I'm looking for a cheap mutlfunction printer for home, preferably with fax, and ideally with a network port.

We have a HP 7140 at work, but find the software to be a bit flaky.

I'm interested to see what other brands there are, and how well the Mac software works on them (I've used Canon print only printers on the Mac, and think their software is excellent).

Any help appreciated.

Peter Walker

Network is a hard ask in anything inexpensive, except Brother. I'm not a big fan of the cheaper Brother MFC's, but something like the 620CN includes networking, as well as everything and the kitchen sink in a small, if flimsy-feeling unit. I haven't been able to try their Mac software, but I wouldn't hope for anything fantastic.

If you didn't need networking, I've been happy with a HP 6210 fax multifunction.

I always bang the drum for Epson printers. In this case their MF laser printers have fax capability, but their MF colour inkets don't. When my brother bought a MF, he got a colour inkjet/scanner/copier without a fax, and got that separately. It worked out to be the same total cost and he wasn't limited to only those models with fax built-in.

Make sure you look at the cost of the toner/ink - you may realise that spending an extra $200 upfront will get you a printer that holds twice as much toner/ink and will save you $200 in the first year on the cost of consumables. Every year after that you're $200 better off. Try to compare their specs directly: write down the RRP of the toner/cartridges, the number of pages they're supposed to do, and what percentage coverage they're worked out on (warning: some will quote # of pages based on 3.5% coverage to up the number, while many quote based on 5% coverage).

Also if you want to do serious scanning with them, pay attention to the scanner specs - that is where they tend to skimp to save money. Always do a Google on "review <manufacturer> <model>" to see how they stand up to a critic's eye.

Cheers

I am not up to date with current OS X fax software, but don't forget you can put the internal modem to use as a fax machine. It has drawbacks, but may be an option.

I bought a Brother MFC3420C for $189!! Fax, scan & printer.
Wrongly priced at WOW, they tried to renege at the checkout, but I reminded them of the rules!

And it works brilliantly, if rather fond of cartridges.

I'm using an airport express with two mac's and a sony with windoze.

Never had a hassle.

The only other time I had a win was when I won a frozen chook at a pub, when touring on the bike, a couple of years back!

When I was back at Officeworks, we never had anything but trouble with the Brother MFCs. It seems they were just temperamental, and the first few generations of them were the same.
I'm not sure if they're any better now... But it put me off altogether.
They were very strange about ink - sometimes people would buy a new cartridge and install it, and then the printer would refuse to recognize it as a new cartridge. Other times they'd generally play up and not respond.
In the end I just told customers not to bother... especially the ones that were just starting out with a computer - they don't need crap like that.

One of HP's low end MFCs in the OfficeJet series would be good...
I personally prefer the Canons, but you've gotta spend a bit more to get one with fax. It usually ends up a lot more expensive than a HP.

But to be honest, of all the multifunctions, I never thought much of the ones under about $500... They were just more trouble than they were worth to me.