Looking for a print server

Hi,

been broadband for a few months now with Metronet and very pleased.
Monthly bill seems to be just under £12.

I want to make use of the unused ports on my router/modem, so fancied a
print server which will do away with having to power up the main machine
when I want to print from the laptop.

The thing is, I would like one that not only connects to the printer via
USB but gets it's power from the USB. No need for yet another wall wart.
Also it shouldn't be wireless. therefore it will have an Ethernet socket
as well.

Can anyone suggest a suitable product?

Thanks.

Rob Horton

Rob Horton <yahoo.com@mr_horton> wrote in news:409ba6eb$0$6337$65c69314
@mercury.nildram.net:

> The thing is, I would like one that not only connects to the printer via
> USB but gets it's power from the USB. No need for yet another wall wart.
> Also it shouldn't be wireless. therefore it will have an Ethernet socket
> as well.

I don't think any printer supplies power through its USB socket so I doubt
there are any print servers that are suitable. But take a look at these
to see if any take your fancy:

http://snipurl.com/680r

--
My photos: http://www.weezer.plus.com/
To send me an e-mail, remove TEETH

"Rob Horton" <yahoo.com@mr_horton> wrote in message
news:409ba6eb$0$6337$(E-Mail Removed). ..
> Hi,
>
> been broadband for a few months now with Metronet and very pleased.
> Monthly bill seems to be just under £12.
>
> I want to make use of the unused ports on my router/modem, so fancied a
> print server which will do away with having to power up the main machine
> when I want to print from the laptop.
>
> The thing is, I would like one that not only connects to the printer via
> USB but gets it's power from the USB. No need for yet another wall wart.
> Also it shouldn't be wireless. therefore it will have an Ethernet socket
> as well.
>
> Can anyone suggest a suitable product?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Rob Horton

Be careful of the HP175 - it uses a specific computer on the network to
spool/despool the print stream. This is not a problem if you have one
machine always on, but I don't think it would fulfill your needs. Make sure
your chosen unit does not behave like this.

Cheers

Nick

Rob Horton <yahoo.com@mr_horton> wrote in
news:409ba6eb$0$6337$(E-Mail Removed):

> I want to make use of the unused ports on my router/modem, so
> fancied a print server which will do away with having to power up
> the main machine when I want to print from the laptop.

I have deliberately avoided USB printers * because of a requirement
to print via print servers.

1. Print servers are faily expensive. Have a think about what you
want first.

2. Decent printers are quite expensive. Again, have a think about
what you want, the cost of consumables, how long that model will be
around

3. Design a solution based round your printing requirements, not just
based on what printer you currently have or some other parameter.

You may be well served by going for an upmarket brand (say HP) and a
model which has (or can be fitted with) a built-in print server. Have
look at the market, then pick one up second hand...

Me? I have a couple of (obsolete) HP LJ6Ps and two print servers,
both now obsolete models: an Intel NetportExpress PRO and a D-Link
DP101. It all works just fine. You can pick up kit like this on eBay
pretty cheap.

* apart from a cheapo Epson which came with a PC package, and for
which the ink cartridges are (almost) more expensive than a new
printer - but that's another story. This printer is attached directly
to a PC, but is shared.

Hope this helps

--

Richard Perkin
To email me, change the AT in the address below
richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com

It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it
is. If you don't, it's its. Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.
It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.
-- Oxford University Press, Edpress News

On Fri, 07 May 2004 16:10:36 +0100, Rob Horton wrote:

> Hi,
>
> been broadband for a few months now with Metronet and very pleased.
> Monthly bill seems to be just under £12.
>
> I want to make use of the unused ports on my router/modem, so fancied a
> print server which will do away with having to power up the main machine
> when I want to print from the laptop.
>
> The thing is, I would like one that not only connects to the printer via
> USB but gets it's power from the USB. No need for yet another wall wart.
> Also it shouldn't be wireless. therefore it will have an Ethernet socket
> as well.
>
> Can anyone suggest a suitable product?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Rob Horton

Several Ethernet to USB print servers have just been released by several
different companies. I suggest a Google search.

dave

Rob Horton wrote:

> Hi,
>
> been broadband for a few months now with Metronet and very pleased.
> Monthly bill seems to be just under £12.
>
> I want to make use of the unused ports on my router/modem, so fancied a
> print server which will do away with having to power up the main machine
> when I want to print from the laptop.
>
> The thing is, I would like one that not only connects to the printer via
> USB but gets it's power from the USB. No need for yet another wall wart.
> Also it shouldn't be wireless. therefore it will have an Ethernet socket
> as well.
>
> Can anyone suggest a suitable product?
>
> Thanks.
> Rob Horton
Draytek have broadband modem/routers with a built-in USB printer port
for a shared printer (expensive-ish solution) - see www.seg.co.uk

Wall-wart types from www.ebuyer.co.uk

L3K

"Richard Perkin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns94E2B0C671A32fnurdle@130.133.1.4...
> Rob Horton <yahoo.com@mr_horton> wrote in
> news:409ba6eb$0$6337$(E-Mail Removed):
>
> > I want to make use of the unused ports on my router/modem, so
> > fancied a print server which will do away with having to power up
> > the main machine when I want to print from the laptop.
>
> I have deliberately avoided USB printers * because of a requirement
> to print via print servers.
>
> 1. Print servers are faily expensive. Have a think about what you
> want first.
>
> 2. Decent printers are quite expensive. Again, have a think about
> what you want, the cost of consumables, how long that model will be
> around
>
> 3. Design a solution based round your printing requirements, not just
> based on what printer you currently have or some other parameter.
>
> You may be well served by going for an upmarket brand (say HP) and a
> model which has (or can be fitted with) a built-in print server. Have
> look at the market, then pick one up second hand...
>
> Me? I have a couple of (obsolete) HP LJ6Ps and two print servers,
> both now obsolete models: an Intel NetportExpress PRO and a D-Link
> DP101. It all works just fine. You can pick up kit like this on eBay
> pretty cheap.
>
> * apart from a cheapo Epson which came with a PC package, and for
> which the ink cartridges are (almost) more expensive than a new
> printer - but that's another story. This printer is attached directly
> to a PC, but is shared.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> --
>
> Richard Perkin
> To email me, change the AT in the address below
> richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com
>
> It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it
> is. If you don't, it's its. Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.
> It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.
> -- Oxford University Press, Edpress News

To add to Richards good advice,

Think about what you want to print. Most folk only need to print monochrome
most of the time - mail, letters etc. and inkjet printers are very expensive
per page. It is better if you are in this category to get a second hand
laser printer with a network interface such as a LaserJet 4 or 5 and use
recycled toner cartridges. They can be hand for a reasonable price from eBay
and last for years. If you need to print colour occasionally, then use an
inkjet for this and only this. (assuming you have the room for two printers
that is)

Kind regards, Mike