|
|
 |
Printers, Faxes, Copiers and Scanners: What You Need to Know |
 |
Although advances in hardware and software have allowed all of us to live an increasingly paperless life, there are times when we must bridge the hard copy-soft copy divide. We have older documents, photos, and other valuable print artifacts that we'd like to put on a computer, and we have documents, pictures, and other information in our computers that we need to get out of there and onto paper.
More and more often, manufacturers are trying to meet the demand for printing and digitizing with "all in one" units that can scan, print, fax, and serve as photocopiers. Although these machines are very tempting buys, they don't meet everyone's needs. "All in one" machines are great if you do not need specialized features from any of the four components, and that covers most of us. In this article, we'll briefly cover all 4 components, and whether you need specialization.
If you primarily use your printer for downloaded pdfs and webpages, documents from your word processor, and to print the occasional cute photo for the refrigerator, then the included printer will provide everything you need. If you need high resolution for semi-professional or professional photo finishing, or need to handle high-speed, high-quantity document printing, you'll need a dedicated printer. Photo and document printers provide very different features--the first focus on high-resolution and handling a wide variety of papers; the second focus on speed and durability. Don't make the mistake of expect one to do the job of the other.
The situation regarding scanners is very similar. Most people use their scanner to make reasonably high-quality copies of photos and documents, and the scanner provided in an all-in-one package will do nicely. However, if you have old slides, photographs and negatives to archive, you will need a specialized scanner with both a reflective and non-reflective bed. If you need to scan large numbers of documents (such as in an office that is going digital), you will want a print scanner with an automatic feeder.
Because a scanner is really just a photocopier that can print, all-in-one units can easily fold this additional function in with printing and scanning. They work just like a separate photocopier, and will easily handle the needs of an individual or small home business. However, they are not heavy-duty units, and will quickly break down if they are subjected to the abuse of an office setting. If you copy more than 10-12 pages a day, on average, you will need a separate copier.
Fax machines are the least complicated of the four, and only medium-size or large offices that rely constantly on a fax machine will need a separate one. Again, as with the printer, the primary issue is durability. An all-in-one can easily handle several faxes a day. The major issue will be that the fax will tie up the unit, since you cannot be sure when one will come in. Therefore, if you receive faxes on a daily basis and cannot predict roughly when they will come in, a separate unit is a small expense and a big convenience.
If you're not sure about what you need, consider purchasing an inexpensive all-in-one machine, and then noting when you need something more specific or powerful. However, if you already know you need a machine that can handle a high load, or specialized formats, such as photos, you are better off buying that as a separate component from the start.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
