Desktop Laser Multifunction with good copier
 

I need to setup a temporary on-site office for a few months that will then be abandoned at the earliest possible moment.

To this end we need a good little multifunction machine, our standard hardware is a $2000 Kyocera unit but I don't want to spend that much - or much at all. Under $500 perhaps?

So basically I am looking for a small unit that will photocopy multiple pages from the sheet feeder with a built-in print server. I doubt we will be sending or receiving any faxes from this location - or will even have a land line.

I have looked at a few stores and didn't see much that was terribly inspiring,

Any thoughts?

Cost per page isn't an overwhelming concern, I would imagine when were done with it somebody will just take it home.

What volume are you talking about? Does it have to be a Laser? There are some very good inkjets out there, but the cost savings in getting one could be eaten up by the ink if your volume is high.

Same thing with the print server, I have not looked in a while, but when I was looking it was much less money a while ago to get an external print server or router with a print server built in then getting a printer with an internal print server.

Here's one choice in the laser variety under $500

$300
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...561&CatId=2713

(and they have other models from for a bit more, without networking starting at 99.99)

You can go inkjet with networking starting in the $110 range
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...111&CatId=2709

Thanks,

I don't have a good sense of volume, but I would be comfortable estimating it will be well outside the realm at which an inkjet will be economical.

I have never actually been able to get a router based print server to work terribly well so I would rather stick to internal.

I agree. They don't work very well with regular printers, let alone MFPs.

Check out Staples.com. Plenty of laser MFPs for under $500.

There is a Canon MFP for $200 that looks pretty good, although the reviews may scare you away. However, I own an older Canon MFP, and it's been fantastic (except for the fact they stopped making drivers for it after Windows XP 32-bit).

I would highly recommend a HP LaserJet. I have an LJ 3020, which doesn't have networking, but it has been fantastic. Been going strong for over 4 years.

This looks like the latest version of the same printer that I have, and it does include networking.

I have a Brother 7820N. There's a newer model but it looks to be about the same. Internal print server has worked well. Scans, copies, prints, faxes. Under $300.

I have a Ricoh Aficio, it is a pretty quick printer, but what I like is it is a pretty robust copier. The previous Copier/printers were much slower on the copier side (not sure why) Link to something pretty close on Amazon below

http://www.amazon.com/Ricoh-Aficio-3...4823613&sr=1-2

I have a HP LaserJet CM1312 nfi all-in-one. It's a nice color laser printer with copier/scanner/fax abilities. I paid about $350 I think...looks like Amazon has it for $420:

http://www.amazon.com/HP-CM1312NFI-C...4832436&sr=8-1

If you need something a little beefier, check out the 2320, which is the 1312's big brother. Faster printing and built in duplexer. Slightly more than $500, though.

http://www.amazon.com/CM2320NF-Color...4832483&sr=1-1

I am not sure why the 1312 gets such low reviews on Amazon. I've never had a problem with it.

I've been pleased with my Brother MFC7840W
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-MFC-78.../dp/B0016ZQ566

I've had a multifunction HP wireless printer for 7 years. Now upgrading to the latest version due to Windows 7. I can highly recommend HP as the reliability has outlasted a couple of Lexmark lasers. I'm getting the 8500 Premier Pro wireless should arrive tomorrow. My old one is the 2150 which was a work horse and not once had a problem other than running out of ink. Inkjets are cheaper and the new ones seem to have the speed of lasers.

I would highly recommend the HP 3015 or the 3050 (I bought the first years ago for my parents -- testament to its ease of use -- and the 2nd recently for myself, the equivalent later model). You can probably find one used in good condition on craigslist or ebay locally for <$150.

They're cheap, solid, and don't cost a lot for toner. Add a mini print server from Netgear/Dlink/Linksys on the back and it's instantly networkable.

Note though that the current model (derived from these mentioned) is the M1319f MFP which I specifically avoided, because I understand (though I could be mistaken) they've taken out the PCL (?) chip to save money, so it relies on the computer to render the graphics -- ie. it cannot print as a common printer. But others please correct me if I'm wrong.