Print server or network ready printer?
For years I’ve always liked the idea of having a network printer when you’ve got two or more computers networked, even at home. I tried HP and Intel parallel print server products years ago and more recently USB products from Asus and US Robotics. I like the idea of all OS’s (Windows, Linux, Mac’s) being able to use them.
With most of the above products it’s a bit hit and miss, a lot of printers aren’t supported, with multi-function printers you are unlikely to be able to use the scanner and fax facilities (maybe HP printers on an HP print server has a better chance of working). Axis and Netgear have lists of compatible/incompatible printers. A lot lose the bi-directional facility, and support isn’t to good from some manufacturer’s. Also each manufacturer has a different way of configuring their units in Windows, some select as "Local Printer", some as "Shared Printer" or "TCP/IP" printer. And that’s only part of it.
On one unit I managed to get Vista working using the XP installation info, On another that didn’t work, but the manufacturer did respond to my emails and supplied the information to allow me to get it working.
With Mac’s and Linux, one manufacturer quoted me, Windows is the predominate OS, we might get around to Mac’s? So it’s more than likely helps if you go to major manufacturers and research/search on each model/manufacturer for information on installation for Mac’s and Linux.
Network ready printers
So as with NAS (Network Address Storage) the price and selection of printers with Ethernet/Wireless connections built in, is easily within the reach of most homes and small businesses pockets. They are much easier to install, a lot will find the printer for you, others you might have to configure a computer to the printer’s IP subnet to get access to the control panel and then set it for your system (most mid range printers have this facility available on their front panel display)
Most manufactures have Windows and Mac drivers available. others have Linux for some of variations, and HP directs you to the SourceForge website (probably due to the much smaller market and the amount of installation variations).
And for Windows at least, you are able to use the scan and fax facilities across the network.
I personally like to set the ip address manually, so I know exactly where the printer is, and you can use a web browser to access it (not sure about the lower end though), you can put a link in your web browser favourites for easy access later. This is something I also do for my clients networks for devices like firewalls, routers, modems, NAS, DVR’s, etc, it’s great especially when I’m accessing their system remotely, I don’t have to open files to find the addresses for the devices to access them (fortunately I do have very good memory for usernames and passwords, and every client has different ones?)
Maybe someone could let me know of any that don’t have browser capability.
Harris Chester