The Pros and Cons of All In One Multi FunctionPrinters
Posted by admin on 11/17/10 | Posted in IT Support London
In the past, having a small business meant you needed an office that at least had space for a computer, fax machine, printer, copy machine, and telephone. You also had to keep all these devices running properly and supplied with ink, paper, and power supply. Before you knew it, your office was full of gadgets you needed but might not use every minute of every day.
This is why all one printers – or multifunction printers – are so appealing to many small business owners. Multifunction printers have been around a while, but only in recent years have they become affordable and of high quality. Early models were lacking in features, or difficult to use and pricey. But now these devices can help you get your work done with a fraction of the desk space it’s predecessors used.
What You Get From An All in One Printer
The all in one printer often has basic functionality of a fax machine, scanner, and printer. The most basic models meet the needs of a standard small business; you can put a document in the scanner and press a few buttons to fax it, or send it into the computer in standard file formats. Printing works just as you’d expect as well. However, if your business has specific printer-related or scanning needs, you should make sure the multifunction printer of your choice can meet these needs.
The Positive and the Negative
The majority of small businesses have pretty simple printer, fax, and scanner needs. One of the biggest plus points is how simple to use most of these printers are. For simple things like printing receipts, emailing scanned contracts, running off copies, or backing up digital scans of important documents, most of these printers fit the bill perfectly.
Its also important to realize that some minor options may not be provided by these systems. For example, if you have a very specific printing configuration, you may have trouble reproducing it on a multifunction printer. You should also keep in mind that when your all in one printer is out of ink or broken, you might need to go to a local copier as a backup plan for copying, scanning and faxing.
Another “gotcha” with the pricing of these printers is the ink. Much like your internet service provider gives you a free modem in order to get you to use their pricey service, many all one printers are reasonably priced because the ink can cost a small fortune. These companies don’t like to come out in the open about how much you get per ink cartridge. The cost for laser printing breaks down to about 3 pence a page, but the quality is much lower. Inkjet can run 7 to 10 pence a page or more but you can print photocen quality pictures using them.
Making the Most of Your Printer
Like any device that attempts to combine several pieces of technology, multifunction printers aren’t perfect. But if you do your research and find one that fits your specific needs, you can save a lot of money and floor space with these amazing devices.
