Multifunction printers (MFPs) or also known as all in one printers allow you to have different tools in one machine. Other than capable of printing, they can also provide your copying, scanning and faxing needs. Many offices take advantage of them, as well as some homes, because of the flexibility and convenience they offer.
There are many advantages to investing on an MFP. Having one around helps save precious desktop space as practically everything you need is found in a single machine. Instead of purchasing several different machines, you only need one. While it definitely costs more than just your regular printer, it's less expensive than getting 4 different machines. It's also generally simpler to set up and easy to transport.
In getting an MFP, there are some things you need to consider. A lot of manufacturers are offering them these days. If you think all of them yield the same performance, think again. It's for this very reason why you need to spend some time in choosing which brand to go for. It's important that you purchase something which can deliver.
One of the very first things you need to decide on is whether to purchase a laser or inkjet type. Each uses different technologies. The laser type employs a more sophisticated technology. Because of such, it comes bulkier, costlier and faster than an inkjet rival. It's ideal for use in a busy office environment where large volume, high-quality printing needs have to be met. Toner is used for printing on compatible media.
On the other hand, an inkjet type of printer relies on a much simpler technology, making it smaller, a little slower and cheaper. It's ideal for home use or in an office environment which doesn't require heavy printing jobs. The cost per page, however, is higher than a laser counterpart. It's suitable for printing everyday text and images on a variety of media.
Inspect how many pages a minute the machine can produce by checking out its ppm or pages per minute. Whether it's printing or making a copy, monochrome documents come out faster than colored ones. Find out the resolution the unit has, expressed as dpi or dots per inch. Check which media sizes and types the MFP can work on, so it may be used for wider applications.
Being a fax machine, it's essential that it has a well laid out control panel. Find out how large the fax memory is, how fast it is, and other very important fax-related features. Being a scanner, it's much better for it to offer a glass pane or platen, as well as an automatic document feeder or ADF. Also, check out the scanning resolution available.
MFPs or all in one printers carry different price tags, depending on the full specifications they got. Be able to identify what your specific needs are before you decide on which brand to go for. It's not recommendable for you to settle for an MFP if you're not going to be able to use one or more of its functionalities. Go online to compare several different brands, as well as to have an idea of their prices so you can find one which fits your budget.
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I have more reviews and information about color printers at my Website. You may also be interested in reading my article on Canon all in one printers .