Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Everywhere it seems, people are talking about “clearing the clutter.” Will purchasing a multifunction printer simplify your life? We can’t be sure, but at least your home office will gain space so you can work more efficiently. Before you haul out your old stand-alone equipment to the curb, or list it on eBay as a collector’s item, there are a few things you’ll want to know before you purchase a multifunction printer. Not all multifunction printers share the same functions or perform those functions using the same technology. Pronto’s Multifunction Printer Buying Guide will take you through the key pieces of information you need to select the multifunction printer that does what you most need it to do. (see also Inkjet Standard Printer Buying Guide, Inkjet Photo Printer Buying Guide, Laser Printer Buying Guide).
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If you’re still thinking that multifunction printers produce lesser quality, prints, scans or copies than standalone units, think again. Today’s multifunction printers are more than space savers, their individual functions often work better together than connecting separate devices.
Which Multi Function do You Need?
Multifunction printers are either text-oriented (with the secondary function being the fax) or graphics/photo oriented (with the secondary function being the scanner). “Do it all” units print, scan, fax and copy.
Laser or Inkjet?
Inkjet is geared for better quality for photos and graphics with a higher lifetime ink cost, while laser is lower operating cost and can produce high volume output for text.
Print Quality
The more dots per inch (dpi), the sharper the print job. Look for printing/copying resolution of at least 600 x 600 for lasers. Today’s inkjets have maximum resolution of 4800 x 1200 which is best for photos and graphics.
Memory
The more memory a multifunction printer has, the more it costs. Don’t skimp if you’ll be doing a lot of faxing or scanning—this is where too little memory is most noticeable. A minimum of 8MB should meet most home- or small-office users’ needs. For more complex jobs or high volume, look for units that come with 16-64MB or allow you to add more memory later.
For a relative bargain, under $300, our pick is the HP Photosmart C6180. You will definitely reach a space saving goal with this slim 18”x12”x7.5” model. This unit is a All-in-One Printer, Fax, Scanner, and Copier with control that are easy to use and installation was a breeze. As with most HP products, there is a strong after market for ink refills. You should have all the quality you need wit...
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For a relative bargain, under $300, our pick is the HP Photosmart C6180. You will definitely reach a space saving goal with this slim 18”x12”x7.5” model. This unit is a All-in-One Printer, Fax, Scanner, and Copier with control that are easy to use and installation was a breeze. As with most HP products, there is a strong after market for ink refills. You should have all the quality you need with over 30 pages per minute copying, photo-quality resolution up to 4800-optimized dots per inch (dpi) color, and 4800 x 4800 dpi optical resolution scanning. Also, it is nice to know this unit can be super charged with a memory upgrade if you need more power just in case you need it.
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PC World – “All in all, the HP OfficeJet Pro L7680 All-in-One Printer is a good solution for a small office that needs to perform a wide range of printing, scanning, and faxing tasks. It offers fast text printing for an inkjet, better photo quality than a color laser, and economical ink costs.” Source: PC World
CNET – “The Dell 1815dn Printer is a good choice for a home office or a very small workgroup that needs a network-ready multifunction machine for monochrome printing, scanning, faxing, and copying.” Source: CNET
PC Magazine – “With this combination of speed, output quality, and features, the Canon Pixma MP830 Printer is not only easy to recommend, it's a clear Editors' Choice winner as a top-of-the-line personal AIO.” Source: PC Magazine
hot buzzWhat's the latest in the world of multifunction printers?
We bet your iPhone doesn’t do this….you can now go mobile with your multi function device. Available sometime in the fall of 2007, Swedish manufacturer Posio is launching the GRETA GSM. Capabilities will include a Printer, Fax, Telephone, Scanner and Copier. In true swedish design it is nice to look at in a slim red compact package, topped with a handle for portability. At only 2” thick, and equiped with a 12/24v charger, get on the plane and go! More. http://www.possio.com/scripts/spread.asp?dynfile=about_greta&id=english&dh=6
Budget multifunction printers ($100-200) usually offer printing, copying and faxing, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worthwhile investments. Their print speed is impressive, as is their copy speed (black and white and color) and the copier function may allow you to manipulate copy size. While some require you to connect the fax to a phone line, others come with high-speed fax modems built in. Good Pick: Brother MFC-240C
Spend a little more ($200-400) and your multifunction will have scanning capabilities too. You’ll get top-quality prints and copies, but you may have to forego faxing capabilities. If you don’t need a fax, but speed and print resolution are factors for you, mid-priced model is your best bet. Good Pick: Canon PIXMA MP830
The highest-end multifunction printers ($400+) print, copy, scan and fax at optimum speed, the best resolution and additional features like auto duplexing and multiple sheet trays to manage a variety of simultaneous jobs. Good Pick: HP Officejet Pro L7780 All-in-One
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
ADF
Automatic document feeder. If you’ll be scanning or faxing more than a couple of pages, look for multifunction printers that have ADFs which quickly feed your pages through the scanner or fax and save you from standing around to feed the pages manually.Dots per Inch (dpi). The more dots of ink thrown per inch, the better the printout or resolution. Monochrome printer resolution maxes out at 1200 x 1200 or 600 x 600 but these scales are more than adequate for printing text and graphics. Color Multifunction printer resolution can be as high as 2400 x 1200 which enhances the sharpness and details of the final color print.
Pages per Minute (ppm)
Printing speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm), but don’t be fooled by manufacturers’ claims: advertised printing speeds are faster than what users actually experience. The complexity of the print job—a black-and-white text-only letter versus four color-graphics or even heavy grayscale line art, for example for example—is what ultimately determines printer speed.
Memory (Printer RAM)
Memory helps dictate the speed the printer prints and the quality of print it produces. More memory allows you to print better and at a higher resolution.Duplexing. A printer’s ability to print on both sides of the paper. Most printer models today do not have duplexing by default, but offer add-on hardware for duplexing. An add-on like this adds to the upfront cost, however, duplex printing may reduce costs over time by reducing the amount of paper you use.
IBM has a great line of multi-function printers for office use - print/scan/fax. We have them in my office and they work great - ideal for small businesses as they save space.
