Looking for a 4-in-1

Philcopy charged P 10,000 for repair that didn't work.

I've been wanting to get a scanner instead of EFY spending on the repair of a xerox machine.  My friends AK and another friend are happy with their Brothers.  I also asked another friend about his multi-purpose printer, and he warned me that the ink cost a lot.

I prefer a scanner to a xerox machine because the scanner records the document, for future copies, and xerox copies tend to be faint.

The Kyocera xerox machine is a hat patunger now.

EFY said that they had a scanner before in the office, but it did not work out.  We compared the costs per copy of a copier versus a scanner.

I asked a friend why she got the DCP-7040 scanner-printer when each copy costs P 1.50 to
P 2.00.  She said that she didn't have space for a xerox machine, and a xerox machine costs about P 100,000, versus around P 8,000 for a scanner.

I didn't think that our volume of maybe 10 pages a day would give us savings with the copier, which has a counter.

The copier often broke down, which meant spending gas to go out and make copies.  Never mind how much each copy cost, the gas, time and effort made me think that the scanner was the better deal.  Not counting the parts that need to be fixed, and the cost of gas of bringing TF from Kalookan to San Juan just to fix it.  And opportunity lost from her not being at the office.

When I told EFY that I saw a Canon Pixma 3-in-1 for P 3,400, he said, why not?

When I pointed out these scanner advantages to EFY, he said that he still preferred a copier because he didn't know how to operate a computer.  At that time, I couldn't find a copier-scanner.  I pointed out to him that a lot more people knew how to operate a computer versus repairing a xerox machine.  Plus I was willing to train K to use the computer.

Finally, EFY had a change of heart.  When I told him that I saw a Canon printer-scanner-copier, he wanted one with a fax function as our fax looks ready for extreme unction.

The Philcopy sticker has the machine ID number.

RSFDS and another friend said that 4-in-1s were not advisable.  Friend said that if one function broke down, you lose a whole machine.  I felt that was ok.  If we've lived this long without a 4-in-1, we can certainly live without it during the repair time.  Besides, we don't have space for a 3-in-1 and another fax machine.  Friend pointed out that the fax ink is expensive.  My solution is to use continuous ink, which Bimbim had installed in her brother's printer.  I followed suit with my Epson T10, at CD Outlet in V-Mall.

Kyocera Mita KM-1500

Of all the 4-in-1 printers that we canvassed in V-Mall today, R suggested that I get the Epson TX300F, which has a document feeder that Bimbim said I should get.  R pointed out that only the TX300F's ink could be converted to continuous. 

I made a comparative table below, but it looks like the only questions left to ask are: Can it copy without using a computer?  Can it scan legal-sized paper?

Among the best all in one printers in Consumersearch, only the HP 4500 is available in V-Mall.  HP was also the brand that A of Xt Pro had recommended to me.

I was waiting for my T10 to die before buying a scanner, but it's still strong.

R asked me if I will be printing a lot.  I said yes.  I print about ten pages a day, using my Epson Stylus T10, but I foresee twice that volume with the scanner.  And fax pa pala.  And xerox!

EFY thinks that having two printers as convenient for when one needs to be, say, reset.  It took CD Outlet a day to reset my T10, as the software in their computer was not down. 

When I brought AYR to CD Outlet, we learned that printers need to be reset whether you use continuous ink or not.  AYR said that maybe that's what's wrong with the printers in the office.  That's what I also told Bimbim, when she wondered if she made the wrong decision by using continuous ink, as her brother S' printer was not working anymore.

CD Outlet reset my T10 this week for P 300.

My friend warned me that C had done something wrong with AR's 4-in-1, and that it stopped working after that.

I didn't bother asking the Canon store in V-Mall if they had a 4-in-1.  The last time Bimbim and I were there, the salesperson was pouty.  I know Annabelle Paw, so maybe I should tell her.  Besides, I got an Urbanears ear plugs from Digital Walker at a blogger event organized by Carlo Ople.

If anyone has any input on 4-in-1s, do speak up now and forever hold your peace. :)

Brand	Model	Price	long	Ink
				Cartridge	Price	Convertible to Continuous	Store	Pages
Epson	TX300F	6500		73N	450	Yes	PC Gadgets Technologies
HP	J4660	6200		901B	680		Dynamic PC
				901C	1,000.00	No
		6500			1100		Asia Computer
					1350
HP	4500	8800		703	380		Asia Computer	400+
					380			200+