Printer recommendations, please!

[smoochgirl]

Hello,

I'm a high school art/photography teacher looking to buy a new printer for my classroom. We currently have a nice color laser in our department that we can use through the ethernet, but this year, the class has moved across campus making it inconvenient to retrieve the prints. Plus, there have been numerous network issues since the move so we can't always count on it working on any given day. We also have a decent large format 24" ink jet.

I'm interested in a wi-fi printer so I don't have to mess with networking, but can get help with that if need be. However, not all of my imacs (I have a mini lab with five and three are getting replaced soon) have Airport, so they wouldn't all be able to print wirelessly anyway. They are able to network to my computer, so I thought about having my students send me their files and I would print them. This way, I can control what they're choosing to print and reduce wasteful files and such.

For the most part, my photo class is using film, but some of my advanced students have DSLRs and are learning to process using CS3, so we don't need a high-volume printer. I would like to be able to use a variety of photo-quality papers, which is one reason I don't care for our color laser, but it's good for proof sheets.

My husband is in the office equipment business and is hooking me up with a monochrome laser printer I will use for documents. He suggested I get a cheap ink jet since they come out with new ones each year and quickly become obsolete. Not to mention, when they break, the repairs generally cost more than the machine is worth.

I currently have $1600 to spend on classroom equipment. I have some other things to purchase, but would consider a large chunk of that for a printer if it's top quality and will give me a few years of service. I'm leaning toward Epson, but also like what HP has, plus, our district has a contract with HP so we can get good prices.

With all of that said, what are your recommendations? I welcome any and all suggestions. Thanks a bunch!

[studiocygnet]

I'd check out the Epson website for refurbished printers. A couple days ago they had 3800's (17" wide) going for $895 instead of $1295. I love my Epson R2400, and if I wanted to make even bigger prints I'd go to the 3800. Refurbs are usually just returns that are all checked out and come with a warranty, so usually no problems there. Just spend the rest of your budget on ink. With multiple students, you'll have to have spares ready and waiting. Although the new Epson's aren't terribly bad on ink consumption, it's just a drag if you're about to print and you've got to run out and get a cartridge.

[ggeen]

Once you get the printer set up on the network, wirelessly or wired, and configured on your computer, you can share the printer from there. Your computer now acts like a print server. Just have all the computers print through yours.

Also, there is more fidgeting with networks when dealing with wireless than with wired -- that is unless you don't mind your printer being hi-jacked by anyone who drives by. These wireless interfaces can also act as a bridge into your network. Just be careful.

[mmuhlenkamp]

I've used a Canon i9900 (no longer in production, but a good printer still) and a Canon Pixma Pro 9000 and have been satisfied with the results of both. They can print up 13X19 and use 8 ink cartridges which helps with getting brighter colors.

Whatever printer you get though I would suggest getting paper from Red River for photos. The paper is of very good quality and is considerably cheaper than buying Canon or Epson photo paper from Office Max or something.

Sounds like a fun class you're teaching, I wish I had those kind of resources available to me in high school. Good luck!

[venchka]

I must be the only person on the planet who gets crap results with Red River paper in an Epson printer. Go figure.