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All in One Computer Printer / Scanner / Copier / Fax |
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Sunday, 05 August 2007 |
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A current trend in the office machines field is the combination computer printer / scanner / copier / fax machine. This accessory saves space, time and money for business or home users. All of the well-known office machine manufacturers offer a wide variety of models serving every possible need and budget. With just a little research, a user can find a computer printer/scanner/copier/fax machine that is just right.
For home use, there are many desktop models to choose from. About the size of a standard inkjet printer, prices range from less than $100. Using just a telephone line and a single USB connection to the computer, the printer/scanner/copier/fax combines inkjet printing with sheet fed scanning, color copying and faxing capabilities employing user-friendly controls. The advantages are obvious: the user saves desk space and USB connections, including less wiring to become tangled behind the computer! Another plus is the fact that the software controls are all combined in a single program, eliminating multiple icons on the computer desktop. Of course, there are drawbacks as well. Sheet-fed scanning and copying is much less versatile than using a flatbed scanner; pages of books and magazines are out of the question. Image quality is also not as sharp, although adequate for most requirements.In the office, a stand-alone unit is generally best. Hooked into the company’s computer network, the printer/scanner/copier/fax uses about the same floor space as a standard photocopier. Most are laser printers as opposed to the smaller inkjets. Prices range upward from about $300 for black-and-white printing to upwards of $800 for color. The same advantages apply to these models, with the addition that many of the higher-quality printer/scanner/copier/fax machines employ the more versatile flatbed scanning surface. There is one additional drawback to virtually all of the computer printer/scanner models for home or office. That is their difficulty to repair. When any one function breaks down, the machine is generally unusable for any function. In a busy office, that could bring productivity to a grinding halt. Therefore, it is important to consider having backups available for all of the functions. In general, however, the advantages outweigh the risks, and investment in a multi-function computer printer/scanner/copier/fax is a wise choice. |
