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@Sporran wrote:

I'd appreciate some advice on the appropriate printer to purchase.    I've previously purchased a laptop from Dell, which I'm very pleased with, however I now require a printer and it seems convenient to come back to Dell ( or should I get off my fat backside and pop down PC World or check out Kelkoo etc ?)       It's for domestic use - few college assignments, letters etc and I'm hoping to purchase a digital camera soon so it would be handy to print  good quality photographs.        The all in one printer sounds good.........why the photo cartridge?       Browsing through some of the comments on the forum there seems to be a large number of faults/issues  with Dell printers.   Or is this to be expected with any make of printer.        Thanks for taking time to read this message and I hope you can take the time to point me in the right direction.   

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The Dell A960 is an OK all in one, but it has a problem with the feed rollers. I cringe when I see the paper go in crocked. It's a poor design. I would get out and look at the ones in the store. Most stores have displays that will print. (At least the Best Buy in my neck of the woods does) Compare several of the test pages. See how it feeds in, make sure the roller that grabs the paper is in the middle ot it has 2, one at each end. Photo ink replaces the black cartridge to give you 6 colors. Photo's printed with it look great.

Thanks for your advice..........I'll pop down pc world and look at some in action.     

Don't go the Dell route.   GO HP!!! 

I canceled my A960 order 10/8 after waiting 8 weeks for a 3-5 day promise.  Thank Dell they were unable to delievey because I ended up with the HP 2410Xi all in one and it's fantastic!!!   I've already printed about ten 8x10 very colourfull photo and six 4x6's.   I've also printed about fifty black pages.  Still on the original ink carts.   ZERO issues.

Oh yeah, the setup was 99% automatic and everything worked the first time and every time since installed (scan, copy-black and color, fax).

GO HP!!  NO DELL!

The price was $279 with an immediate $30 rebate, so $249.  This is with the USB cable and "normal" ink carts.   Dell's A960 does not come with the USB cable and the ink carts that come with the machine are "trial" carts.   The cost of the Dell with "normal ink carts" and USB cable drove the A960 price closer to $300.

There is a single tri-color cart.   I don't see any disadvantage.  The carts are easily installed/removed.  I have several collegues who have HP's at home (not this model) and they have had no or little problems.

If you will be doing a lot of copy work requiring auto feed, the HP is a single page manual feed so you wouldn't be satisfied with the HP.

Good luck!