Color Copiers and How to Take an Effective Decision in a Small Business

Office copiers have a great use and are almost a necessity in offices today.  Color copy machines bring your documents to life with full color and graphics.  There are mainly three ways in which a business can acquire a copier for its needs.  Invest in a brand new machine, purchase a used copier or lease out a copier.  Since we're talking about small setups with limited capital to spend, we need to tread a meticulous path.  If a small business decides to invest on a new machine, it might not have sufficient funds for things that matter more for the business.  Moreover, with technology advancing ever so rapidly, it wouldn't be wise to own a copier which would only lose value as better products are released. The following are some points worthy of consideration when faced with a need to take a decision in this regard.

Used Copier

Going for this option, you'd be required to make a smaller investment to acquire the color copier than investing in a brand new one.  However, ensure that you deal with only the well-experienced firms that provide fully functional machines that prove useful for several years.  One downside to this arrangement would be that you'd be getting a machine that is not of the latest technology and would also not have an opportunity to upgrade and update the equipment without incurring some expenses. 
Assess your particular needs as buying used copiers might be the best solution in some scenarios.

Leasing a Copier

This actually has many advantages for a small business.  Probably the most important one among them would be the fact that you wouldn't have to make a huge one time investment.  When you lease out an office copier, you would get equipment that is of the latest technology and would also have provisions to upgrade it after sometime.  However, in this scenario, technically, you would never own the copier and would have to make the lease payments and renew the agreements throughout its use.

Assess your Current Needs and Financial Position

The secret to making the right decision is actually not a secret at all.  Understanding where your organization stands financially can help a great efforts deal in making the right choice.  In the long run, you might end up paying more on lease payments than buying a color copier.  But, you wouldn't enjoy the other benefits that come with leasing.

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Laser Printer Scanner - The Multifunction Machine

The evolution of technology has been a boon to the home-based business and small office enterprise. No longer does the little guy have to invest an inordinate amount of money in office machinery.  A device that epitomizes the solutions that are easily within reach of the average consumer is the laser printer scanner.  This machine, which often integrates fax and copying capabilities as well, has evened the playing field for the small business.  A laser printer with scanner, copying and faxing abilities can give the impression of a fully-staffed, finely tuned, large scale production.

In the past, it was next to impossible for a would-be entrepreneur on a shoe-string budget to make a go of it.  So much of the initial investment went to buying all the necessary office equipment.  Before the door was opened for business, the small business owner was fighting an uphill battle against his own dwindling bank account.  Now though,with multi-function devices that provide laser quality scanner printer solutions have eliminated that challenge.

As these integrated solutions have improved, they have all become incredible user friendly as well.  In contrast to the first generation of laser jet multi-function machines that had limited options (slow printer speeds, no 11 x 17 paper capabilities, difficult to user scanner, etc.), the newer models are fast, easy and reliable.  Many of the leading brands like Canon, Brother, Samsung and HP have perfected the technology so much so that the basic laser printer scanner is capable of work that once only a professional could produce.

As many of the aforementioned brands are constantly competing for consumer market share, the prices of these machines have continued to plummet.  This further underscores the accessibility to the everyday consumer.

A prime example of how far these office solutions have come can be seen in the Canon ImageCLASS MF4370DN black and white laser printer with fax, copier and scanner capacity.  Fast printer speeds and long-lasting toner cartridges make this a small office bargain at less than $300.  For a similar all-in-one solution for your home or business you might have a look at the Brother MFC 8220 laser fax copier printer scanner.  This printer combines high-quality printing from a 250-sheet paper tray to allow you to do some of the bigger jobs without interruption.  Around $350 will buy you this fine machine.

If you feel that your needs require something a little more robust, you can still find a host of solutions while keeping expenses under control.  The networking requirements and overall office work capacity may necessitate the purchase of just a little more.  Not only that, you can find more, but for not much more money in the Brother MFC 8890DW black and white laser fax copier printer scanner.  Ethernet ready, faster printing and wireless capability make this model the perfect fit for the bustling office.  Along with, its attractive price ($430 - $450) makes it a bargain considering all it has to offer.

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Should I Purchase A Color Copier Or A Black And White Copier?

