MULTIFUNCIONAL DEVICES
By Jasmin Ellen Weigel Sarmiento
Do you ever want to Save money? Save space? Save electricity? Save outlets? Would you like things to do things with speed and be available at one reach? If you say yes to every single question then what you might need to get is an MFD or otherwise known as a MultiFunction Device!
WHAT IS IT?
A MFD or a MultifunctionDevice is a hardware that combines several functions into one unit, it is also known as an All-In-One.
Source: http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=MFD&i=46883,00.asp, 2:28pm
ALL IN ONE
A combination printer, scanner, copy machine and fax machine. Some all-in-ones exclude the fax capability or make it an option.
A desktop computer that houses every component except the keyboard and mouse inside the same case as the monitor. Its primary advantage is that there are no additional cases that take up space on the top of the desk or floor; however, there is generally limited or no internal expansion available.
Source: http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=All-In-One&i=56291,00.asp, 2:29 PM.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The main difference between standalones and MFDs is the fact that MFDs consist of all-in-one work, while standalones have a specialized feature, which is why MFDs have a slower speed as compared to Standalone units. MFDs however can have more work done especially since, scanning to printing can become automatic, and a direct access from the memory card to printing can be done right away. Well.. depending on the brand.. the speed of your computer.. hmm.. depends :)
Scanner & Fax
The scanner component in a multi-function device can be of two types: a flat-bed or a sheet-feed scanner, and some have both. A flat-bed scanner lets you scan bulky items and books by laying them on the scanner glass. A sheet-feed scanner requires that you feed sheets into the feeder. Many MFCs now offer an automatic document feeder (ADF) in addition to the flat-bed to cope with large copy tasks. These ADFs allow you to scan multiple pages at a time and some, like the Canon PIXMA MP830, can scan both sides of a page at once. This same scanner can automatically detect the direction of text, rotate scanned materials if required, and it can correct the skew of a scanned image if the original is not square on the scanner glass.
Some specialist photo MFCs, like the Epson Stylus Photo RX650, include a transparency adapter that lets you scan both positive and negative film. The same machine scans at a high 3200 x 6400dpi (dots per image) so that small negatives and slides can be scanned to larger images for printing.
Some multi-function devices don’t include the ability to send and receive faxes. For example, Canon has a line of print/scan/copy devices that it calls all-in-one printers but they don’t have fax capability. Most multifunction devices, however, do include faxing. The fax component of these may have additional features such as the ability to multitask so users can be printing or scanning while a fax is being received.
If you’ll be sending a lot of faxes, look for a fax with high receiving and sending speeds, so the time it takes to send and receive them is as short as possible and reduces your long distance and international call costs (although, the actual speed is also affected by the speed of the fax machine at the other end). Typical fax speeds vary from 14.4kbps to 33.6kbps, with the higher number indicating the faster device.
MFCs that can store numbers regularly dialled will save time and assist with accuracy. If broadcast faxing to multiple numbers at a time is required, having a fax function that lets you program the numbers as a group will speed up the process too. If you’re using the device in a small office and where the MFC shares a landline with the office phone, some devices can sound a different ring depending on whether an incoming call is phone or fax, so you know whether to answer it or not.
Network Options
There is a range of connectivity options for MFCs. Some of these, particularly pitched at the consumer end of the market, will take input from camera cards and USB devices. Having Bluetooth connectivity will allow users to print directly to the device from other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Many MFCs are network compatible and have a built-in network card so they can be hooked into the company’s network to be used by anyone connected to the network. These will generally come with software to handle the printer in the network environment. This may include tools for identifying when the printer is experiencing problems—it might send an email if it’s low on paper or toner, for example. Also included will be tools for configuring the printer; for example, some Brother printers have Embedded Web Server Support so you can view the printer details using a web browser and alter settings using the printer’s home page.
If it is necessary to account by department or client for printed documents, many higher end printer manufacturers have software solutions that integrate with their printers to let you manage printer accounting tasks. For example, Canon’s NetSpot Accountant can track pages printed by department, user, device, paper size, type and billing code. It lets you allocate printing and copying tasks to various cost codes which let you track usage more accurately and pass on costs where they can be recovered from clients. You can also manage your device usage and limit the number of pages printed or copied by user or department over a set period.
Other things to consider when shopping for an MFC are the finishing options you may want, such as stitching booklets or stapling and collating pages. You should also consider the paper you routinely use, and ensure the printer has trays available for all the printing jobs you typically do.
If your office is currently littered with multiple scanners, printers, copiers and faxes, you can save on equipment costs and service agreements, as well as space, by investing in MFCs that can each do the work of four machines. And there are plenty of very smart machines available.
Source: http://www.dynamicbusiness.com/articles/articles-technology/multifunction-devices.html, 2:48 PM
WHO ARE THE LEADING PROVIDERS FOR THE SAID DEVICE?
Due to the vast expansion of the technological market, there are a lot of MultiFunction Devices that are now readily available to the market. Finding the best MFD is hard to find because the market is highly congested with so many great choices.
There are, however, a list of what are known to be the best multifunction printers in the industry, toppling the competition with a combination of functions, features, speed, and quality.
The multi-purpose concept in printers is one of the greatest innovations in the printing industry. Consumers who have need for a printer, a scanner, a copier, and a fax machine don’t have to spend a lot of money and time buying a separate machine for their various needs.
And the top brands take this innovation quite seriously and focus on topping each
other when it comes to great printer models.
