C4180 Printer, for $150.
- HP DeskJet 6980 Printer, for $150.
- Canon PIXMA iP6220D Photo Printer, for $100.
- Canon PIXMA MP460 Photo All-in-One Printer , for $130.

I was considering the $100 HP printer, liking the idea of also having the scanner. Then, I saw some review claiming greater customer satisfaction for Canon.

Do you have any suggestion, based on your experience / knowledge?

Thanks,

GK / Nosferatu

 

Personally, I am a Canon guy. I think they make very good cameras and their printers follow that line. Also, I HATE HP. I have an HP all-in-one networked on my Windows desktop. The software has got to be the worst written program I have ever seen. It NEVER installs right on the first try. It always takes at least twice. My Canon however installs perfectly evertime with no problems.

 

I wanted the $100 canon printer but they didn't have it in stock, so I settled for all in one hp printer. The canon printer has 4-5 individual ink cartridges so you can replace them as they run out. The hp has two - one black and the other a tri color. If you run out of yellow, you will have to replace the entire cartridge.

 

I got the HP Photosmart C3180 and I really like it, the picture qulality is amazing, you can pay like 30 bucks more and get a Photoprinter the has a lcd!!! really great deals.

 

This sounds indeed ridiculous. Very much in line with complaints about the HP ink cartridges being expensive...

G / Nosferatu

 

Actually, HP was the inventor of the separate color cartridges system, but until about 2.5 years ago they used them only in business line printers. Now they offer them in consumer line at prices starting at about $149. As for Canons - their ink's resistance to fading is abysmal even with the newer inks.

 

If you are thinking of printing photographs, I would advise against it. It is significantly cheaper and easier to print them at Wal-Mart, Costco, Walgreens, etc. They usually charge around 19 cents for a 4x6. If memory serves, printing your own usually costs in the neighborhood of 30 cents a print, give or take. Not to mention you will never match the quality or longevity.

 

Just had this discussion at one of my classes at college, and its much cheaper to use walmart, walgreens or whatever to print your photos, not to mention like you said quality and longevity.

I, second the idea to get a printer that has seperate carthridges for each color, I still regreat purchasing the Lexmark I have, granted it does excellent print quality, but the printer carthridges replacements are KILLER. I mean really 40-50 bucks for one?

 

I have the same one and love it

 

Yes, always check up the prices and durability of cartdriges replacements whne shopping for a printer nowadays. Sometimes they even sell the printer at a loss so they can recoup they gains in the replacements. Lexmark for example has been known to sue people for recharging their cartridges, alleging DMCA violations.

 

I've have actually even seen Printers whose printer carthridge replacements that costed more than the printer itself! So basically it'd probably be better just to buy a new printer everytime.