The Combination Printers: All-in-Ones and Multifunction Printers
In the midst of trying to figure out what kind of computer, printer, fax, scanner, etc., you may need, and the differences amongst them, printer manufacturers came up with the concept of an “all-in-one” printer. These are printers that can copy, scan, fax, and print. They are also called “multi-function” printers, depending on which printer manufacturer’s marketing department we’re dealing with!
In general, all-in-ones and “multis” are basically inkjets or laser printers at heart. The advantage of owning an all-in-one is that it saves you from having to buy a separate printer, fax machine, scanner, and so on. It’s great to have one if you have a home office or small business. However, one disadvantage of owning one is that some of the features may be better than others, and usually, not all of the features of a “multi” are top-notch. For example, you may find that the scanner of a multi has a resolution of 2400 x 4800 dpi or lower, which is about half of what a basic stand-alone scanner may have. Likewise, the printer may not be as fast or have the resolution that you might find on a stand-alone printer.
Overall, here are some things to consider while shopping for an all-in-one/multifunction printer:
-Remember that an all-in-one is a printer first and a copier, scanner, and fax machine second.
-Ask yourself if you just need a printer, or do you really need the fax, scanner, and copier, too? If you don’t need the other features, then just invest in a good printer.
-Do you need an inkjet printer or a laser printer? Inkjets are designed for less usage and lower resolution of images, while lasers are designed for more.
-Do you want a monochrome (black ink only) printer or color printer? Color printers and all-in-ones, especially color laser all-in-ones, will cost you more upfront and in the long run because of the multiple ink cartridges/toner needed.
-Check out printer and scanner reviews online before you purchase an all-in-one/multi.
Not sure where to start when shopping for a multifunction printer? Here are some suggestions:
Basic Multifunction Printer
In general, if you’re looking to have a basic printer, combined with a basic fax or copier, you can literally find an inkjet multifunction printer for as low as $100 to $150. Here, too, just make sure that the cost of replacing the ink won’t wreck your budget in the long run. Ink cartridges, even for these basic all-in-ones, can easily range from $15 to $35 per cartridge.
Intermediate Multifunction Printer
If you plan on printing at least 3 to 4 times a week in color, or you’d like a color photo multi that’s a bit faster, these printers will run you at least $150 to $400. In this category, you see all-in-ones with multiple sheet feeds, higher capacity inkjet cartridges, wireless routers, etc. Of course, as the price goes up, so does the amount of bells and whistles. Resolution levels for copies, faxes, and scans tend to increase, too. Just make sure that you’re choosing a machine that at least has the basic features you want – bells and whistles aside! Also, make sure you take a look at what the cost of the ink cartridges is. Be aware of the fact that these inkjets tend to have at least 3 or 4 ink cartridges, and they may often cost you at least $30 per cartridge.
Advanced Multifunction Printer
This is where the high-end inkjet meets the laser multifunction printer. Just as with a simple laser printer, laser all-in-ones are designed for printing higher resolution images. They are also designed for a higher amount of documents to be copied, scanned, or printed routinely.
Nevertheless, read the labels carefully before you buy one of these. Some of the laser multis can copy or scan color, but they only print in black. Just like their plain ol’ cousins, the laser printers, replacement cartridges for laser all-in-ones are not cheap. They may cost you at least $75 – $100 per cartridge, depending on the model.
Overall, the basic price range for laser multifunction printers usually starts around $300 and goes into the thousands, depending on your needs. For color lasers, realize that everything that is printed, including copies and faxes, will print out in color. This means you will go through more ink toner cartridges than a black ink laser all-in-one.
Quick Shopping Checklist
One more suggestion: When evaluating a printer, make sure that you weigh the following factors before purchasing anything:
-Reliability of the model
-Speed of the model
-Capacity of the model and each ink cartridge
-Simplicity of usage
-Upfront cost
-Long-term ink cost
In general, make sure that you take the time to do a little research before buying a multifunction printer. Ask yourself what features you really will use, what you can afford, and what the strongest features of the printer actually are. The more research you do upfront might save you some money and prevent a few headaches in the future!
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