Most people think that buying a color copier is a lot more expensive than buying a black and white (b/w) copy machine.  And why shouldn't they?  Have you seen the price of a color copy at your local office solutions store lately?  The truth is there is not much difference in the original purchase value between black and white copiers and color copiers.  Read on to learn the real cost difference and find out if you should purchase a color or a b/w copy machine.

Since the time copiers were first invented, color copiers have almost always been more popular than b/w copiers.  Now its black and white counterpart, the color copier can print, copy and scan in beautiful full color as well as in black and white. So why would anyone choose b/w copy machines over color? Well, there is a substantial cost differential when it comes to servicing a color copier.  For example let's examine an office that makes 10,000 copies/prints per month. From that number, about sixty percent are for black and white images and about forty percent are for color copies.

On a national average, copier dealers will put a color copier under service for $0.01 for black and white images and about $0.07 per color copy.  That makes the cost for black and white copies for the month sixty dollars and the cost for color output for the month $280.  Over the course of four years the service costs would escalate to $2,880 for black and white images and $13,440 for color output.  So while original purchase values are similar, the life cycle service costs are substantially different.

However, this is not to say that a color copier is not worth the service cost.  The average color copy/print at a business supply/service store is around $0.89 for a single page.  It's no wonder so many people think color copying and printing is so expensive...it is when you're paying someone else to do it!

So if you're making a lot of color copies, you may experience a significant savings doing it all yourself rather than having it done at the local printers.  Scanning documents in full color and then sending them to an archive file or to a clients email is also very attractive, not to mention extremely more professional than your competitor's b/w images.

Today's color copiers can print in vibrant color with wonderful resolution, and many can also print 12" x 18" documents that fold and staple to make printing magazines or booklets fast and easy.  Check out a color copier for your company today!

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Printer Buying Guide

Printers are essential peripherals, performing a critical role as they render electronic information into tangible records or material output.  You're simply not using your computer to its fullest potential if you are unable to print reports, presentations, letters, photos, or whatever it is you need to output. Choosing a printer can be confusing, in today's competitive, ever-changing landscape.  This buying guide rounds out some of the more important criteria to consider before you make that all-important purchase decision.

Printing Technologies

This is the biggest decision to make before anything else.  Your choice should be based on how you work and the kind of output you will be expecting from the printer.

Dye-sublimation: Dye-sub printers can print continuous tones and a superior range of colors that laser printers are unable to, making them ideal for more demanding graphic applications or color printing. Dye-sub prints are also less prone to fading and distortion over time than dye-based ink prints.  In addition, many consumer-based dye-sublimation printers can print directly from digital cameras and also accept memory cards.  They are, however, more limited in the range and size of printing media that can be used -- usually letter-size paper or smaller.

 Laser: Laser printers are the perfect choice if you need to print large amounts of text documents. They print faster than inkjets and have a lower cost of operation over the long-term -- even though they may cost more to buy initially.  There are trade-offs, however.  Monochrome laser printers produce crisp black-and-white text but cannot be used for color printing.  Color lasers deliver excellent text and graphics but are much more expensive and can be costly to maintain.

Paper Handling

Paper is obviously an important issue in printing. Here are some important tips on paper handling for printers:

o When buying a printer, make sure that it's equipped to accommodate all the paper sizes and types that you'll be using.  If you need to print on heavy stock, for instance, make sure the printer can handle the heaviest paper you use.  For this purpose, a printer's paper path can give an indication of how it handles paper: Inkjets generally use straight-through paper paths, while lasers use S-shaped or U-shaped paths.  Generally speaking, the straighter the path, the thicker the media that can be used. However, the curved paths typical of laser printers also makes it possible to have more flexible configurations for input and output trays.

o Using the correct type of paper will also make a difference to your printing. Inkjets can print on a variety of matte or glossy photo paper, but make sure you choose the right kind of paper for your printer to obtain optimal print results.  For example, matte papers are suitable for both pigment and dye-based inks, while luster finishes are generally more suitable for dye-based inks.

o In terms of size, most inkjets and lasers can handle printing of letter and legal sizes.  If you need to print larger prints, however, consider a printer that can handle sizes like 11 by 17 inches.  You may also consider getting a printer with multiple paper drawers if you'll be switching between different paper sizes on a regular basis.  For a laser printer, multiple output trays, duplexing (double-sided printing), collating, and automatic stapling can be additional useful features.

o If you plan to use third-party paper, make sure it works well with your printer.  Before you buy a large quantity of third-party paper, try a few samples by printing the same photos on both the printer manufacturer's paper and the third-party paper, and then compare the results.

