Wireless Printing Server/Hub

[threekidspa]

I'm looking for a device I can hook my USB printer into that will act as a wireless print server so anyone on my wireless network can print to it. People moving crap around on my desk to plug into the printer is getting a little old (for everyone).

Anybody have any recommendations?

[threekidspa]

I'm looking at this (http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=USBG-BLUE-P1&cats=123&catid=641%2C139%2C123%2C158), which uses Bluetooth instead of the 802.11 network. One of the advantages is it behaves more like a direct connection, so everyone can still use the scanner, fax, etc as if they were directly connected via USB.

[Fish-Bait]

Man, how many people use your printer?

[threekidspa]

Its mostly me. But the wife has her own laptop she prints from, and the kids have an old desktop they use for school stuff.

[carsalesguy]

share the printer over the network- just leave your computer turned on and hooked up to a USB port-

[Fish-Bait]

buy another one for 50 bucks and make "them" share. Tell em' to leave your stuff alone.

[threekidspa]

share the printer over the network- just leave your computer turned on and hooked up to a USB port-
Yeah, tried that. It worked but was a pain because the kids always shut off the computer. Can't believe that's the ONE thing they turn off when they're done with it. Besides, it requires me to get off my ass and walk from my office to the other room to get things I print, and I can't have that, now, can I? :)

[Fish-Bait]

I think we tried that wireless printer thing one time here. I don't think it worked out to well though. We did however have about 9 people over a 3k square foot office trying' to print to it though. I don't know much about gadgetry other than deer cams and my watch and a gps unit.

[pooker]

Tell them not to turn it off,,,, :P and how baller are you, you have a 3k square foot office in your HOME, dude thats bigger than my house!

[threekidspa]

Tell them not to turn it off,,,, :P and how baller are you, you have a 3k square foot office in your HOME, dude thats bigger than my house!
Me? No, my office is this 10x10 thing, right outside my bedroom. The commute is wonderful. Only traffic is at the coffee pot.... :)

[Fish-Bait]

Tell them not to turn it off,,,, :P and how baller are you, you have a 3k square foot office in your HOME, dude thats bigger than my house!

No pook, where I work....slow down...read the whole thread.....take it out of overdrive young man....quit speedin'.........breathe deep....aahhh....there now.....:p

[Fotno]

I bought a HP 3310 All-in-one wireless printer from Best Buy last year and it is awesome.
And I don't use that word very often.
I F'n hate printers too.

[threekidspa]

No pook, where I work....slow down...read the whole thread.....take it out of overdrive young man....quit speedin'.........breathe deep....aahhh....there now.....:p
FB, you know you can't tell kids to slow down.... ;)

[threekidspa]

I bought a HP 3310 All-in-one wireless printer from Best Buy last year and it is awesome.
And I don't use that word very often.
I F'n hate printers too.
Not a bad idea! I wonder if the personal printers like that have advanced to where they'll scan documents directly to PDF files yet?

[carsalesguy]

uh, yea they do. just get the software from adobe and any scanner will do it

[threekidspa]

Yeah, knew that, thanks. :) Seriously, there are office printers that let you scan the document and it shows up in your inbox as a PDF file, as opposed to some image or other format, with out you having to do any file manipulation to get it there. Its pretty useful. It requires the printer to be able to connect to a mail server, so the emailing thing is probably out for the personal printers, but it would still be nice to have it produce the PDF for you.

[Fotno]

yes.I'm pretty sure Mine will do that.
I don't think they make that model anymore.I think it's called 3350 or something nowadays.

[carsalesguy]

why not go out and spend $100 bucks and get 10 printers-

i know walgreens has some of those lexmarks for 20 bucks or so-

[threekidspa]

Space, mostly. And I don't want to listen to daddy, the printer isn't working, and look to find a hot-wheels car (or worse) in it.

[bpitt]

The bluetooth is alright, but you have to be pretty close to the printer for it to work. The wireless is better, like Fotno suggested.