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I would go with the HP.  Their OS X drivers are better than the Windows ones (at least when it comes to setup).  I love my HP AIO - it's color laser though.

HP stuff is generally pretty good. Lexmark, not so much.

I will just toss in that inkjets in general are going to be a source of frustration if you dont use them very often. It's just their nature to get clogged and splotchy if you often go weeks between a print.
At least thats my experience.

Keep in mind this isn't a dismissal, fido. I plan on weighing all the options too death until I get the cash for the replacement printer together (openly at first but privately after I've gather as much info as reasonably possible). It's certainly a nice suite with both the fax and card reader and the printer price is certainly in the right range. The multiple ink cartridges sound good in theory but my experiences with the Epson suggest that maybe I'm not the target audience for that. I invariably had to replace all the cartridges in very rapid succession if not simultaneously with the ink cost adding up to slightly more than combo tanks. I'm also unable to find a Brother MFC-210C locally. Still I'd appreciate any input on the interface and print quality (links to screenshots are helpful if you feel like it).

Pariah wrote:

I will just toss in that inkjets in general are going to be a source of frustration if you dont use them very often. It's just their nature to get clogged and splotchy if you often go weeks between a print.
At least thats my experience.

It's my experience as well. I've looked into laser printers as an alternative and as much as I really, really, really like them (wipes drool off chin), the ones with the features I want and need are far too expensive and far too big & bulky for my current situation. I settled on a plan to arranging a weekly print to maintain quality. It's also the big reason I'm avoiding Epsons and their integrated printheads.

By the way what's known about these Vivera inks? How do they stack up against regular inkjet inks? How do they compare against Epson DURABrite inks?

Foremost Mac compatibility, at the very least rudimentary scanning is a must, and I occasionally need to make color prints. Other than that my biggest considerations are cost, size, and weight. I'm dealing with a fixed income and an upstairs bedroom/office area the size of a crowded efficiency (not to mention an iffy shoulder).

I know a separate scanner would probably yield better quality but I honestly just don't have the room for one and a printer both.

ScifiterX wrote:

Foremost Mac compatibility, at the very least rudimentary scanning is a must, and I occasionally need to make color prints. Other than that my biggest considerations are cost, size, and weight. I'm dealing with a fixed income and an upstairs bedroom/office area the size of a crowded efficiency (not to mention an iffy shoulder).

I know a separate scanner would probably yield better quality but I honestly just don't have the room for one and a printer both.

Ah, the color thing will knock out any affordable laser printers.

I like my HP PSC 1209, I have had it for over a year and am still running on the original cartridges. I am also a infrequent printer and have had no problems whatsoever.

Canon = seconded. I have an iP4000 photo printer of theirs, and it's amazing. Very fast, crisp prints, and zero problems after 1.5+ years.

Can I see some interface screenshots for the Canon as well? The MP170 looks nice but sadly it's also a non-local model but the MP160 is sold in at least a couple places around here. Not being found locally isn't a deal breaker but I'm far more likely to buy locally than to ordering something of this nature.

the one nice thing i like about HP inkjets is that the printheads are in the ink cartridges, which means a plugged head is easily replaced, nice

Which printer did you end up liking the best? I'm in roughly the same position as you. Would like a scanner/printer combo, have limited space and would prefer dyes for photo printing. I'd be grateful to here find out your final analysis...