Laser or inkjet all-in-one? Do you need to fax?

Multifunction printers (MFPs) use either inkjet or laser technology. Inkjet all-in-ones are cheaper and can print in color, but they are also slower. Laser MFPs are faster and cost less to run, but their initial cost is higher -- especially for color models. Some MFPs have an integrated fax modem, which allows you to fax hard copies as you would with a regular fax machine. If you send faxes regularly, you might really appreciate the convenience of having an MFP with fax capability, but you may save money on your printer by skipping this feature. All-in-one printers with fax modems generally take up more desk space as well.

It is certainly possible to send and receive faxes without having a dedicated fax machine or all-in-one printer. Also, email and other digital technologies are replacing faxing, so many models of MFPs do not include the capability. Deciding on whether you want the fax component is probably your first consideration in choosing a multifunction printer. After that, you'll need to decide whether photo printing is a priority.

Experts say you should consider the following issues and features when shopping for a multifunction printer:

  • Your printing needs: If you plan to print large volumes of black-and-white text, the extra speed and low-per page costs of a laser printer may justify its higher initial price. If you want to print photos or color graphics, however, you'll get better results from an inkjet -- especially one with more than four ink colors. If you want to print photos directly from a camera, look for a good-sized LCD preview screen, memory card slots and PictBridge capability.
  • Your desk space: Multifunction printers take up more desk real estate than regular inkjet printers (though the difference between the two is shrinking). However, they still use much less desk space than separate devices would. In general, models without an automatic document feeder take up less space.
  • How you'll be hooking it up: Many multifunction printers have Ethernet ports for wired networking, and some also have wireless networking capabilities. Not all printers are network-ready. An MFP without networking can still be shared, but only if the computer it's connected to is left on. Some newer MFPs can connect directly to the web without being hooked up to a computer at all, though reviewers suggest this feature isn't life-changing.
  • Paper capacity: If you do a high volume of printing, you should get a printer with high-capacity input and output trays or drawers to save yourself from constantly reloading paper. Some manufacturers sell high-capacity paper trays as an option for certain multifunction printers.
  • Duplex printing: This is a time-saving convenience that allows automatic printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Some printers offer a duplex tray as an optional accessory. Duplexing, though essential in a busy office, may not be worth the additional expense to home users, who can do it manually by printing odd pages first, then flipping the stack over and printing even pages. Keep in mind that using a duplexer often increases print times significantly.
  • Copying and scanning features: If you plan to copy multi-page documents on a regular basis, an automatic document feeder (ADF) is a must. If you'll need to scan frequently, one-button scanning is a useful feature. With this feature, you place an item on the scanner and push a button, and the scan is saved to your computer. Most MFPs include scanners that are good enough for general-purpose use, but for ultra-high-quality photo scans, you may require a separate scanner.

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