[X4U] Cheap Reliable USB Laser Printer

[Randy B. Singer]

On Dec 13, 2007, at 5:32 PM, David R. Boag, DDS wrote:

> He wants a laser printer, not an inkjet. B&W is fine. They've never  
> had color. The last time I was looking for a laser printer, i got  
> an HP, and it still sits on my desk. It's been reliable.
>
> Is HP still a good way to go for a cheap printer? They want one for  
> roughly $150 or so. Is there a better alternative to HP now for low- 
> end laser printers?

Those old Apple LaserWriters and HP's were tanks.  New, inexpensive  
laser printers print faster, have higher resolution and have a  
smaller footprint.  But they probably won't last as long.

HP printers for the Mac went downhill around the time that  OS X was  
introduced.  HP was all set to be the OEM supplier of Apple-branded  
printers around that time, and then Steve Jobs had a falling out with  
them and it never came off.  Since then HP has often had terrible  
service and support for Mac users.  If you follow a number of Mac  
discussion forums you will hear a surprising number of horror  
stories, along with stories about how the latest OS X update isn't  
compatible with some HP printers and HP is slow (or worse) to update  
the drivers.  Personally, I just don't recommend HP products anymore.

Brother has been the shining star for inexpensive, yet reliable low- 
cost laser printers for the Mac.  Brother has a couple of tiny laser  
printers that are very inexpensive, which I don't recommend.  (I call  
them the pancake models.)

But get above these two models and their products are the bomb:
http://www.brother-usa.com/printer/BW_Monochrome_Laser_Printers/

The HL-5240 is a workhorse.  It even includes Postscript.  But it  
doesn't include Ethernet, if you need that.
Here it is for $126
http://tinyurl.com/2hmg4g

___________________________________________
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
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