"All-in-One Color Printer Recommendations?" Topic

My ten-year-old Canon printer/scanner is now just a printer, and barely that.
I'm looking for a replacement now. I need one that has a low color page cost and can handle cardstock paper, preferably from a tray or at least as loaded as a stack of multiple sheets— I ain't doing the one-at-a-time feed thing!
I'd like something that can handle larger paper sizes like 11"x17"— if it can do larger, great, but I don't expect that and won't pay extra for it.
Borderless printing a definite desire.
Scanner should handle 11x17.

Preferred features:
Separate color ink tanks/cartridges (that single color cartridge thing is NOT what I want). Again, low cost per page.
Auto-doc feeder for scanner, capable of automatic double-sided scanning.
Automatic duplex printing.

I don't care about much else.
Resolution should be decent, but I'm not needing to print large "hang on the wall" photo art. My intended uses are custom game cards, paper models, custom board game boards, paper markers/chits/etc., maybe battle mats.
Occasional use for family photos and scanning light documents.

Price limit: $300 USD or less (preferably less).

Any suggestions?

link

Before you buy it I'd have a look at some of the reviews. It seems to promise a great deal more than it delivers.

I have a Brother MFC-J6520DW. I looked up on Staples.ca (Canada) and the 6530 is selling for $300 USD, so that puts it less than your target. Other than the new one is black and the old one white I doubt there is any difference.

I needed to replace my scanner a few years back and was looking for an 11x17 but they were big $$$. Then I found this. It has all the features you are looking for. It also prints direct from various cards and USB stick(s) but I have never used that feature. I was a HP user so the usual learning new support programs Brother uses. I always buy the largest ink cartridges and they seem to last quite a while and cost about $40 USD for each color. If I remember correctly I paid under $200 USD cdn for it as it was on sale when I went in. If you can wait it might be on cheap sometimes.

One thing. My duplex function stopped working after about a half year. No issues with warranty but the one they sent was reconditioned. When I called and complained they said the 2 year warranty would start with receipt. I haven't had any issues and have probably have had it for over 3 years now. They never took the old one back so it is in the basement as a back up. I was printing on USB but after relocating it the whole family uses it on wireless. Other than it has become sort of a shelf (crap on it) and still having to remember how to initiate scanning or some other low use feature it has been very good for me.

As one who works on these things on a professional basis, the best advice I can give you is change your target price.

And never buy standard cartridges if hi-yields are available. Standard ones run out in no time.

Stay well clear of OKI. We used to sell those until we tired of their antics and I tired of their hardware quality (Ukrainian model kits in the 1990s were made of sturdier plastic, and they didn't hold major units like fusers in place while they were being driven). Plus the picture quality was not so good either.

I'm still not decided about Kyocera Mita; I am working through two massive new orders for their products and, while I usually find superior picture quality, I am finding many tiny spots on copies. On the prints they need to be pointed out to you, but copying the prints will have the machine gladly point them out to you as loudly as possible without a second process. Also two so far have stalled with the scanner unit fouling on something inside the scan section.

KonicaMinolta don't seem to have one right now. When they did, though, the one model that went anywhere near your description was a revolver engine. They do have colour desktops, but they are liable to be much more expensive.

Do not let anyone sell you a revolver-engined printer.

Sharp, also, have one, which is OK but has a reputation for not being worth as much as it costs.

I really don't have a certain model in mind, but I must say that I have developed a deeply-ingrained belief that the only real use for an inkjet is for your teens to print their homework, and single-page documents you forgot to print for a meeting at a government service office in less than an hour.

NO. LEXMARK. Their budget range really is, in my experience, built down to a budget.