Sunday, November 30, 2008

Choosing A Multifunction Printer

By Frank Bolsom

Multifunction printers have become extremely popular over the last several years. These printers generally include copying and scanning functions, as well as sending and receiving faxes in some cases.

Some of the newer models also include photo printing capabilities, with digital memory card readers and preview screens built right into the printer.

There are a lot of benefits to owning a multifaceted printer. But there are some things to consider when purchasing one.

First, if you're planning to use it as a photocopier, it's going to cost you considerably more than having copies made at your local print shop. Where you might spend 5 to 10 cents a copy at a print shop, doing your own could cost anywhere up to $1.00 a page on a multifunction printer.

They're great for convenience when you need a quick copy, but you wouldn't want to do any kind of volume on them.

With all-in-one printers you may sacrifice quality. For example, the printer may have the ability to scan but the clarity of what you scan may not be that great.

Using your all-in-one printer for scanning depends on how important the resulting prints are. If you are working with photos and want a clear sharp print you may want to use a separate scanner.

Sometimes all-in-one printers have limited printing options. A printer whose function is only to print may give you more options of paper size or may give you a better print quality.

The final thing to consider is that if you ever have a problem with your multifunction printer, you'll lose your scanner, copier, printer and possibly fax while it's getting repaired. Having separate units means you would only be without one of them if you ever need repairs done.

All-in-one printers do have their positives. Having all functions in one machine is a space saver, a money saver and it may be all you need to accomplish what you need to accomplish. - 16928

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