Laptop and printer combo?

[wetdog1911]

I *WAS* going to thin the herd due to declining health (lung cancer and heart problems), but my wife put the kabosh on that idea. She wants a supply of cash after I'm gone.

"No problem", says I, but she and my son know very little about guns, other than how to shoot. Especially value. My idea is to do a quick synopsis of each gun, written on a hang tag and attached to that particular gun. But, with the RA in my hands I can barely hold a pen or pencil, but I can work my keyboard and hopefully be able to print this synopsis on the hang tags.

Have a pack of hang tags now that are 3"x5", but, could order larger ones if necessary. Years ago I did similar with nursery tags when I imported rare plants.

But, which laptop & printer? Haven't had a printer for years since my son kept printing color copies of stuff and wasting ink and $$. Now, I'm clueless with what I need.

Any suggestions, or, experience would be most welcome and a color printer is not needed, or, even really wanted.

Thanks for any help!

Rob

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

You should be able to hook most any printer to most any laptop, either wireless or with a cord. If you are using, say Avery tags, you can search the template for that product number and then you will have a template the size of the tag. If you don't have a printer, then go purchase the cheapest one you can find and use it.

 

[Dave_n]

If memory serves me correctly, you can use the Avery label template in Word and then transfer the file to an USB drive and a local Staples or Kinko will happily print them off. Saves the purchase of a printer. Dave_n

 

[bigwheelzip]

Printer ink prices have gotten quite expensive. HP makes a good selection of printers with good driver support for whatever device you want to print from, and they now offer a per/page ink subscription service for many of their printers that is flexible and quite reasonably priced.

HP(R) Instant Ink

 

[TX-Dennis]

For your stated use you might want to get an inexpensive monochrome (black and white) laser printer. I picked a Xerox up on sale pretty cheaply a couple of years ago. Think I paid about $69. It is holding up well. I don't print a whole lot. Although I purchased a replacement toner cartridge last year I'm still printing on the one that came with it.

I'd also pick up some Avery sheet labels in the largest size that will fit your hang tags. Using MS Word or Libre Office (free) you can use a template for the size of tags you buy and print them off several at a time. Then just stick the label on the tag.

 

[H Richard]

I have an identifying hang tag on all my guns, and a corresponding Excel spread sheet with all guns identified and est value listed. My spouse has no idea what gun is what, but she should be able to dispose of what ever is left when I go, pretty easily.

 

[pasound]

Any Windows laptop and an HP or Epson printer. Walmart often has good inexpensive ones on the sales floor for cheaper than a new set of ink costs. I have an HP printer I paid $30 for at Walmart two years ago and it still works great.

 

[Jon651]

I want to second two suggestions already made here:

If you will only print documents and don't need color, an inexpensive laser printer is the way to go. Toner for a laser printer is 1/10th the price of black ink for the same number of pages printed, it doesn't dry out from non-use, and is much faster. I've had the same inexpensive Brother laser printer for over 10 years now and it's never failed me, and each toner cartridge is good for over 2500 pages.

However, if you won't be printing that much or don't really need a printer after your one project is finished, then saving your project to a USB thumb drive and taking it to Kinkos, Staples or a UPS Store and having them print it out would be my suggestion as well. That way you don't have to fuss with installing a new printer or dealing with it in any manner once something goes wrong. And as we all know, something ALWAYS goes wrong...

Good luck!