[michgirl]

I have been scanning and printing photos since about 1998 and have tried a wide variety of scanners & printers. Over 3 years ago I went to an HP AIO and have been so very happy with it. Recently the scanner started acting up, and after following so many threads here with many expressing that the separate units were better than the AIO, I began researching stand-alone scanners. What I found to be true is that the low end AIO units do not compare to a stand alone product, but the higher end AIO are pretty much equal.

Still confused, I asked a fellow ScrapGirl what she thought of her new HP AIO and she wasn't extremely pleased - more confusion. So tonight I did lots more research and compared the specs of the Epson V500 Scanner to the HP C8180 (the high end HP AIO). As I have the Epson 1400 for deluxe photos and my 12 x 12 LO, I was more interested in a great scanner than anything, the printer is more for every day and 4 x 6 photos. The HP AIO unit had better scanner resolution compared to the Epson V500 (9600 x 9600 vs 6400 x 9600) and the bit depth was 96 bit, compared to Epson's 48 bit. It also includes a touch screen and a DVD/CD burner lightscribe built into the printer so you can burn directly from your memory card to a DVD/CD - pretty slick. So was the price tag of $399.00.

So I decided to wait until a great deal came along on this unit and limp by with my scanner meanwhile - and tonight on buy.com I found this AIO for only $149! Conisdering that it comes with $60 worth of ink, I figure it will cost less than $100! And best of all, it uses the same individual inks as my current AIO and the same papers, so I won't have to replenish my supply. Looking forward to all of the fun stuff this one should do!

But if any of you are sitting on the fence about AIO printers or just love a great deal - you might want to check this one out

Will let you know how it works as soon as I test it out -

[sheilaj]

The only thing with AIO is that when one bit fails, you lose the other bit. Our scanner has lasted WAY longer than our printers have, also if there is a technology update that you simply must have for one bit, then the other bit is redundant.

[michgirl]

sheilaj, on Feb 3 2009, 02:58 AM, said:

The only thing with AIO is that when one bit fails, you lose the other bit. Our scanner has lasted WAY longer than our printers have, also if there is a technology update that you simply must have for one bit, then the other bit is redundant.

You are so right - I am in the spot now. My scanner is failing and I am replacing a printer that works just fine... So I have went round & round about that - but decided my desk space is too valuable to give up and the cost is about the same as the stand alone scanner so now it becomes a bonus - I am replacing my scanner and getting a free printer! And since my unit is over 3 years old, I am updating the technology on them both.

It was a hard decision and I read many of the threads here and did lots of research before deciding - and since this is such a great deal, I wanted to pass it on to anyone else who might be in the market for the same. The more we save on our scrapbooking tools, the more we can spend in the boutique

[sheilaj]

michgirl, on Feb 3 2009, 10:59 AM, said:

sheilaj, on Feb 3 2009, 02:58 AM, said:

The only thing with AIO is that when one bit fails, you lose the other bit. Our scanner has lasted WAY longer than our printers have, also if there is a technology update that you simply must have for one bit, then the other bit is redundant.

You are so right - I am in the spot now. My scanner is failing and I am replacing a printer that works just fine... So I have went round & round about that - but decided my desk space is too valuable to give up and the cost is about the same as the stand alone scanner so now it becomes a bonus - I am replacing my scanner and getting a free printer! And since my unit is over 3 years old, I am updating the technology on them both.

It was a hard decision and I read many of the threads here and did lots of research before deciding - and since this is such a great deal, I wanted to pass it on to anyone else who might be in the market for the same. The more we save on our scrapbooking tools, the more we can spend in the boutique

ha ha ain't that the truth!

[floss]

Thanks for doing the research.I want to be able to print 12x12 ,print some photos to A3 and scan some very old photos so I am stuck on the fence.The "if one goes wrong they all go wrong"is still ringing in my ears.What to do?What to do?.....but thanks for the info

[michgirl]

Glad to share! I now have the large format printer, plus the AIO - so that's plenty of space (and USB connections) -

Actually I was afraid that I wouldn't get this for that price, thinking it must be an error, becasue today it was $359 - but I just received notification that it shipped and I saved over $200!! -- Lots of boutique money!!!

