Looking for a printer recommendation.

[Medion]

My needs:
-support for wireless
-support both Windows and MAC, but not have issues with MAC (I've had printers that "supported" MAC but had issues/limitations)
-support for both Apple Airprint and Google Cloud Print
-support for automatic dual-sided printing/scanning/copying

My current printers:
-Canon Pixma MP610 (2007 mid-range all-in-one)
-Canon Pixma MX850 (2008 high-end MFP)

Desired price:
-$150-$225, but will go higher if a device is truly exceptional. Given that my target device (MX922) is $200, I don't see myself going much higher.

My wife and I bought the MP610 in 2007. It was adequate with some major issues. For one, even though it uses 5 ink tanks, it's programmed to NOT FUNCTION AT ALL if one ink tank is empty. Yup, can't even scan or fax. It flat out locks you out. The next year I got their high end MFP for myself and have used it as a network printer ever since. Loaded with features, though it did struggle with my wife's Macbook. Other than the Mac issues though, I've loved it, but the movers managed to decimate it. I've put in a claim, but I'm wanting to replace it with something that will do at least everything that the 850 did.

So naturally, I could go with the MX892 (2012 model of the same MFP, about $150 in the few places that still have it). However, I'd rather wait for the MX922, which comes out next month. That way I'll have the latest model in the same lineup for not much more. But, while I've been happy with Canon's top model MFPs, I have to admit that I am ignorant on printers. For all I could know, this could be like me getting the GeForce 6600GT, then the 7600GT, then the 8600GT (etc.) without ever knowing there was a x800GT/GTX all those years.

One model that caught my eye was the Epson WF-3450. I can get that for $150 on sale right now. The slightly lower end 3420 (same thing with a smaller capacity paper tray) is the same price, so I'd just go with the 3450. Anyone have an experience with this printer and/or the Canon MX8xx line? Any other recommendations?

 

[Deleted member 88227]

I think the MX922 is already out.

$200 - Canon Office Products MX922 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax

 

[Medion]

I think the MX922 is already out.

$200 - Canon Office Products MX922 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax

It's not. Amazon had it listed as March 3rd up until yesterday. Now it falls within 4 weeks, hence the change.

Canon says mid-Fen to late March. Press releases initially said "March," and retailers are now prepping for March.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Ah; I didn't pay attention to the ship date. Just seen you could buy it now.

My fault.

Was hoping someone with more knowledge would have posted some information here, as I too have been in the market for a printer and my needs are similar to yours except I don't care about Apple/Mac compatibility. Though I do have a need for good quality in photo printing.

A buddy of mine has the WF-850, its a good printer and he loves it. Though reviews say the photo quality isn't that great. I do like how he can print it from anywhere just by sending an email to the printer to print something. That is pretty cool.

 

[Medion]

The Canon Pixma series claims up to 9600x2400 dpi for color. The Epson Workforce series claims 5760x1440 dpi. Both look poor to average on stock paper (and worse on cheap Wal-Mart store-brand paper). Use at least basic photo paper and both will look at least as good as drug store prints.

Get a Canon if you want better photo quality though. MX line or competent all-in-one, and MG line for all-in-one with an emphasis on photo printing. Ink gets expensive though, especially on the MG line. If you don't need an all-in-one, get the IP line (but you indicated that your needs mirrored mine).

I've decided on the following; when my Mayflower damage claim comes in, I'm either getting the Pixma MX922 (if it's available), or the Epson WF-4540 (if the Pixma is not available). Both have some series strengths relevant to each other, no serious weaknesses, and a reasonable cost ($200 and $250 on Amazon, respectively). Since I can't pick between them, I'll go with the Pixma's availability as the deciding factor.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Then I will most likely go with the Pixma then. I do love my photography. My only concern is will the printer stop printing/functioning once one ink tank runs out. That would get on my ever lasting nerves.

 

[Medion]

Then I will most likely go with the Pixma then. I do love my photography. My only concern is will the printer stop printing/functioning once one ink tank runs out. That would get on my ever lasting nerves.

All printers are like that today, it seems. If one ink tank is empty, the printer essentially goes on strike. "Feed me or I won't work!" And sometimes the tank won't even be truly empty and it will detect as empty. I've heard of it happening on Canon and Epson, so it's definitely not a Canon issue. Ink is a racquet.

 

[Medion]

The $249.99 sale on the Epson just ran out everywhere except a few places. Tigerdirect and Staples still have it at that price, with most places raising it to at least $269.99, some all the way back up to $399.99. I decided to bite. Just reserved one at Staples and will be picking it up in a few hours. We'll see how it does.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Dam this just got a lot more interesting...

$130 - Epson WorkForce WF-3540 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer

Thoughts on the one you got? Wish you would have waited for the Pixma?

 

[Medion]

Skillz, just a note, I got the WP-4540, not the WF-3540. Just a correction for you.

