A frugal OZaC reader asks:
“I have need for both a printer and scanner. Should I buy an all-in-one machine, or purchase both separately? I am particularly concerned about a hardware failure in one indirectly affecting the other.”
Great question, and ironically one that I just addressed myself. I found myself looking for both a printer and scanner for my home office, and pondering whether to buy an all-in-one machine or get them separately. If the printer should fail before the scanner, I would be forced to do one of the following:
- Have the printer repaired. This often costs as much as a new printer.
- Buy another printer, and continue using the all-in-one as a scanner. This wastes space.
- Junk the whole thing and buy a new printer and scanner. This is a waste of both money and perfectly good electronics.
In addition to not wanting to have to choose between these three options at some point in the future, I did not have an immediate need for the printer, so I chose to purchase the two separately.
What do OZaC readers think is more cost-effective? What is more convenient? A separate printer and scanner, or an all-in-one? Leave your answer in the comments.
Photo by liewcf.
4 responses
May 7th, 2008
df5 says:
Repair is a non option.
2 devices, each that does their, and only their, job well. You might pay a little more up front, but the quality should be better and on first device failure you will recoup your up front costs.
Smaller utilities doing a defined job very well. It’s the UNIX way!
May 7th, 2008
JohnMc says:
I used to be the printer god at a fortune 10. If you are going to look at an all in one, then prepare to pay >$250 for it. Anything less than that is crud and guaranteed to break in less than 18mos.
At my home office I have the following setup –
1/ $120 mono laser on the network.
2/ Xerox duplex Scanner [$400] Yeah alot of money but I scan a TON of docs and need the reliability. A Visioneer at $140 would also work.
3/ Drop.io [website] for sending a receiving faxes. I don’t do a lot of faxing these days so that occasional need is handled by this free service. Highly recommended.
Yes I spent more than those $200 wonders but the equipment is 3 years old and still working as good as the day it was purchased. Any single function dies I replace that unit only.
If you really, really need a all-in-one then go with a laser based product. The inkjet models will eat you alive in cartridge costs. I was partial to the old Lexmark X400. But alas it has been discontinued. My pick today? HP Laserjet 1522 MFP. Its laser, has all the function and is <$400. You will still have it 4 years from now. The annual use cost is better than those cheapie inkjet models.
May 7th, 2008
Of Zen and Computing says:
I agree with John on the more unfortunate points of owning an inkjet. If you don’t use it frequently you may have issues with the ink congealing or drying, or the cartridges themselves having a built-in expiration “feature” by the manufacturer.
May 7th, 2008
Limitedmage says:
I have a cheap-o HP Deskjet All-in-one. Scans really nicely at max. 1200 dpi. Prints OK, but not as good as my old HP Deskjet printer did before it broke. But I’ve had it for almost 2 years now and it works great, no problems at all. And best of all, I’ve saved lots of space on my desk.
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