Network Printer vs Personal Printers

[netadmin06]

Hello to all, I have an office with 5 users, all of them need to print and I am wondering if it would be best to buy 5 HP Laserjet P1006 printers for each or get 1 Network Printer for all of them to share. What makes more sense money wise? They each print about 30 pages per day.

 

[edfair]

For the cost of the 5 a higher quality single printer would be better but that printer and the network are choke points to take the office printing down.


Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[netadmin06]

edfair thanks for the reply...what do you mean that "printer and the network are choke points to take the office printing down"??.....

 

[edfair]

With 5 machines and 5 printers work continues if the network dies. With one printer and a network all work involving printing ceases when the printer or the network dies.

The network and networked printer create a single point of failure.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[netadmin06]

I see, thanks the network has never been down in over 5 years so I expect that not to change any time soon..so why a high quality single network printer would be better than 5? ? (that was your first comment)

 

[gbaughma]

I, personally, would go with a networked printer. Mainly because you only have one to maintain. Since your budget covers 5 printers, and to follow with edfair's thoughts, you may want to get two identical network printers. Then, you can also set them up for printer pooling.

Get them identical, and you only have to buy one sort of consumable (cartridge). Having two gives you a backup. If, for some reason, your network were to totally crap, you can always plug one of the printers in directly (USB or whatever) to get your printing done.

If they can't be without their printer for a few days (parts, etc.) then two printers on the network is a great way. The cool thing about pooling printers is that if one is busy, the other will print instead.

If they're just doing black and white printing, might I suggest something along the HP 4200 series....



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[edfair]

Greg and I agree that 2 would be better than 1. But the original choice was 5 or 1.

Generally the higher quality machines have better capabilities, tighter tolerances, and can handle a wider variety of paper.

Having a backup printer available reduces stress when one dies. Since I deal with trailing edge technology I have multiple backups.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[netadmin06]

Thanks for the great advice gentlemen!

 

[greif1]

I made such a switch a few years ago and the users did not like having to get up very much, but they loved the very high print speed and the better paper handling (LJ8150 11x17 printer) and the ability to print large when they needed it.
The large heavy duty printers are much sturdier than the small ones and the Jetdirect interface is very well established. The cost per page of toner is much smaller and the large printer have very nice servicablity (easy plug in to replace fuser, etc).
gr

 

[gbaughma]

netadmin06:

So, what did you decide to do?



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[netadmin06]

I went with a Laser Network Printer it seemed like the smarter solution and everyone loves it. Thanks for all your help everyone