| Whether you are responsible for a small | | | | Multifunction Printers or MFPs |
| home-based business, or a large company with | | | | The Multifunctional, All-in-One device combines |
| many departments and workgroups, there are | | | | print, copier, scanner and fax capability in a single |
| continuous choices to be made on the | | | | machine. These systems are surprisingly compact |
| procurement of office equipment. Not least | | | | and affordable. Indeed some MFPs start at prices |
| amongst these, is the selection of the appropriate | | | | below £200. However, in this category of |
| printer technology for your business needs? Here | | | | printers, some hefty and powerful machines are |
| in outline are the various technologies and their | | | | available for Print for Pay and major corporate |
| appropriate environment. | | | | use, with a vast array of bolt-on systems for |
| Personal Ink-Jets | | | | folding, stapling and collating documents. |
| Useful for one individual or a workgroup with a | | | | Impact Printers |
| minimal colour printing needs, a low-cost personal | | | | Rarer these days, but it is still possible to buy |
| ink-jet will be the best choice. Personal inkjet | | | | dot-matrix and even daisywheel devices for |
| printers offer a low initial cost, plus the flexibility | | | | specialist impact applications, for example for such |
| to print on a variety of media, such as | | | | as multiple-copy form printing. Such printers tend |
| promotional materials. | | | | to be more expensive, robust and bulky than the |
| Business Ink-Jets | | | | ink-jets and laser printers in more common use. |
| In a bigger business environment, or one where | | | | Impact printers by definition are also much noisier |
| colour output is a major requirement, the | | | | in use. |
| workload is likely to be too great for a personal | | | | Other factors - Stand-alone or Networked? |
| inkjet printer. Thus a unit designed specifically for | | | | If you plan to share the printer in a workgroup on |
| business will fit the bill, offering a lower cost per | | | | your office network, then network-ready |
| page. Many business inkjets employ ink-saving | | | | functionality must be specified. |
| technology and modular cartridges, which avoid | | | | Speed of Operation |
| the need to change the colour when you change | | | | Businesses with a heavy output, or with a plan to |
| the black and white cartridges, for example. | | | | share the printer among several users, a faster |
| Laser Printers | | | | printer is important - and one that will avoid |
| Large companies demand more output of all kinds. | | | | forcing staff to wait for printouts to get through |
| Perhaps also the demand for colour output on | | | | the queue. Any shared printer is also likely to be |
| standard-size paper may be addressed with a | | | | networked so the network speed in the office is |
| laser printer | | | | also a factor |
| Laser printers have invariably offered | | | | Cost Considerations |
| monochrome output in the past, but more and | | | | In additional to the initial purchase cost, there is of |
| more colour-capable lasers are coming onto the | | | | course the cost of consumables such as ink |
| market. For organisations with a heavy black-only | | | | cartridges and toner which also require budgeting. |
| output though, they still offer the lowest cost of | | | | The twin costs of initial purchase (or lease) plus |
| monochrome printing, as opposed to ink-jets | | | | consumables and maintenance are defined as the |
| which offer a lower cost for colour output. Even | | | | Total Cost of Ownership, and requires a careful |
| so, the picture is changing, and there are some | | | | projection of costs over the life-cycle of the |
| surprisingly low-cost colour lasers available. | | | | equipment. |
| Large or Wide Format Printers | | | | Support and Supplier Backup |
| Design work or over-size documents for displays | | | | All printers come with a basic warranty or |
| require a special kind of printer - a large format | | | | guarantee that entitles the purchaser u to one |
| printer capable of printing on very large paper (or | | | | year's 'return to base' servicing and repairs. It is |
| other media) sheets. Factors to consider here are | | | | wise and useful to arrange additional cover and a |
| quality of output, colour capability, speed, | | | | service plan to suit the capacity and |
| networking capability and additional functions such | | | | work-expectations of the printer. |
| as scanning and copying. | | | | Green Credentials |
| Photo Printers | | | | Protecting the environment is a crucial issue these |
| A photo printer is essentially a personal colour | | | | days, and taking advice whilst looking for the |
| ink-jet with a higher capability for printing on | | | | most energy-efficient options makes sound |
| special photo paper. Naturally useful in the home, | | | | business sense. Doing this should also save money |
| such printers have their use in the business | | | | in terms of running costs at least. Questions to |
| environment - for example when there is a need | | | | ask are - What sort of power consumption and |
| to include quality photos in presentation packs for | | | | stand-by power-down features does the printer |
| marketing purposes, or for use in training | | | | have? Is it easy to print in double-sided (duplex) |
| materials. | | | | mode? Can consumables such as laser drums and |
| Business Colour or Full Colour? | | | | ink cartridges be recycled? Is the printer |
| For businesses requiring mission-critical exact | | | | RoHS-compliant (The RoHS Directive and the UK |
| colour reproduction (such as in the preparation of | | | | RoHS regulations came into force on 1 July |
| colour proofs, for example), then it is important | | | | 2006.)? And what steps does the supplier make |
| to differentiate between machine which offer | | | | to contribute towards the costs of disposal under |
| "Black and Business Colour" as opposed to the | | | | the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment |
| higher quality "Full Colour" specification. | | | | (WEEE) directive? |