Loving it, though it is missing one feature from the WF-3000 series; the ability to scan directly to a cloud-based storage account (Dropbox, Google Drive, and a few others). No idea why the higher end model lacks it. Otherwise, beautiful device.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Skillz, just a note, I got the WP-4540, not the WF-3540. Just a correction for you.

Loving it, though it is missing one feature from the WF-3000 series; the ability to scan directly to a cloud-based storage account (Dropbox, Google Drive, and a few others). No idea why the higher end model lacks it. Otherwise, beautiful device.

Oh damn. This whole time I thought you was referring to the WF-3540 since you typed the model number incorrectly in the OP (WF-3450) I just assumed you was referring to the WF-3540 the whole time.

edit
After doing a quick comparison, it seems the only thing the WP-4540 seems to offer is an 80 sheet back feed paper tray and prints faster. Not sure that's worth double the price, unless I am missing something.

 

[Medion]

Oh damn. This whole time I thought you was referring to the WF-3540 since you typed the model number incorrectly in the OP (WF-3450) I just assumed you was referring to the WF-3540 the whole time.

Just to clarify, I did not type it incorrectly. In the original post, I was comparing the WF-3450 and the Pixma MX922. However, I decided on buying the Epson WP-4540, and posted this in post 5 of this thread. It's easy to gloss over, but I assure you, it wasn't a typo on my part It was simply an easy thing to miss.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Just to clarify, I did not type it incorrectly. In the original post, I was comparing the WF-3450 and the Pixma MX922. However, I decided on buying the Epson WP-4540, and posted this in post 5 of this thread. It's easy to gloss over, but I assure you, it wasn't a typo on my part It was simply an easy thing to miss.

Where is the WF-3450? I can only find the WF-3540 (The one I just bought)

 

[Medion]

Where is the WF-3450? I can only find the WF-3540 (The one I just bought)

Now THAT was a typo on my part

To clarify, with proper numbers; I posted in post 1 that I was considering the 3540. I posted in post 5 that I was leaning towards the 4540.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Now THAT was a typo on my part

To clarify, with proper numbers; I posted in post 1 that I was considering the 3540. I posted in post 5 that I was leaning towards the 4540.

Right, that's what I was referring to. I just assumed you miss typed the 4540 also. You seem to miss type the 3540 a lot. You even did it in the other thread.

 

[Medion]

Right, that's what I was referring to. I just assumed you miss typed the 4540 also. You seem to miss type the 3540 a lot. You even did it in the other thread.

Yup, got the 5 and 4 mixed up. I do it a lot.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Messing around with the ADF I've discovered that the easiest thing is to just scan it to a SD card, then browse the SD card from your computer (leaving it inserted into the printer) and just copy the documents over.

Scanning has been fun, even over the wireless network. Need to get some pictures to see how well it translates though.

 

[Medion]

Messing around with the ADF I've discovered that the easiest thing is to just scan it to a SD card, then browse the SD card from your computer (leaving it inserted into the printer) and just copy the documents over.

Scanning has been fun, even over the wireless network. Need to get some pictures to see how well it translates though.

Once set up properly, you can scan directly to your PC from the scanner, without the need for an SD card as the middleman. Under Epson Software, select Event Manager. This will allow you to set up your preset quality settings for one button scan from the scanner to that PC.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Once set up properly, you can scan directly to your PC from the scanner, without the need for an SD card as the middleman. Under Epson Software, select Event Manager. This will allow you to set up your preset quality settings for one button scan from the scanner to that PC.

Oh dang, it apparently auto configured itself once I installed the rest of the software after I tried it the first time. I didn't even have to do anything, I just went to scan to PDF and it gave me the option to scan to my PC. Nice.

 

[Medion]

Oh dang, it apparently auto configured itself once I installed the rest of the software after I tried it the first time. I didn't even have to do anything, I just went to scan to PDF and it gave me the option to scan to my PC. Nice.

Yup, but the option I described allows you to change default scan options (folder location, dpi, color, etc.).

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Yup, but the option I described allows you to change default scan options (folder location, dpi, color, etc.).

Yeah I seen that, for that purpose the default stuff is fine. Anything higher and I will use the included software to do the scans to get it perfect. Really loving this printer so far.

 

[TorxT3D]

bumping this.

had a great sunday getting sales on supplies needed for my next costume build.
came home with a new ink cart for my canon mx700. friggin thing shut off in the middle of printing.
ive troubleshooted as much as i could and im sure it has come down to the swappable psu, or printhead

so today i got my eyes set on the epson 3540, carts are about 18-20 each
considering i dont print pictures, just scan fax and copy i think this is ideal for me.

not buying another canon, although they can print super fast

 

[Deleted member 88227]

I love my WF-3540. Even the color prints look good enough on glossy paper.