I have a HP PSC printer that I don't want to get rid of, still in perfect working condition, etc. but I'm trying to reduce desk clutter, cords, etc. I figured I'd ask how some of you all are set up instead of navigating google results...

Question is... what are some of the methods I can use to use my printer instead of directly plugging into my laptop? (IE: I'd love to work downstairs, hit print, grab my paper on the way out instead of dragging laptop back upstairs to plug in)

Things I've heard of, but not real familiar with:
1 - Print Server? (Gonna run me about $100 new?, if it's even applicable to what I want to do)
2 - Through linksys wireless router?

Ok bored TWW'ers... go.

Oh and the "-" is because I use this phrase loosely, not sure it's technically correct.

[Edited on January 18, 2007 at 12:31 AM. Reason : .]

1/18/2007 12:20:20 AM

I have a Dell 1700n networkable laser printer. It hardwires in to my netowrk which is run from a wireless router. Because it's networked into the wireless router, any wireless device with the printer software installed can print on it. (e.g. I can be in my neighbor's appartment with my laptop, print something, and have my printer in my appartment spit it out. All of this is assuming that I'm still on my wireless network.) You can buy print servers to turn any printer into a networkable printer, but most stand alone print servers either suck or cost $texas (YMMV). I think that the best option is to find a networkable printer. They tend to be faster the printers with cheap stand alone print server and have a lot more memory (memory is good for high volume printing and PDFs).

1/18/2007 12:48:02 AM

If you do end up getting a new networkable printer, do like darkone and get a laser printer if at all possible.

1/18/2007 12:54:28 AM

You can turn any printer into a network printer. Just get a cheap ass old computer, put Linux or win95/98 on it and voila - a $10 print server.(free if you're lucky)

1/18/2007 12:56:49 AM

^^^
Agreed with most of what said.

Options:

1) Networked Printer - hook an ethernet cable into it, and setup a static IP for it. Life becomes 5000x easier. (I have a PSC 2610 which does this).

2) Wireless Printer - HP does sell products with a "w" on the end of it, where the printer itself has a wireless network card in it. I personally don't trust this, but it may be a solution for you.

3) Standalone Print Server - "converts" USB to Ethernet more or less. In my personal experience, I've had issues with the cheaper ones and you don't need the more expensive ones.

4) Linux Box - setup a print server on a Linux desktop.

5) Windows Box - setup file and print sharing on a Windows desktop. (Note: If this is a work laptop, this could cause a number of issues).

A lot of the options listed really depends on your technical knowledge, amount of time willing to invest, and amount of money will to invest. My recommendation would be #1 or #5. Not sure how old your current printer so up to you to decide whether its worth the investment or not.

1/18/2007 6:28:41 AM

Quote :

"Oh and the "-" is because I use this phrase loosely, not sure it's technically correct."

haha. I was about to ask... One of my biggest pet peeves is when people misuse quotations.

1/18/2007 7:46:02 AM

Ok, to add a little more background info here...

1) I'm not getting rid of my current printer... just doesn't make sense.
2) I'm not a tech whiz, but I can figure out how to set up most things
3) Personal laptop (not work) so... what all goes into:

Quote :

"4) Linux Box - setup a print server on a Linux desktop. 5) Windows Box - setup file and print sharing on a Windows desktop. (Note: If this is a work laptop, this could cause a number of issues)."

And for a printer that only has connections for the power cord and the cord that runs between the printer and laptop (USB on one end only, square-ish on the other), how possible is this?:

Quote :

"1) Networked Printer - hook an ethernet cable into it, and setup a static IP for it. Life becomes 5000x easier. (I have a PSC 2610 which does this)."

1/18/2007 9:24:26 AM

We have shit tons of the little D-Link Print Servers. They plug into the main LPT port on the printer and convert that to an ethernet cable, which you plug in. We use these when we don't feel like going the network printer route, but I would highly suggest the Dell 1700n network laser. Very nice and not terribly expensive.

1/18/2007 9:33:09 AM

^ thanks, I've seen those D-Link's you're talking about.

Still, not buying a new one

1/18/2007 9:36:27 AM

out of range for bluetooth?

1/18/2007 9:40:44 AM

^ maybe not, can you get a blue tooth adapter for a printer? I don't want to buy a new one with built in bluetooth tech

1/18/2007 9:54:05 AM

yes, you can get a small USB bluetooth adapter and plug it in just like the usb cable you had.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/printer/inkjet_aio/wireless/4/accessories/Q6398A%2523ABA

1/18/2007 10:23:51 AM

My printer doesn't have a USB port, it has LPT. Is there a cord I can get with USB port on one end, LPT on the other?

I got one at one time that converted a round mouse plug into a USB cord so I could still use with with my new laptop.

Also, what kind of distance am I looking at for Bluetooth? Desk to table, table to other room, upstairs to downstairs, to the neighbors house?

Thanks guys!

1/18/2007 11:06:19 AM

With bluetooth you're looking at a 30ft range at the very most. Given what you've said, I would advise you to get one of those d-link, netgear, or linksys printservers. Just do yourself a favor and get one that costs more than $40. You get what you pay for and you don't want to deal with a piece of crap. It's more trouble that it's worth. The only problem I have with setting up an old computer to run as a print server - as suggested in Perlith's list as 4 and 5 - is power consumption. You could run 20 stand alone purpose built print servers for the power some old computer would comsume.

[Edited on January 18, 2007 at 12:04 PM. Reason : spelling]

1/18/2007 12:04:05 PM

For option #1, some printers come with a place to plug an ethernet cable into, just like you would on your laptop or desktop. Most printers in a business environment are setup this way ... no way in hell they can run 1000+ cables every which where. I bought one as soon as I left college, knowing I need to eventually print from more than just my desktop, namely my work laptop and my fiancees laptop.

For option #4, I've never set one up, somebody else fill in.

For option #5, you'll need a computer running 24x7 attached to the printer that runs Windows XP (preferably a desktop) as well as your laptop running Windows XP. (2000 supports it, but really crappy). From there, Google "File and Print Sharing Windows" to find a ton of tutorials. Specifics are too long to put into a single post.

If you don't have a spare computer, go with option #3.

1/18/2007 12:34:24 PM

^ Yeah another computer would just add more clutter to a room I'm trying to de-clutter, if you will. Can the stand alone print server be an option if my printer only has that LPT connection?

1/19/2007 11:46:31 AM

Quote :

"Can the stand alone print server be an option if my printer only has that LPT connection?"

Yes

1/19/2007 11:51:37 AM

#4 is way easy if you're experienced with Linux at all, otherwise there's lots of tutorials online about how to do this. Basically you can set up a Linux box running Samba(a network sharing service) and CUPS(the Unix/Linux printing service) and that's all you need.

There is a similar way, outlined at http://pigtail.net/LRP/printsrv/. Read a bit of that and see if it's too technical for you or not. if it isn't that's a fairly decent way to pull it off as well.

Same as #5, you'll obviously have to run it 24x7, so #4 is a rather power-expensive option, but much cheaper.

1/19/2007 1:46:17 PM

^ Dedicated print servers are great if you're in a high volume environment, but for home use you could spend the money you'd add to your power bill in a year to get a fairly nice networkable printer. You gave a handy link though. It's good for people like me who might be bullied into setting something like that up at their office.

1/19/2007 3:03:39 PM