Wireless or Ethernet Printer??

I'm looking to get a new deskjet printer & I want it to be usable by all computers in the house, including my wife's laptop which accesses the internet via our wireless router. What is the difference (if any) between an Ethernet & a Wireless printer?
(which one do I want?)

An Ethernet printer will plug into an Ethernet network via an Ethernet cable. Your router acts as the hub of your personal Ethernet network in your house. Depending on the router and firewall settings on the machines, you could plug an Ethernet printer into one port of the router and it should appear on the network. This restricts the printer to being co-located near the router. Since it involves firewall settings and router configurations this setup can be confusing.

A wireless printer has a wireless router built into it and will appear to your desktop computers as another wireless network to which you can connect. They are usually more expensive but they are also more flexible. You can unplug the things and move them around the house as needed.

The following URL takes you to some tutorials at the HP web site on Wireless printing.
http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaig ... ningTools/

If it was me I would buy a wireless printer.

My daughter bought me a HP-3680 for xmas, it worked one time after three hours on the phone with a guy from India. I turned it off and the next day back to square one. My computer will not recognize its there.
Ray

Thanks for the replies guys. It looks like wireless is what I want then. Anyone have recommendations for a good wireless all-in-one printer that actually works, right out of the box? (I rarely have to print anything so it will get very light use)

I'm not using either. I have a standard printer hooked up to my desktop. Desktop and 2 laptops are wireless with our router. Can print from both laptops going through wireless home network.

Jeff

I've found the best way to run a wireless printer wirelessly is to hardwire it to your network and access it via your access point.

Most of the HP wireless printers I've installed have an ethernet port in them and had trouble joining or staying on a security enabled wireless network.

Always set a static IP for a network printer.

Bought an HP C4580 wireless printer http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 5216328841 & now all computers can use it with no problem!

I've found the best way to run a wireless printer wirelessly is to hardwire it to your network and access it via your access point.

Most of the HP wireless printers I've installed have an ethernet port in them and had trouble joining or staying on a security enabled wireless network.

Always set a static IP for a network printer.

Bingo!
KISS
Set it up this way and your problems should be few.