Scanner or All-in-One machine: which to get?

[disneysteve]

I want to get a new scanner. I don't need a new printer as I'm perfectly happy with the one I've got but I know a number of people who have all-in-one units and are very happy with them. Looking through the ads in the Sunday paper, it seems like the all-in-ones are just as cheap as the printers. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of the all-in-ones particularly in regard to the scanning ability. I need a scanner that can do documents as well as handle 3-dimensional items like books and certain collectibles (for ebay). Thanks for any input.

 

[gallaj0]

We had an all in one up until a couple of weeks ago; it got fried in a lightning storm.

It did good scans, copies, and faxing, but the black and white printing was slow, adn the color looked awful.

It was a brother, we're not going to replace it.

I'm going to stick to dedicated machines for each function.

 

[mudnuri]

all single function dedicated here.........

Brandy

 

[DawnCt1]

We bought a new Brother for $129 and I am waiting for a $35 rebate. So far the faxes, copies and prints are fine, with good color resolution. For our needs I like having one piece of equipment.

 

[LoraJ]

I would just get a scanner. Easier to replace. if you had an all-in-one and the printer stopped working in a couple of years, but the scanner works fine, you have to either buy a whole new all-in-one or you have a waste of space.

I'm all about individual components now. I'm even building my own computer that will be easy to upgrade. All the computers they make these days are integrated. Not good.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

I have an HP all in one. I have had it for about a year and love it. Its pretty fast, good color, scans very well, copies beautifully. I would buy another one in a minute if anything happened to this one.

 

[DVC-Don]

I've been using a HP 2175 three in one machine for a couple of years now and like it. It's a printer, copier, scanner.

 

[Barb D]

I've been wondering the same thing...

There are some very inexpensive all-in-ones ($100ish) and some much more expensive. I've been tempted to buy a cheap one, but won't if they don't work well or last long.

I'll be watching this thread...

 

[floridafam]

We have the Epson Stylus Photo RX500 which is an all-in-one.

I wish we would have purchased single function units instead.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[disneysteve]

We have the Epson Stylus Photo RX500 which is an all-in-one.

I wish we would have purchased single function units instead.

Can you explain why you say that?
Personally, my instinct is to buy a single function unit as there are usually some sacrifices when you buy a multi-function machine. But I'm curious what your experience has been.

 

[Poohnatic]

Steve,

I have a perfectly good HP bed scanner. It's great, I absolutely love it.

That said, last year, in purchasing my home, I needed to fax documents to my mortgage lender. A LOT of documents. Oh, did I mention, my lender is in Texas and I'm in Florida? There was no way to drop off W2's at their office.

Knowing I'd have to fax a lot of stuff (end count was 224 pages!), I started looking at fax machines and quickly found that for about 75 dollars more, I could get an all in one. I got a nice HP that can read all the digital media types, fax, scan and print for 240 at Costco, and got a rebate as well.

I am SO glad I went with the all in one. Scanning stuff and then printing with the other scanner took several steps, with the all in one I can just put a page in and press copy. The amount of pages I would have faxed at Staples or Kinkos justified the expense, and I've been able to fax other things now without having to drag my tush over to the nearest Kinkos.

It's networked, so I can be sitting at the laptop and send any printing job wirelessly, since it's wired into my DH's pc.

I'd sell my scanner, but they don't do well on Ebay. I think it'd going to be passed on to my sister so she can scan stuff she needs when she starts nursing school.

Suzanne

 

[disneysteve]

I started looking at fax machines

Scanning stuff and then printing with the other scanner took several steps, with the all in one I can just put a page in and press copy.

It's networked, so I can be sitting at the laptop and send any printing job wirelessly, since it's wired into my DH's pc.

We already have a dedicated fax machine in the house, so that isn't a big draw. The copy function is definitely appealing, though. I know from my old scanner that scanning then printing is a bit of a hassle.

But the main reason I want a scanner is for ebay. Some of the all-in-one features would be nice to have but scanners take up less space, which is a big selling point if you would see my desk.

The other thing I would use the scanner for is for duplicating photos and I would be printing those on my Epson photo printer, not the all-in-one unit.

I think the dedicated scanner will probably win out. But keep those opinions coming.

 

[floridafam]

I can't put my finger on why I don't like it.

I'm not thrilled with the quality of the photos it prints and changing the ink things seems to be kind of a pain (I seem to go through them unusually fast.)

I just expected better, I guess.