Finally Went Wireless!

[chpthril]

Ok, not what you're thinking I finally broke down and got a wireless printer router. After spending the last 2 years swapping the printer cable back and fourth between my laptops and the wife's, I was growing tired of this. The final straw was picking up a thermal printer for UPS shipping labels.

We both do a lot of internet sales, which require printing shipping labels. Up till now, we've been using our regular printer. This burns a lot of ink and paper, so I decided to go with a thermal printer that works with both the USPS and UPS online shipping. These things use no ink, and UPS will send you the 4x6 self-adhesive labels for NOTHING!.

Now comes the need for the a better solution! Now we have 2 printers that will need to be used by both of us, by both latops. We went to Best Buy and I picked up a Netgear Wireless Printer Server. This thing is SWEET. I was able to get both printers run through it and I can actually use either of the 4, yes 4, laptops ( my personal/MLA, my work laptop, wife's personal and her little net book that she uses for work and travel) all on the network so they all will send print jobs though the server to the printer(s). Since it's wireless, both printers can now be put up on a shelf, out of the way and of the desk/table. More room, no swapping cables back and forth, etc.

[da.bell]

Welcome to 2007. Ops, I mean 2009.

Ya, having 5 computers at home that are networked does have it's benefits. We have a multi-printer (scanner, fax, and printer) that makes life much easier. I would suggest one for anyone's network.

[MoneyPity]

Welcome to the real world. You will still want RJ345's and 10/100 or higher speeds because if you implement severs at some time wireless rapidly slows down.

It is great for what you do but if performance on the network becomes an issue keep in mind Wired and wireless. We built this house where we have CAT 5 RJ45 in all rooms that have computers in them and oneswith computers that are not moved often we use the rj45 links even with notebooks.

We have some many printers and just got 2 more wireless for $20 when we upgraded my business laptops.

[evil0ne]

Wow, what took you so long, they're like $30 for a good Linksys G. I have an Apple Time Capsule that does my wireless backups for my laptop. I then have my Desktop, Vonage VoIP box and printer hooked up to the switch and the remaining port hooked to another switch that provides wired network to all rooms in my house for DirecTV on demand, PS3 and XBOX. Like da said the MFP printer is great. I have the HP CM1312nfi which is a wireless color laser. Toner is obviously expensive but the cool thing is I can print and scan wirelessly from any laptop.

[chpthril]

Yeah, i'm not much of a teckie, so i'm slow to get on the geek train

My lap tops have been wireless for years, it finally got to a point that sharing 2 different printers and swapping cables around was NOT gonna ct it!

[Tequilasun]

If you ever want to talk ink/toner costs and how tosave the most money. Or what brand printer mfi to buy let me know. I sold copiers for two years. I've got the lowdown on the best ways to
go.

Open inventation. I don't need to use that knowledge anymore, so someone can benifit from it.

[evil0ne]

Alright, I just bought HP Toner using some gift cards but there's always next time.