Printer Specs and Key Features

Printers feature various specifications, so navigating the spec sheet intelligently requires familiarity with what each specification entails according to the printing technology involved or for the type of usage planned for the printer.

o Resolution: For laser printers, 300 dpi is adequate if all you need is to print black-and-white text, but choose at least 1200 dpi for photo realistic grayscale or color printing.  For inkjets, choose one featuring 1200-dpi or higher resolution with a droplet size of 4 picoliters or smaller for sharp, clean output.  With photo printers, resolution varies according to technology: Output at 300 dpi by photo printers using dye-sublimation technology is comparable to photo printers using inkjet technology outputting at 1200 dpi or higher.

o Speed: Speed ratings vary greatly, and the print speeds cited by manufacturers usually refer to printing in draft mode or at the lowest resolution.  For laser printers, a more accurate way of measuring actual print speed is to time just how long it takes from the minute you hit "Print" -- to the time that it takes the printer to warm up, spool the job into the print queue, and for the printed output to finally come out.  For inkjets, print speed is not one of its stronger suits; so don't be overly concerned with this spec.

o Memory: Extra memory will come in handy for laser printers to enable them to handle large graphics and documents more easily.  Check the maximum upgrade-able memory allowed for your printer, if it features a hard drive with similarly upgrade-able memory, and if the printer can use generic memory or needs the manufacturer's brand.  In the case of inkjets, memory is built-in and not upgrade-able, but this is not an issue inasmuch as processing occurs on the side of the computer -- so there's no need for large amounts of installed RAM to begin with on inkjets.

o Connectivity: Most printers today no longer support the older parallel connection but feature instead USB 1.1 or Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0 or 3.0) -- either of which should work fine with USB computers.  For printers to be used on a network, it will need to have an Ethernet port to enable printer sharing.  For more flexible printing options, you may want to look for printers with infrared input/output ports that allow wireless printing from notebooks or other devices with infrared ports.  And if high-speed or long-distance printing is what you need, consider printers with a FireWire port.

Consumables and cost per page

The purchase price of the printer is just the beginning of its overall cost because over time, the hidden cost of ink or toner, paper, and parts will add up.  These "hidden costs" are the consumables; dividing the total cost of consumables by the number of pages that can be produced from the consumables gives you the cost per page.  Laser printers offer the lowest cost per page, using relatively inexpensive toner and normal-weight, uncoated paper.  

On the other hand, cost per page for inkjets can be four or five times as much, depending on how much ink you use and the cost of the paper -- normally more expensive, coated, glossy paper for higher-quality color output.  The tank configuration for inkjets should also be taken into consideration.  Inkjets with a single cartridge for the colored inks will incur higher replacement costs because the cartridge must be replaced as soon as one color runs out -- even if the cartridge still contains plenty of ink for the other colors.  To save costs, get an inkjet with separate cartridges for black and each individual color.

Print Quality

All the specs and fancy features in your printer won't mean a thing if you don't have good, solid print quality -- whether of text or photos -- to back it up.

o Text: Text should be smooth and crisp. At the smallest font sizes, the individual letters should be clearly readable, and they should not bleed into one another. Medium-size fonts should have no fuzzy edges, and the largest fonts -- especially bold ones -- should be filled with solid black, not a muddy brown or bluish tone. You should also be able to see well-formed and well-rounded counters (the openings) in letterforms; if you don't, it's usually a sign of the printer laying down too much ink. (Remember, however, that inkjet printers will display some wicking on plain, 20-lb. paper, as the ink bleeds along the paper fibers.)

o Graphics: For color printing, look for gradients -- or areas where a color goes from dark to light.  Color should transition smoothly, and you should not see any color banding, where distinct bands progress from dark to light.  On a test page, you will likely see a gradient bar that goes from black to white through a series of progressively darker gray shades; the transition from shade to shade should be smooth without a noticeable line. Also, look for a nice balance of colors in color-graphic printing -- something that's not overly saturated nor flat and washed out.

o Photo: A good photo print should like the original photo. Colors should be accurate and balanced, vivid but not oversaturated.  Good detail should be present in all areas, with no jagged lines or pixels or any other visual artifacts.  Good contrast should exist between shadow and highlight areas -- not muddy or flat and without color.  You may not always be able to tell the difference from one great print to another, but almost everyone can recognize a bad print when they see one. Trust what you see.