Here are the printers that will provide you with the best set of features and capabilities in one sweet package
The Best Multifunction Printers You Should Check Out
Some of the best multifunction printers available are:
- HP OfficeJet and OfficeJet Pro Multifunction Printer Series
- Canon Pixma MP and MX series
- The Best Multifunction Printers from Top Brands
1. HP OfficeJet and OfficeJet Pro Multifunction Printer Series
Let’s begin with HP’s multifunction printers, the OfficeJet and OfficeJet Pro series. The OfficeJet Pro is led by the L7780, an all-in-one printer that combines multi-functionality with fast prints and high quality output. The printer has a rather boxy look, but it works great, so consumers are often willing to overlook the less appealing facade in favor of the great overall package.
It also has features like ADF, duplexer, Digital Filing, built-in memory card slots, and PictBridge port. This is a highly recommended printer for small to medium workgroups.
It is also quite affordable, given its wide range of offers. As an inkjet printer, however, this is not the best option for high-volume printing. Another model, the OfficeJet J6480 is a very affordable alternative that has all the functions you need. The print quality is unfailing, performance is reliable, a
nd the price is affordable. For printers with emphasis on photo printing, try the HP Photosmart series, starting with the C5280 and C8180.
2. Canon Pixma MP and MX Series
Canon’s Pixma series is one of the most impressive color printer series around. T
he MX and MP best multifunction printers boast of some of the most powerful, and inarguably some of the most wanted, printers in the best multifunction race.
The Canon excellence can be seen starting with the Canon MX700, a great addition to any small office. This inkjet printer can handle a wide range of printing jobs and combines an excellent set of features in a
very affordable package. Its best feature, however, is nothing else but its superb print quality.
This is, however, made even better with the MX7600, a sleek, very attractive package that combines inkjet printing with copying, scanning, and faxing. The printer prints and makes copies at 28 ppm black and 23 ppm colored. It uses 2 and 5 picoliter ink droplets for ultra-fine prints with a resolution of up to 4800 x 1200 dpi. The copier has its own set of features including 2-in-1 copy, 4-in-1 copy, automatic duplexing, and reduction and
enlargement.
The CIS scanner, on the other hand, scans with maximum optical resolution of 4800 x 9600, ADF resolution of 600 x 600 dpi, and interpolated resolution of 19,200 x 19,200 dpi. The fax can send monochrome documents at 3 seconds per page and colored ones at 1 minute per page. If you, however, emphasizes on photo printing, check out the models in the MP series. One of the best multifunction printers is the MP960.
3. The Best Multifunction Printers from Top Brands
Brother is well-known for its top-class multifunction centers or MFCs. In the list of the best multifunction printers, the monochrome laser printer MFC-7840W is highly recommended for basic monochrome and high-volume printing. The good points of this product are its fine prints, great scans, and wireless connectivity.
For an affordable colored MFP, however, you can also check out the Epson Stylus NX400. It has an impressive color dpi of 5760 x 1440 and scanning dpi of 1200 x 2400 as well as an amazing pri
nt speed of 34 ppm for black and even colored printing.
Lexmark won’t let you down and provides its own MFCs, one of which is the X9575 Professional, with 33 and 28 ppm print speeds for black and colored, monochrome dpi 1200 x 1200, color dpi 4800 x 2400, and scanning dpi of 1200 x 4800.
Source: http://www.allprinterreviews.com/best-multifunction-printers.html, 2:43 PM
All in all, and based on the market, the top brand contenders for MFDs are namely
1. Hewlett Packard - highly available to the market, and is the most users friendly
2. Canon - it is designed for a smallbusiness or a home office, can be a bit pricey, but its quality is nonetheless good
3. Lexmark - usually is the brand found abroad
4. Brother- cartrdiges are not readily available in a lot of countries but there all in one printers are pretty good too
5. Fuji Xerox - usually good for business, especially photo-copying businesses, used in a lot of places, a brand known all over the world
6. Ricoh - is good for the office, can be a bit pricey, but with it has an Embedded Software Architecture (ESA) technology, so the device can be programmed to integrate with existing or customised office solutions.
HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM OTHER SIMILAR DEVICES?
In the past, most of the households would have a standalone printer, a printer that can only print and do no more, but if you go around different houses nowadays, what one would find would be an all-in-one device or an MFD. But question, why would one buy a MFD device instead of a Standalone device? What does a MultiFunction Device have (well.. it is a fact it can do more things).. but printing w
ise.. why would people invest on a MFD?
STANDALONEs VERSUS MULTIFUNCTION devices
According to rediff.com, an online provider of news, information, communications, entertainment and shopping services, they prefer to use standalone machines rather than an MFD because they prov
ide good scanning and printing needs, good colour, reproduction and so on. They said that scanning and printing is slower with MFDs, and with standalone devices, there will be no virtual queuing involves because the standalone devices do things independently. With the standalones, there is a proper distribution of equipment area since work can be divided, and also if a problem persists, not all the things needed would be sent to the service center. Unlike if an MFD is destroyed, you wouldn’t have a scanner, printer and fax at the same time… so you wouldn’t be able to work!
okay so basically.. based on the text above.. Standalones win against MFDs.
. so in another persepective..
co prefers MFDs over standalone devices. Firstly because MFDs offer an all-in-one solution, centralized technology, ease of maintenance and a smaller footprint that saves space. Moreover, MFDs work our cheaper than single-use solutions, also there are more benefits! Imagine, copying, printing, faxing, scanning and telephone-plus optimal utilization of relevant features. All in all, the use of MFDs save time and gives higher productivity.
Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/General/Are-MFDs-Better-Than-Standalones_1853.html
, 2:34 PM
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