Print Servers

[Amun]

I am looking for an inexpensive alternative to HP Jetdirect boxes. I have found several options, but don't want to plunk down the coin until I hear some other respected opinions.

I know Hawking, Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link all have relatively cheap print servers. Are they just inexpensive, or did I use the term "cheap" appropriately?

Any help is appreciated.:disgust:

 

[Markfw]

I have a linksys print server. It works OK for the standard printing after considable "screwing around" to get everything setup correctly, but lot of the functions for "smartness" (how much ink left,etc..) don't work, just the basic printing. I sure love my real network printer(Phaser 850), but they are NOT cheap. Used, about $1400 with ink. Thus I will settle for a few quirks on my print servered printers. (Xerox N17 and Epson 600) I almost stopped using them tho after getting the Phaser, just spoiled I guess.

 

[hausdave]

My experience is that shelling out a few extra bucks for a network ready printer is well worth it. The HP Print server boxes seem to be the easiest to get going. Like the post above says the other ones require a great deal of tinkering.

 

[RaymondY]

I recently purchased a used HP JetDirect 300X Print Server for a Anandtech forum member. The print server was in excellent shape and only 5-6 months old.

I downloaded the HP Network Printer Wizard and it setup the print server perfectly. I'm running an HP DesignJet 500 42" plotter in my office. The JetDirect 300X is awesome. Much better than hooking the plotter to my parallel port. Less system drain on my machine too (Dual 1600+)

I would highly recommend the HP Print Servers especially if you can get one used.

 

[HaroldW]

I have a Netgear PS110 2-port print server. It works fine. I have had it for about a year. Right now I have a Samsung ML-1450 laser printer connected to it. I can setup a workstation to print to the Samsung through the PS110 in about a minute (very few steps.) After the print server is initially setup, at each workstation all you have to do is install the local client (which adds a "local port" for the Netgear print server) and then use the Windows printer setup wizard to install the printer using that newly created local port.

 

[Amun]

Thanks for the input! It will certainly help me make my decision.

 

[Nosaj]

I would like to know as well...