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Are Sharp Printer And Toner Products Reasonably Priced?

Some say that they have never been more impressed by Sharp printer and toner products.  The quality for the price alone sells itself into becoming the number one choice printer for the office setting.

The advanced features and the lasting components of the machine have been impressing office owners for years and continue to grow in their blazing designs due to their over-achieving features.  For example: there are many printers that can print at speeds up to 43 pages per minute and have giant expandable RAM that can increase your productivity to lightning speed and thunder size.

The DXB-450 is one printer that really impresses their owners.  

The 1200 x 1200 dpi make the prints look incredibly clear and beautiful.  This particular printer actually does print at speeds up to 43 pages per minute.  With this combination as well as the two standard paper drawers with the ability to add two more, it really gives you the opportunity to expand your business by working extremely quickly.

Are you in need of an economical printer with low cost of operation?  This printer provides professional, crisp clear documents that you can rely on to represent you while you save money and resources.  You can have your prints fast and they will work into your infrastructure perfectly too.  This printer model really does it all.

On top of all of that, Sharp printers are environmentally friendly.  They are going to save you money at the same time as saving on energy and resources.  The printer goes into an energy saving mode when it is not in use for a certain period of time and it turns itself back on when you are going to print something.  You really don't have to turn it on or off after the first time because it can do that by itself. Also, the toner has a toner-saving mode.  The toners will cut back on use while still having the bright bold color that you need for showing.

This brand is good for many different sized offices too.  A home office will benefit from a smaller ink-jet printer to print photos and smaller documents while a larger company may benefit from a multifunctional printer with extensive features.  There is a variety of different types of printers all with the same great quality by Sharp.  They are all reasonably priced for the quality that you are getting and they actually are an investment above others when your company is trying to stay in a low cost budget plan.

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What Will Toshiba Printer And Toner Products Do For A Home Office?

Toshiba is a company that is known for having a wide variety of electronics in their company.  They are constantly inventing the next best thing for the world including the next best printer.  They have many different style printers and copiers including smaller ones that are best for the home office.

Toshiba printers and copiers are amazing for the home office because of their quality and low start up and maintenance costs.  You can get a home-style printer or copier that looks chic as ever and fits right onto your desktop in the comfort of your own home while at the same time printing the most official high-quality prints or copies, that you see nowhere else besides a photo lab or from one of those extremely expensive office printers or copiers you see at the 24 hour printing stores.
It's nice to be able to do everything yourself, save money and save time all at once.  Everyone wants to save money, but, what Toshiba has figured out is that people running a company out of their house is probably working extra hard and needs a helping hand in tightening their budget, while not cutting back on quality.

Toshiba's designs are made for you to be able to perfect your most important documents and photographs without being able to tell that it is from a small at home printer or copier.  You can even have other features built in to your printer or copier such as scanning, faxing and duplexing.  Toshiba allows you to do all of these functions while conserving the equipment's resources.  What I mean by that is that it saves you on toner and on power.

The toner for one thing is frugally used in each print which comes out strong and thick looking, but is actually saving ink.  It cuts back a small amount which helps the pigments cling harder to the paper fibers for a longer lasting print and a longer lasting toner cartridge.  The cartridge CAN be recycled however.  It also can be refurbished individually and snapped right back into place.

Say you are really partial to using the Cyan.  That cartridge can be replaced three times over, while you still have the other ones charging through like champs in the machine.  Toshiba makes sure you get your money's worth with their product and allows you to refrain from wasting anything.
Just because you are at home doesn't mean you deserve less.  Your printer/copier will have the same strength as one that you may find in a large professional setting only you'll be getting it for less.

