Fax / scanner / copier / printer

[energyandair]

I would like to find a single machine that does the following:
• Fax with second ring tone detect
• Scan and copy
• Flatbed and sheet feed
• Color print

Ideally it will also: be compact, connect directly to Ethernet, have a large capacity sheet feeder and a good size paper tray. Separate low-cost ink cartridges would be a plus and the machine must continue to provide all other functions if an ink cartridge runs out.

I have an HP5000 LaserJet that does most of my printing and don’t need the above functions often but when I do, the machine must work reliably, quickly and well. I also have a laser fax/copier and an inkjet printer but would like to get rid of them to simplify and save space

I thought that this was now readily available but everything I have looked at so far appears to have significant drawbacks.

David

[leoblob]

In my experinece, the "all in ones" are a compromise in virtually every respect. They do everything, but they don't do anything particularly well.

... have a large capacity sheet feeder and a good size paper tray...

IMO, this is the deal killer. I don't think you'll find an all-in-one with a large capacity sheet feeder.

In my case, I have a dedicated fax, a dedicated scanner, an HP LJ4+ with an auxilliary 500-sheet tray (in addition to the built-in 250 sheet tray), and an Epson Stylus Photo EX 6-color, tabloid-size photo printer. I think you're better off with the separates you have. I've built small wooden stands, so I can save desk space by sliding an unused device (like the scanner) under something else. When I need the scanner, I pull it out. Otherwise, it is tucked away, saving desk space. The LJ4+ sits on a low stand, under a table, where I can easily use it but it doesn't take up any desk or table-top space, either.

[tfflivemb2]

In my case, I have <snip> an HP LJ4+ with an auxilliary 500-sheet tray (in addition to the built-in 250 sheet tray)

FWIW, I just wanted to chime in to let you know that the LJ4 was the best laser printer ever (IMHO). I used to rebuild laser toner catridges for a company, and the LJ4 was the most dependable of all the machines I had the pleasure of working on. Good choice for you!

[energyandair]

Thanks for the response.

I'm afraid I may have mislead you a bit on my requirements. Sheet feed and paper bin capacity are secondary requirements that I hope to satisfy but they are not deal breakers. I would rather give up a bit on these things than have multiple machines.

I now send and keep most things electronically so I no longer print a lot and nearly all of the printing I do is from my HP 5000. The new machine, if I can find it, will have a very light print load and I could easily live with a 100 sheet paper bin which shouldn't be too hard to get. I would however prefer 250 sheet capacity if I can get it without sacrificing something that is more important.

In looking for a large sheet feed, I am talking in the context of small multi-function machines. I would like to have at least 30 sheet capacity which I have seen in some of these machines but, if I had to, I could live with less capacity.

David

[Kyocera]

It is indeed a crap shoot to find something within a budget and something that will perform all the tasks you want.

I install the higher end multi-function devices on networks for Kyocera Mita. If you are looking for something at staples or office max you may have good luck but remember that they are still a copier, a printer, a fax, and a scanner, and each has its own unique problems. I say this because they may need service and service ususally costs more than the total price of the machine. Ask the vendor if they have a return policy, and also what happens if it breaks down. Usually service is upwards of $89 an hour.

You may want to look here at an KM1820 a small multifunction device that has all the capabilities you are looking for and can be upgraded with an additional cassette. The scan options are FTP, SMB, so you can scan directly to a folder on your desktop/server, scanned documents are in two formats PDF, TIFF, it comes with a program called paper port to convert your tiff documents to various file formats compatible with the programs you have installed on your pc. If you want to edit PDFs you will obviously need adobe pagemaker or a third party software for that purpose. OCR seems to be the weakest link in the chain for most customers who find themselves having to purchase an expensive third party OCR program. If you get a quote for this machine be sure to specify that you want the fax option, this machine also has the capability to "network fax" from a pc right to the machine, also the automatic document feeder makes scanning multiple pages easier.

[energyandair]

I had some difficulty finding the KM1820. Is it a current model?

It looks like a nice machine and my limited experience with Kyocera has been good but its probably more machine that I need. My print duty cycle on this machine would be well under 500 sheets pa and I'd really like something more compact and possibly cheaper (I didn't see the price anywhere).

David

[Kyocera]

It's over $500, and it is a new model.

Probably one of the top three i would suggest would be HP, Canon, Brother, just get the cheapest one because they are all very close in overall comparison, since you want ethernet make sure you read the fine print as on some models the ethernet is an add on option. Get a document feeder that duplexes to help keep large files with two sided text organized.