Best office multifunctional printer?

[blue-eye-boy]

At work we must get a new multifunctional.(fax, scan, copy, print). Definitely laser, and color isn't needed. We currently have a brother but the cartridges is costy.

I have a samsung at home, which give me some trouble atm, so I dont know. HP, Canon, Samsung, Epson? Maybe a poll mods?

It will be used heavily, mainly for invoices, so the printer must be good. Oh yes, and I was thinking of a printer that I can use generic toners for.

Ideas?

 

[davemc]

Seriously, don't go multi-function, unless you're buying 2 of them, when it breaks, you'll be losing your productive ability while it undergo's repairs.

The biggest problem with a multi-function is that the telephone line will get hit by lightning and take out all the communication electronics, every time a coconut.

 

[bekdik]

I would look at the HP range. Also as davemc says, it would be a good policy to include lightning protection - APC, amongst others, provides products that do this.

If you have a windows SBS, I would rather use a modem connected to the server which is then shared as a printer to all users, for faxing and then get printer/scanner, no fax.

 

[ITCynic]

Before making your final decision it could be useful to check the duty cycle specifications of the product.

The duty cycle should be similar or higher than your anticipated monthly printing volumes. Too low a duty cycle, the quicker the product will need servicing or break down/wear out.

A good tip would be also to check the price of consumables (ie toner, inks etc) and calculate the cost per print. After all, its no good when you buy an inexpensive product and you are locked into high printing costs.

 

[blue-eye-boy]

Before making your final decision it could be useful to check the duty cycle specifications of the product.

The duty cycle should be similar or higher than your anticipated monthly printing volumes. Too low a duty cycle, the quicker the product will need servicing or break down/wear out.

A good tip would be also to check the price of consumables (ie toner, inks etc) and calculate the cost per print. After all, its no good when you buy an inexpensive product and you are locked into high printing costs.

Thats why I want to make sure we dont buy "expensive", meaning the print costs.

I was thinking to maybe get a separate fax, but space is also a problem. But yes, a multifunctional is risky.

 

[blue-eye-boy]

Okay but what makes are good for office, can take more punch? I always see HP printers at businesses, but is it really a better printer?

 

[ponder]

HP

 

[SilverNodashi]

HP's SME line of multifunction's perform very well, and so does Minolta (if you have the cash for it). Some of the cheaper MF's only offer USB based scanning which can be a pain in the neck in a 5+ PC office, so get one with network based scanning if possible. And if you can, spend extra cash on the duplexer & a large feeder tray. Put some decent lightning protection on it otherwise it could get high by lightning if you're in a place where lightning is a problem. Unless you're in the Western Cape, where there's no lightning

 

[blue-eye-boy]

And something else, theres only 2 pcs in the office, must we then have a network type printer or can a usb printer be used by 2 pcs?

 

[SilverNodashi]

And something else, theres only 2 pcs in the office, must we then have a network type printer or can a usb printer be used by 2 pcs?

networked printers are often R1000 - R1500+ more expensive than their non-networked equals, depending on what other features you want. D-Link has a nice print server for R1K that works well with multifunctions, even scanning. So you could get a cheaper printer and add the print server on for total printer independence, i.e. you don't need to leave one PC for the other PC to print. Look at your monthly average print run (i.e. how many sheets, or reems of paper do you use) and buy a printer in that spec. If you print on average 1000 sheets a month, then there's no real point in getting machine that does 30,000+ prints per month.

 

[ponder]

networked printers are often R1000 - R1500+ more expensive than their non-networked equals, depending on what other features you want.

Huh, my HP 6313 was cheaper than my HP 6310 and the 6313 has built in LAN. ok it's not laser but still I don't buy that price incease.

@jacqvt, get a networked printer, just makes things so much easier.

 

[proximiti99]

YGPM