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Purchasing a Copier Vs Leasing a Copier - Pros and Cons

Today I am addressing the pros and cons of purchasing a copier vs. leasing a copier for your workplace.  I was recently asked this question for the 5,000,000th time and I decided to answer the question publicly.

There are advantages and disadvantages to either acquisition process.  The answer to several variables will help steer you in the right direction to see whether purchasing or leasing a printer is right for your office.  Whichever option you decide on, you can still have your machine on a recommended maintenance and toner contract.  Most current day machines come standard with all of the functions you need; copying, printing, and scanning.  The fax is an additional option.

Leasing an All-In-One Copier/Printer/Scanner:

Pros

No acquisition cost

Cheap monthly cost

Rotated new equipment

Cons

No ownership

Extended obligation

Purchasing an All-In-One Copier/Printer/Scanner:

Pros

Instant ownership

No extended obligation

Cons

High initial investment costs

Potential for out-dated non functioning equipment

Technology quickly becomes obsolete

Ask yourself these three questions:

1.) How long has our company been in business?

The credit approval process can be very sensitive to new businesses.  Without 3 or more years in business the lease application will probably require a personal guaranty from the owner of the company.  With that being said, it may make more sense to purchase a refurbished printer at a low cost, then lease a more robust, new printer down the road once the company has more established credit and higher printing volume.

2.) How much do we print?

Printers these days are designed to last!  If you don't have a high volume of printing you'll probably get more bang for your buck purchasing an MFP outright.  Most lease terms are 3 or 4 years.  If you aren't pounding your printer all day every day, then you should get a lot more than 3 or 4 years out of it.  On the other hand, if you hammer your office equipment, it makes more sense to lease a machine so you'll get a new one at the end of the lease term and not have to worry about what to do with a broken down machine 8 years down the road.  A headache is the last thing you need with office equipment, you have a lot of other things to worry about.

3.) How much are we willing to spend out of pocket for a printer?

Large MFPs can are expensive.  Leasing them is a great option for an office without a large budget.  Most workplaces would function seamlessly with an MFP for around $200 a month, which would cost you nearly $7,000 cash.  You could lease a machine that's out of your budget that will handle a larger workload than a system that was purchased outright.

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Troubleshooting Your Non-Printing Printer - Five Things to Check

Has your printer stopped printing?  This always seems to happen as you try to print the boarding pass for your Caribbean cruise.  Please try these five checks first before you kill your printer.

Several things can fix printing.  Some are easy simple checks and others are more complicated.  This article presents the five things you can do to repair printing.  After that, you are free to get a hammer, take out your frustration on your device, and buy a new cheaper one.  We begin here first, with the simple easy checks and then progress to the more complex issues to resolve.

Check 1: Printing devices must be powered-on to print.  Please make sure that the power is turned on and that the power-on light is lighted.  At this time it is best to make sure that all cables are plugged into the device and that there are no error light indicators on.   A quick check of the paper tray and paper hopper is in order as well.  These should have a sufficient supply of fresh paper in them.

Check 2: Please make sure that you are using the printer you are expecting.  To verify this when using Microsoft® Word, please click on the upper left menu item "File" and then "Print" from the drop down menu.  This reveals the printing panel to the right of the drop-down menu.  In the printing panel on the upper left is the print button.  Immediately below that, the printer is identified.  If the name of this device is not the printer you are expecting to use, there is a triangle pointing down on the right-hand side.  Clicking on this triangle reveals a drop-down list of printers to which your computer can send the document for printing.  Please make sure you have selected the printer that you expect.  There are similar selections other computer programs that permit you to verify and to select the printer you wish to use.

You can print on a different printer as a test.   When the document prints on the other printer, your printer has the problem.   This helps you identify precisely where the problem is, either hardware or software components.

Check 3: Please verify that the documents waiting to print are not stopped and held up in the print queue.  When a printer encounters any problem printing a document, it just stops printing.   Any document that is subsequently sent to the printer cannot be printed until the previous document is completely printed.

Printers print one document at a time.  This is similar to cows crossing a stream.  If the first cow comes to the stream and does not cross, all remaining cows wait in line to cross the stream behind the first cow.  If the first cow does cross the stream, the other cows follow.  When one of the other cows refuses to cross the stream, the cows following it stop and do not cross the stream.

