| All in one printer, also known as | | | | |
| multifunction office machines, give you | | | | • A type of printing technology that |
| several capabilities in one product, usually | | | | uses toner to create images. Printing in |
| including printing, copying, faxing, and | | | | black and white is available. (Color laser |
| scanning. These machines best serve a small | | | | printing is available, but is prohibitively |
| office or a home office, where you might not | | | | expensive.) |
| have desk space available for several | | | | |
| different products. | | | | • There is a reasonably close |
| | | | correlation between the low price of some |
| Before you purchase a multifunction office | | | | machines and their high running costs that |
| machine, you'll want to do some homework. | | | | means that some machines are not the bargains |
| What functions will you use most often and | | | | they might at first seem. |
| least often? Look for a multifunction office | | | | |
| machine that contains better-than-average | | | | • A higher-priced machine with a lower |
| features for the functions you'll use most | | | | running cost in terms of ink cartridges is |
| often. You can skimp on the features for the | | | | likely to pay for itself pretty quickly |
| functions you'll use least often. Convergence | | | | |
| of technologies in one device is happening in | | | | • A measure of the pages per minute |
| the world of printers almost as fast as it is | | | | (ppm) a device can fax, copy, or print. For a |
| with mobile phones. You can now buy an | | | | single multifunction office machine, each |
| all-in-one (commonly described as | | | | speed measurement could be different. |
| multi-functional devices or MFDs in the US) | | | | |
| that will give passable print, copy, scanning | | | | • Better equipped all-in-ones will be |
| and fax results for less than the price of a | | | | able to print on different sizes and types of |
| good quality printer. If colour reproduction | | | | including glossy for photos. They will also |
| and image manipulation matters more then you | | | | be able to output overhead transparencies, |
| will need to pay more - but you can still get | | | | labels and CDs or DVDs. |
| great results and have the convenience of | | | | |
| just one peripheral on your desk. | | | | The price of replacement ink cartridges will |
| | | | have a significant effect on running costs |
| Key features:- | | | | for an inkjet-based all-in-one. The high |
| | | | prices have seen a small industry spring up |
| • A type of printing technology that | | | | in the refill market with 50 per cent savings |
| uses small dots of ink to create images. | | | | to be made. However, continual refilling may |
| Printing in color or black and white is | | | | eventually have an effect on the printer and |
| available. | | | | may cause some conflict with manufacturer's |
| | | | warranties. Avoid colour cartridges that |
| • All-in-ones require printer memory to | | | | combine three colours - when one runs out you |
| store and process information while printing. | | | | have to throw away what remains in the other |
| Measured in megabytes (MB), the more memory | | | | two sections. |
| the device has the faster it will print. | | | | |