By Molly McLaughlin on November 20, 2009 in
Yes, printers are practical gift, but some people like practical gifts - especially if you set up the printer too. Discounted printers abound at Staples, OfficeMax, Best Buy and Wal-mart - but some are better deals than others. Whether you're in the market for an inkjet printer, laser printer or multifunction printer, there's savings to be had - and this year, it's either at Staples or OfficeMax. Here are our picks for the best printer deals, based on the reviews we've analyzed.
If you're looking for an all-in-one printer for your home or small office. . .
Stop by OfficeMax, which has two great deals. First, the HP Officejet Pro 8500 will be on sale for $140 (currently selling for at least $100 more from other vendors). The Officejet Pro 8500 is a runner-up in our multifunction printer report and "boast[s] faster print speeds than most all-in-one printers," which makes it a good pick for small offices. It also offers good scans and photos. Second, the HP OfficeJet J4680, another runner-up in our report, will be just $50, down from about $90 and up. The J4680 has an integrated fax modem, but prints rather slowly, so it's best for home or home office use.
Staples is offering a small discount on our top pick in this category, the HP Photosmart Premium Fax c309, but better deals are available now, elsewhere online.
If you're looking for a no-frills black-and-white laser printer for your home office. . .
Go to Staples, where the Brother HL-2170W, one of our best-reviewed monochrome laser printers is on sale for about $90 - it's available elsewhere for at least $100. The HL-2170 has built-in wireless networking and a maximum duty of 10,000 pages per month.
If you want a color laser for your small office and have a larger budget. . .
Staples is also the place to go, where the Lexmark C543dn, part of the successful 500 line is about $300 on Black Friday, nearly $100 less than other stores. The 500 series is popular with reviewers has received Editors' Choice awards from PCMag.com for its quality prints and speed. The C543dn gets good reviews at Newegg.com and mostly positive reviews at Amazon.com.
If you're looking for a regular inkjet printer. . .
Go online now - any deals we found in Black Friday flyers are already available at a number of online outlets including Newegg.com, Amazon.com and the online stores for Staples and OfficeMax.
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