Guidance in buying a wide-format color printer?

[neworleanshoo]

Hi all,

I was thrust into a sort of "default IT guy" role at my new job, so i'm pretty clueless as to what i'm doing. I'd really appreciate any help or advice you can offer.

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a suitable wide format printer capable of printing 11x17 sheets for producing in-house brochures (max 25-50 booklets at a time)? I'm not so concerned with priting photos. One that is network capable is a huge plus.

A friend recommended the HP Deskjet 9800 Color Printer, but I see on CNet that it's gotten some very bad reviews. And it doesn't seem to be network-ready.

I've also seen the cannon i9900 - but then again there's the HP Photosmart 8750 Professional, which is network capable. But is it primarily for photo printing?

Any help would be appreciated. I feel like i'm drowning in the color printer universe.

 

[LawnBoy]

If you print many of those brochures the Deskjets and PhotoSmarts (the 'personal' printers) are not going to hold up well. I suggest you look into the business-class laserjets, they're expensive up front but cheap in the long run. Something like the HP5550.

 

[neworleanshoo]

thanks..because we already have a color printer, i don't think the boss wants to spend too much $$ on this one. Our problem is that our color laser can't print 11 X 17.

Still, i'm having a ton of trouble finding one that's both wide-format AND network-capable unless it's for photo-quality printing and i was concerned that might use too much ink for what i need.

 

[BadFrog]

Might want to take a look at the HP line of DesignJet Plotters.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein

 

[gbaughma]

BadFrog:

I have a DesignJet 500....I wouldn't recommend it for "bulk runs" of brochures... posters, yes... brochures, no.

If neworleanshoo is thinking about a plotter, (s)he might want to read my review at:

http://www.epinions.com/content_145519971972

Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com