All-in-one printers are the multifunction printers. They facilitate their users with multiple functions like copying, scanning, printing and faxing. Today, there are several companies such as Canon, Epson, Dell, HP, Brother and CTI etc. Let’s talk about the features most commonly found in all-in-one printers.
All-in-one printers are often the printers most sought by companies and the technologically minded because they include:
- Printer
- Scanner
- Photocopier
- Fax
Some all-in-one printers have wireless networking capabilities and they can be shared among multiple computers. Due to the number of options available, it may seem daunting to determine which machine to buy. So, before you invest in this equipment it is better to sit and decide what your basic needs are and what features you want in your machine. To take advantage of your investment, ensure that you have chosen the best model according to your needs.
Step 1:
Determine the need for a fax machine. Some all-in-one printers such as Dell V515w, Dell V715w and HP Office jet Pro 8500A are equipped with built-in fax machines, and their prices are higher for it. So, if you don’t need a fax save yourself some cash and look for the other machines which don’t have a built in fax machine like Canon Pixma MG8120.
Canon Pixma MG8120 doesn’t have a fax, but its image quality is admirable. For home-office and small businesses, HP office jet pro 85000A is a perfect choice due to its quality and high speed performance. For students, Dell V515w would be excellent. It is not an ideal choice for professional users because it is slow at making copies.
Step 2:
Determine whether you need networking capabilities. If you need a printer to share among multiple computers then you should invest in a multifunction printer equipped with a wireless network card. Most top rated printers are compatible with airprint, such as HP Photosmart Premium e-All-in-One, HP OfficeJet Pro 8500A Plus, and Canon Pixma MG6220.
Step 3:
Decide if you need of duplex capabilities. If you intend to perform two sided printing then you should invest in printer with duplex capability. If you want to save time, then you can invest in all in one printer with an automatic duplexer. The printer models that come with a duplexer (allows two sided printing) are Dell P513w model, the P713w model, V715w model, Canon Pixma MX870 and Canon Pixma MG8120. Canon Pixma MX870 can only be a good option for casual use because it runs out of ink more quickly.
Step 4:
You should also compare the maximum scanning resolution of printers. Every all-in-one printer is equipped with a flatbed scanner but the scanning resolution of each printer is not equal. Every all in one print can print and scan the images but the quality of printed and scanned images may also vary. So, if you need printers that can support higher resolution images then you should invest in a model that supports a high resolution scanning. The Dell P713w, Dell V715w, Canon Pixma MG8120 and HP Office jet Pro 8500A can support high resolution scanning. HPEpson Artisan 835, HP Photosmart Premium C410a, Epson WorkForce 635, Lexmark Platinum Pro905, HP LaserJet Pro M1217nfw, Epson Artisan 725 – Arctic Edition and KODAK ESP 7250 have low resolution scanning.
Step 5:
Last but not least, keep your budget in mind. The cost of each all-in-one printer varies depending on the features of each model. You can skip unnecessary options to save money.
