do-it-all printers

seems like the latest craze in computer printers is the all-in-one machine… here are a few things to consider if you’re shopping for one of those multi- printers that will handle printing, faxing, copying and scanning:

how does the “original” go in?
– otherwise know as the sheet feed, think about how you intend to use your printer’s fax and copy functions before you pick a printer. The style of sheet feeder is important. If you are just an average user who needs to make a copy once in a while, a flatbed style with a lift up “lid” is fine, but if your printer will be in an office where you need to fax or copy multiple pages all the time, you need something that handles multiple pages, not just that one-page-at-a-time flatbed style of copying.

how does the blank paper feed in?
– there is one rule i use for this since i seem to end up living in muggy areas where paper sticks together: i will never use a top-fed printer ever again. That instantly limits me to mostly HP printers since they are all fed from the bottom and the paper lays flat while it’s waiting to be used.

how does the printer hook up to the computer?
– almost every single printer manufactured today connects via USB port, so make sure you have an available USB port first. Also, almost every printer manufactured today does NOT include a cable, regardless of the interface style, so get a cable. If the multi-function printer you look at also functions as a stand alone fax, check to see if the phone cable is included.

how does the printer print?
– ask for a test print of the kind of stuff you plan to print. Id you want a printer to print out photos from your vacation, make sure the printer you get is advetised as a “photo” printer and prints at high resolution (at LEAST 4800 dpi both ways). And keep in mind that if you want to print photos, you should invest in photo paper - it DOES make a difference.

what are the scan specs?
– if scanning and copying are in your plans, you also want high-res scanning capability, at least 1200 dpi and 48-bit color depth.

do you take digital photos?
– several all-in-one (as well as home “photo” printers) include media slots that can accept digital media, allowing you to pull your media storage card out of the camera and put it straight into the printer without going through the computer first… if this option is important to you, look for a printer with a 7- or 8-in-one media reader built in. Some printers also have little LCD preview screens that are very useful in determining which photos off the media you want to print out.

Don’t be afraid to shop around and ask for samples - you should see what the printer is capable of before you plop down $200-300 for a multi-function printer.