Print, scan, copy, fax…using one device. Here's the lowdown on how to choose
the one that meets your needs
[image: Multi-functional devices: Printer]
Multi-functional devices are fast, efficient, easy to use and offer great
value for your money. Separate products from different manufacturers mean
you will spend three or four times as much time to install the drivers and
other software.
There may also be compatibility issues between devices. It is so much easier
to set up and maintain just a single device. And whether you will be using
it at home or in an office, you will no longer have to worry about dozens of
cables trailing all over your floor. You will save on desk space by having
just one device that can print, scan and copy, instead of a separate
printer, photocopier, scanner and fax machine.
If you are thinking of buying one, there are a couple of things you need to
keep in mind. All multi-function units don't offer the same combination of
functions. So be sure of what you are going to be using it for.
If you will be using your printer to print photographs, you need a high
resolution printer. Several multi-function devices today can print high
quality photographs. However, if you don't require high-resolution prints of
images, even a printer which prints at a lower resolution will work fine.
For everyday text printing, anywhere near 600 dpi (dots per inch) is a good
enough resolution. For printing tasks that are more demanding than that,
choose models that print at 1,200 dpi or higher.
Similarly, if you plan to use your scanner to scan images into your computer
for editing, or if the images need to be used in print later, you should go
for the highest resolution scanner available. However, if the images will
only be put on the web, then a lower resolution scanner will do for you.
If you want your multi-function device for office use, you will probably
require a fax function. If you are going to use it at home, the fax function
may not be a critical requirement.
Make sure that replacement cartridges for your printer will be available
quickly in your locality. Manufacturers make cartridges that only work with
their kind of printer and are not generic. In such cases, you may have to
wait a day or two for the replacement.
For printing in the office, having a printer that prints fast can ensure
that you save a lot of time. Be sure to check the print and copy speed of
the printer you are considering, and go for the fastest one you can afford.
This will be in pages per minute or ppm. If a large number of people will be
using it, choose a laser printer for greater speed.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when you are buying the consumables
for your multi-function printer, i.e. the ink and the paper, the cost may be
lower in the beginning, as you will only be spending on one device instead
of multiple devices. But this also means that when you start using it on a
regular basis, you will end up going through more cartridges than otherwise,
as the one device will be handling all requirements by itself.
An expensive multi-function printers may turn out to be more economical for
you in the long term if it has higher-capacity ink tanks, and also, separate
tanks for each color. Also remember that inkjet printers have a higher
per-page cost for making copies than regular photocopy machines. Also, if
anything is wrong with one of the functions of a multi-function device, you
will have to do without all of them while the device is being repaired or
replaced.
The downside of convergence is that it may lead you to compromise on quality
for the sake of convenience. If your work demands a high level of quality on
any of the functions that you will use the multi-function unit for, you
should consider buying separate, professional-grade equipment for handling
that function.
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