As you may have read in my previous thread, I cannot for the life of me get my new Dell printer to work. I have tried contacting them via chat but cannot get through. I still have not tried the dreaded phone call, but I will.

Meanwhile, I've been looking at printers on Amazon and Newegg. It reminded me of why I don't do much research on this stuff. I am just getting confused and frustrated.

Everything is wireless and or WiFi. I still don't know if this is the same thing or two different things. I don't know if I can set something wireless or WiFi up with my system and capabilities. I cannot tell if the printers will also "plug" in to my computer or not.

I'm afraid of getting another lemon with a print head problem. (When did they start packing the print heads separately anyway?) I basically looked at a couple of Canons and a couple of Brothers. I'd like a 4-in-1 (printer/copier/scanner/fax)that I can plug in and have work. I'd like to keep it in the $100 range as I am probably stuck with this Dell and the ink I bought for it.

Please, what is a decent, fairly cheap, 4-in-1 printer that works with Windows 7 and doesn't have to be hooked up wirelessly?

Edit: And for some reason, I prefer Inkjet. I never had a laser printer so I'm not sure why.

Thank you for your help and suggestions.

With printers the type of wireless used is almost always Wi-Fi. You don't see that many Bluetooth printers or IR printers.

I don't know of any wireless printers that HAVE to be hooked up wirelessly. They all have either USB or network connections or both as well as wireless. USB is probably the easiest if you only have one computer you want to print from.



If you're looking for a printer that will attach via USB, check for a USB port. For example at Newegg, say you were looking at ***this printer***. Click where it says "Details" under the picture of the printer. That gives you the specs of the printer. Then you can either do a search for USB (Control-F for "Find") or scan down the page for the heading "Ports." If you want a network port, look for a printer that lists a network or ethernet port.


The best you can do is look at the reviews on Amazon and Newegg for the models that have the qualifications you want. Both Newegg and Amazon let you sort by most favorable reviews.

I would think that being such a recent purchase that it would still be under warrantee. It is a pain to package it up and mail it off, but generally the OEM foots the bill.

According to Amazon -

Technical Support
Get peace of mind with your purchase from Dell. The Dell V515w comes with a one-year limited hardware warranty and one-year Advanced Exchange service. Plus, you have the option to extend the coverage for 2–3 additional years.

Give Dell a call and see what they say before you purchase a different one,

oldbroad, my wife bought an HP Photosmart C4650 from wally world's big purchase store--aka, SAM's.

So far we've only had to change inkjet cartridges and add paper. It connects via USB and has so far preformed flawlessly. It prints, copies and prints photos, no faxing. I believe I did see another HP model at wally world that has not only printing, coping, photo printing but faxing as well. Sorry, I don't remember the model.

Laser printers are nice, but the cartridges are more expensive than inkjet cartridges.

I've been very happy with my HP officejet 5610 series all in one. It does everthing print,copy,scan and fax. Very easy to set up and use.
I've had it almost 2 years. No problems.
maryjo

Thanks Jenny, Inland, Homer, and Maryjo.

Jenny, "I don't know of any wireless printers that HAVE to be hooked up wirelessly" this is a relief to read. I looked at pictures on Newegg but didn't see/recognize where it would plug in and the "what's in the box" pictures didn't show the cords (which maybe are sold separately?). I wasn't sure if where it said USB might just be for plugging in a camera or something, especially since under "connectivity" I saw just "wireless". I may try to hook up wirelessly but want to know I don't have to.

Like I said though, I didn't look at too many. Part of the problem was that I was looking at the ones that had the most reviewers that gave good reviews. Not enough reviews, I was afraid to look at it.

Inland, it is under warranty, just as you say, a pain.

I finally got through on chat support today and they had me download a firmware update but that didn't work. When the guy called me to find out if it did and I told him no, he put me on hold for 20 minutes. They are sending out a new print head. I asked "and if that doesn't work?". He assured me it should work and mentioned that this is a "known issue" that the print heads need to be replaced, however, if for some reason it does not work, they will replace the printer. (With another non-working one I imagine.) If it's a known issue they need to stop selling them.

I'm sorry to say, I don't have much faith that it will work and am going to continue looking at printers but will hold off purchasing for now. If it does work initially, I am going to give it a good workout for awhile to see if it keeps working.

Fingers crossed that I won't have to deal with returning for exchange. I will let you all know what happens.

Stick with Dell - since you've already spent the money, if nothing else they should make this right for you one way or the other.

I agree with Drac, and I know it's a major pain to deal with any OEM, but you have spent the money - so make them fix it.

I had a similar experience with my XPS. I literally had to rebuild it after I RMA'd nearly every component (including the motherboard).

I've run into this with all OEM's, it's not just Dell.

I have a Canon Pixma MX310 which I'm very satisfied with. However, if I were to buy a printer today, I much would prefer to buy a B/W laser printer for about 100 US dollars or so.
Partly because the cartridges for this printer are very expensive if you print as much as I do, partly because I want a laserprinter anyway.

If you, oldbroad, just have bought your Dell printer, it should still be under warranty, I think?

Good news, at least for tonight. I received the new print head and I printed out 5 walkthroughs (about 220 pages or so) and no problems. Whoo hoo!! Hopefully, it will still work tomorrow.

I'm glad to hear your persistence paid off!

Now that's what I like to hear