XP compatible large format printer suggestions?

My Brother All-In-One does just fine...

My model MFC-6490CW is now superceded by several other Brother models.
They have all-in-one printers that will print 11x17 color.
The higher end models (& mine) will even scan 11x17 to other files (pdf, etc.) I plot my 11x17, sign/seal, and send the pdf (printed w/ copyright) to the client if they are a little farther than I care to drive.
These are not "high volume" burn all day printers. They have plastic paper trays.
I have had mine for about 4 years now without a problem.
Like all ink jet printers, the ink costs can add up. Carl Correll sent a link to SupermediaStore for aftermarket (non Brother) ink that works just fine.

Look toward the bottom of this link:
Brother Color Inkjets

Another local surveyor loaned me his HP 120nr for a test drive. It only has drivers up to XP, no Windows 7 drivers. My 7 machine can see it on the network but cannot print to it since it does not have the proper drivers. I have to print to pdf and load the file to my thumb drive and "sneaker net" it to the XP machine and plot from there, so I can feel your pain. HP has a low-end replacement, called the T120 for $899.00. I'm on the fence for pulling the trigger for that, but I do not have that many plots larger than 11x17.

I'm partial to HP products, printers, plotters, etc. HP has a new one out, the HP 7610 Wide Format. About 2 weeks ago they had these on sale through HP Products for 149.99. About 3 years ago I bought the HP 7500A Wide Format for 149.99 on sale. I decided to get this as a future replacement for my HP R80 if and when it craters. Now I wish I had waited for the 7610. The 7500A is a good unit, but the larger scans are a scan and stitch function where the 7610 has the larger glass and can scan a whole 11x17 without having to use a stitch function. Anyway, HP runs these sales every so often and you have to check their site in order to find out when they do this.

The 7500A and 7610 are both USB & Wireless conection capable. That is the only draw back for connecting with the plotting software that I use, which needs a parallel port connection.

If you are not plotting over the ledger 11x17 size, the Brother MFC J6710DW is a lot of printer power for the dollars.

From the top tray you can print in photo quality to inkjet paper for an extra nice result.

And it is wireless. Can also be connected USB or Cat5.

Brother has an app I use to print from my phone the PDFs I create at the Courthouse and other records with CamScan.

It will also print most anything from the phone to any paper size.

Printing both sides of the paper and making booklets are nice options.

I just looked at the HP products ad and they have the 7610 again at the sale price of $149.99.

I just purchased one of the large format Brother inkjet printers. Pricey, but really nice. It's wireless, and will even print directly from your cellphone if it's an Android. However, I have an iPhone that LSU issued me so it won't work with that.

Nevertheless, I purchased a Brother all-in-one because of all the good reports on BeerLeg.com about the 11"x17" printers.

For what it is worth, my hardware in my computer is maybe 4 yrs old. It has dual core processors etc. It was set up with MS XP. Apparently, I can upgrade my Windows to Windows 7 32 bit, and stay in business, without a complete system upgrade. This may be an option for you too, Dan.

N

hey Dan,

Still hanging on to XP here also.

If you just need a printer that will do up to 11x17, there are a ton of them in any store out there.

If you need something that does 18x24 up to 24x36, for a working mans price, then look into the HP 110 models.

You can still find them on ebay, I got one from a lady in Alabama for $400 3 months ago, she ran a print shop and it just was not working for them. (too slow), but it works fast enough for me. The prior one I had took a dump after 6 years of solid service.

Paper Sheets or Mylar Sheets.

I know its out of date, but so are our computers.

Randy

For 11X17, I agree with the Brother recommendations.

If you foresee any need to do duplex scanning in the future, for just a few more dollars than a standard printer, you could go with the Brother MFC-J6920DW.

I got the next step down model and have found several instances when the auto document feed duplex scanning would have been VERY nice to have. At the time, I did not do enough research to know that there was a duplex scanning model out.

Edit - From the brochure it does show Windows XP Home or XP Pro compatibility.

Not only XP, but LT 2002 too.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.