43 Folders

Back to Work

Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

Join us via RSS, iTunes, or at 5by5.tv.

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Last call: Printers that handle index cards well

43F Google Group: Research for a Post: Printers that handle index cards well

A few weeks back, I posted a message to the Google Group, asking for advice on the best printers for printing onto standard index cards. There have been a lot of suggestions (HP and Brother models seem to be popping up a lot), but there hasn’t been a decisive winner as far as I can tell.

I’d love to post a summary of the three or so best printers people are using—I hope some time in the next week—so this is your final chance to chime in on the model that’s rocking your world. I know a lot of you have been printing to tons of index cards lately, so there must be some printers that can handle the little fellas better than others.

Just to toss this out, here’s a few of the things that I would be looking for in this printer:

  • Must work on a Mac using the standard drivers or GIMP (duh)
  • Must print onto a standard, drug store, $0.01 index card without anything more acrobatic than a manual feed (although I’d love to hear about printers that can use separate trays or loaders for unattended feeding of multiple index cards)
  • Should print well-aligned cards that honor margins and look roughly the same, one to another (no whacky alignment problems)
  • Should be reasonably priced—under $150.00 retail would be nice; less than $100 would be even better
  • Should have a relatively small footprint (unless the amount of added functionality makes it worth clearing the extra space)
  • Should go easy on the toner/ink/whatever in draft mode (I’m not printing many glossy photos of hot-air balloons these days, so I’d love to get off the Epson Ink Jet needle if I can)
  • Nice if it’s a brand-name with a decent warranty
  • Nice if it’s also available outside the US (see, guys? I’m trying to get more i18n into the mix)

So speak up, kids. I have a feeling if a few of you heavy hitters throw your shoulder into it here, we can wrap this up, and save the world from costly “pre-printed index cards” forever.

Eric Nentrup's picture

I can't believe I hadn't...

I can't believe I hadn't tried it any sooner than LAST WEEK, but my HP PSC 1210 All-in-one does a reasonable job. Can't recommend that you BUY one, but I would confirm if any readers have one, it'll handle most HPDA needs. Doug's DIY Planner got cropped, but in OS X's Page Setup dialogue, I could "shrink to fit, and it would still be legible. Best deal...these printers are DIRT cheap and of course they scan/copy too.

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

Popular
Today

Popular
Classics

An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


STAY IN THE LOOP:

Subscribe with Google Reader

Subscribe on Netvibes

Add to Technorati Favorites

Subscribe on Pageflakes

Add RSS feed

The Podcast Feed

Cranking

Merlin used to crank. He’s not cranking any more.

This is an essay about family, priorities, and Shakey’s Pizza, and it’s probably the best thing he’s written. »

Scared Shitless

Merlin’s scared. You’re scared. Everybody is scared.

This is the video of Merlin’s keynote at Webstock 2011. The one where he cried. You should watch it. »