[sunnie2004]

I have been drooling over the canoscan scanner I would love to have it .

[floss]

michgirl, on Feb 3 2009, 09:41 PM, said:

Glad to share! I now have the large format printer, plus the AIO - so that's plenty of space (and USB connections) -

Actually I was afraid that I wouldn't get this for that price, thinking it must be an error, becasue today it was $359 - but I just received notification that it shipped and I saved over $200!! -- Lots of boutique money!!!

Well done.Sounds like a great price.So you have two,the AIO and the large format?When you say large what will it print?

[michgirl]

floss, on Feb 4 2009, 09:22 AM, said:

Well done.Sounds like a great price.So you have two,the AIO and the large format?When you say large what will it print?

Yes I do have two - and that's why I want to stick with the AIO, I only have so much room....

My wide format is the Epson 1400 and prints up to 13 x 19. It does a very beautiful job! I use it for my 12 x 12 layouts and really special enlargements. And what I do sometimes is use the 13 x 19 paper and fill it with 4 x 6 or mix it with different sizes - I figured it out once and the cost of filling a 13 x 19 with 4 x 6 is actually less per print than the 4 x 6 sheets... Always looking to save that penny

[Shelbi]

michgirl, on Feb 4 2009, 08:47 AM, said:

floss, on Feb 4 2009, 09:22 AM, said:

Well done.Sounds like a great price.So you have two,the AIO and the large format?When you say large what will it print?

Yes I do have two - and that's why I want to stick with the AIO, I only have so much room....

My wide format is the Epson 1400 and prints up to 13 x 19. It does a very beautiful job! I use it for my 12 x 12 layouts and really special enlargements. And what I do sometimes is use the 13 x 19 paper and fill it with 4 x 6 or mix it with different sizes - I figured it out once and the cost of filling a 13 x 19 with 4 x 6 is actually less per print than the 4 x 6 sheets... Always looking to save that penny

I have been thinking about getting the epson 1400.
It was interesting to see that you are happy with it.

[michgirl]

Michelle-

Yes I am happy with it, but wouldn't want it as my every day printer, that is why I keep ithe AIO. It is strictly a photo/scrapbook printer. At the time of my purchase, it was the only wide format printer in that price range with individual inks. Now HP has one that fits the bill, so there are a couple of choices for that price range.

[floss]

michgirl, on Feb 4 2009, 02:47 PM, said:

floss, on Feb 4 2009, 09:22 AM, said:

Well done.Sounds like a great price.So you have two,the AIO and the large format?When you say large what will it print?

Yes I do have two - and that's why I want to stick with the AIO, I only have so much room....

My wide format is the Epson 1400 and prints up to 13 x 19. It does a very beautiful job! I use it for my 12 x 12 layouts and really special enlargements. And what I do sometimes is use the 13 x 19 paper and fill it with 4 x 6 or mix it with different sizes - I figured it out once and the cost of filling a 13 x 19 with 4 x 6 is actually less per print than the 4 x 6 sheets... Always looking to save that penny

Thanks for that.Has been an interesting read

[Shelbi]

michgirl, on Feb 4 2009, 08:59 AM, said:

Michelle-

Yes I am happy with it, but wouldn't want it as my every day printer, that is why I keep ithe AIO. It is strictly a photo/scrapbook printer. At the time of my purchase, it was the only wide format printer in that price range with individual inks. Now HP has one that fits the bill, so there are a couple of choices for that price range.

We already have an AIO everyday type printer, I am looking for a scrapbooking only printer LOL.
Thanks for the info!!

[michgirl]

Shelbi, on Feb 4 2009, 10:42 AM, said:

[We already have an AIO everyday type printer, I am looking for a scrapbooking only printer LOL.
Thanks for the info!!

LOL - Then there you go.... you will love having a wide-format printer, they are pretty sweet -

Hope you get one soon!