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My dad bought it so that we (2 PC's and a Mac) could all share 1 printer (HP OfficeJet 5610). I called them and was told that it was an Apple problem and I should call Apple. It was easy enough to install it on the PC's, but the Mac was impossible. The documentation was incorrect, the CD was useless and Netgear's technical support was a joke. Then I emailed Tech Support and they replied but what they told me did not work. Finally I added my printer as an IP printer, using HP JetDirect as the Protocol and entered the IP address and chose my driver and the test page printed.
Downside. Directions for install on other machines took a little more time to figure out.
I tried EVERYTHING - allowing ports, setting security, sharing options. I was at wits end.
I spent 6 hours trying to share my printer attached via USB to my vista machine with other XP systems on my home network. I wish I could get my 6 hours back.Install on the first machine was easy.
I broke down and bought the print server. 15 min of install and all machines can print.
Basically, add a network printer on your other machines and carry around the printer driver CD with you so it will have the proper drivers for your printer.The best upside, now the PC which used to host the printer can sleep and not affect the other computers. I can no longer see ink level status (big woop).Now I can go off and ditch the "part-time-IT-cause-no-one-else-in-the-house-can-do-it" hat and do stuff I enjoy.
you use your web browser to configure the ps121 to a fixed IP address. -this product works great with a Samsung ML-2510 laser printer. you will need to read the manual for the password to log in to the server. even complex graphics, multi-page jobs sail through.I uninstalled the Netgear software on the PC - you don't need it and it only slows stuff down. The only reason you would want that software is if you can't do the alternate method.Here's the tip:1-you have to know the address your router assigned to the ps121. 2-you will have to create a TCP/IP printer port, either by adding a new network printer, or by adding a new port to your existing printer.It took about 5 minutes per pc to set up and run a test print with this method. For the Vista Laptop that connected via wireless to the WLAN, I used the add printer function, selected network printer, typed in the IP address, and Vista found the correct printer driver and installed it.
For the price, the PS121v2 is a good deal. And to access the non-printer functions (e.g. But on Windows Vista the software installation produced errors. And if you get this error, NetGear support may have you going in circles. And after a week of playing e-mail tag with NetGear, I washed my hands of this device. I am running two machines - XP Pro and Vista. The hardware works as expected but the supporting software may give you a USB error. scan, fax,.)., the user reserves the printer (locks access) through this software - no problem for me but possible annoyance for others.
The printer is an all-in-one. The PS121v2 requires you install it's client software on each machine - no problem. The software still ran but never allowed me to reserve the printer. I gave it away and got a printer with ethernet/wifi built-in.
The item was delivered as stated and is working as is supposed to.I would deal with the company again when needing that kind of items. I give high rating.Richard
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