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Should I get an all in one printer?

Should I get an all in one printer?

Posted by Luke Duggan on 31st Mar 2015

When you’re in the market for a printer, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed with all the options available right now. One option in particular that is increasingly becoming the “go to” choice for many is the all in one type of printer. How perfect is it to have everything that you need right at your fingertips, right? After all, you just never know when you may need your printing unit for something other than just printing.

Here, we will take a look at some of the main things you should be concerned with when deciding on an all in one printing unit. As we go through these, keep in mind the printing needs of your home and/or business.

Double-sided Printing (Duplexing)

Fuji Xerox DocuPrint M355DF MFP 4 in 1 Print / Copy / Scan / Fax / Wireless / Duplex

This is a feature that tends to be a very common need. For those unfamiliar with duplexing, it is basically using your printing unit to print documents that have content on both sides. If you are in need of printing documents that are similar in appearance to pages of a book, keep this feature in mind.

Memory Card Slots, PictBridge, and the Cloud

Epson Workforce WF-7510 A3+, Print, Copy, Scan, Fax, WiFi, Duplex

For those tech savvy users who know all about using memory cards, Bluetooth and the like, definitely be on the lookout for printing units with any of these features. These features will allow easier printing of documents as well as ability to keep all your documents and pictures on a small memory card.

Paper Handling

Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CP225W Colour Laser Printer

Every printer is going to need paper of all different sizes (depending on your usage). With that, you will want to certainly know which paper sizes you need versus the size of paper the printing unit can accommodate. Also, if possible, test the paper trays to see if there are any issues with the flow of paper through the unit.

Speed, Resolution, and Color Claims

Canon PIXMA PRO-100 A3+ Photo Printer

Here is where things tend to get a bit tricky. In order to maximize your benefit in these areas, you will really need to have a handle on what exactly you will need a printing unit to do for you in your home or business. Slower speeds sound bad to some, but can be of great benefit to someone else who needs a certain level of quality in their printing.

Knowing exactly what you need in a printing unit is the most important key in making sure you know which one to choose. Whether you actually need an all in one type of printer will all depend on whether you need every feature it provides or if you would be only gaining an expensive unit for one of its features. Think about your needs carefully and you may find that you either need an all in one or you can save money by purchasing a device with fewer features.

Summary

Well, it's hard to say.  Honestly the all in one printers are pretty amazing these days, there really isn't much that they can't do.  But it does depend on what your needs are.  If you were wanting to print photos a lot then a photo printer could be a better choice (like the Canon Pixma above), or if you have already got the other features covered in another device then perhaps a multi function printer isn't the way.  But when it comes to getting value for money, and even better: loads of features in a small space, a multi function printer is a great workhorse.