Similarly, printers print all documents in the order that they are sent to the printer.  If the ink runs out, if there is a paper the error, or if there is some other malfunction that stops a document from printing, that document and all remaining documents will stop printing.  After the error is corrected, the document may or may not automatically start printing.  Sometimes you must restart the document printing for that document and subsequent documents to print.

The printer document waiting line on Windows 7® is found by clicking on the "Start" button and opening "Devices and Printers".  In the "Devices and Printers" window you select the printer you are using. Clicking the right mouse button opens a pop-up menu from which you select "See what's printing". This opens the printer queue.  If there are no documents listed, then Windows® believes that all documents have been sent to the printer and printed.

Sometimes a printer is set to work offline. In this event nothing can print because the device is offline. When a printer icon is colored light gray, the printer is likely set offline.  In the "See what's printing" window, clicking on the "Printer" menu item produces a drop down menu.  The "Use Printer Offline" selection appears about three lines from the bottom of this menu.  Since Windows 7® is context sensitive and displays only the possible menu selections appropriate, the "Use Printer Offline" menu selection is often not visible.  To place the device online, please un-check the "Use Printer Offline" menu item.

Check 4: Many printing problems are caused by the loss of connection between the computer and the printer.  To check the printer connection on Windows 7® you again click on the "Start" button and open "Devices and Printers".  In the devices and printers window you select the printer you are using, click the right mouse button to open a pop-up menu, and you select "Printer properties".  The printer properties window should open on the "General" tab.  In the lower right should be the "Print Test Page" button. Clicking on this button is a quick way to test whether the computer is connected to the printer.  It should immediately print a test page on the printer.  If it does not print a test page, then the link to the printer may not be functioning properly.

To verify the computer's connection to the printer you select the "Ports" tab.  The "Ports" tab identifies the port that connects the computer to the printer.  When the printer is connected by a USB cable to the computer, the port label identifies a USB port.  Sometimes unplugging a USB cable and plugging it into a different USB port re-establishes the connection between the computer and the printer.

Driver programs connecting Windows to the printer port may not be functioning properly with Windows.  In this case reinstalling the latest printer driver programs can resolve this issue.  The driver programs must typically match exactly the version of Windows on the computer.  Often separate driver programs are used for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows®.  The latest driver programs are found at the printer manufacturer's website.

If the printer is a network printer, a standard TCP/IP port is checked.  A TCP/IP port connection can be broken when the incorrect printer IP address is used.  To reconnect the printer to the computer, make sure that the IP address on the computer is the same as the IP address assigned to the printer.  When the printer is a wireless printer, verifying the connection becomes more difficult.  Similar to any other network connected printer, a wireless printer must have the IP address match the address used by the TCP/IP port on the computer.

Sometimes the printer may be identified by name and not by IP address.  If the name is correct, a test page should print on the printer.  When a test page does not print, the most direct resolution of the problem may be re-installation of the printer.  This would require the original printer installation CDs or a download of the installation software from the printer manufacturer's website.

Check 5: Wireless printers often lose their connections to the network.  This can be verified by going to the printer and selecting from the printer menus a print out of the network configuration.  An alternate test is to use a different computer to print a test page to the wireless printer.

When a wireless printer has lost its connection to the network, the simplest and most direct solution may be to reinstall the wireless printer on the network.  This again would require an installation CD or a download of the installation software from the manufacturer's website.  Wireless printer installation differs from manufacturer to manufacturer.  Some printers require an active USB connection into the printer to complete wireless network installation.  Other printers can be installed without such a USB connection.  Wireless installation requires knowing the network key or password.  Sometimes the latest Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security must be used for the printer to connect into the wireless network.  The older Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) does not permit some printers to connect to the network properly.

Performing these five checks should at the very least identify where the problem lies.  You should be able to then zero-in on the root of the problem.

If a printing problem is caused by physical damage, it is sometimes, but not all times, not cost-effective to repair the printer.  In this case it is best to get out a big hammer and take out all your pent-up frustration on the device.  Next go to the store and buy a newer, faster, and better one.

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How to Choose a New Desktop Color Laser Printer

This is my first time here in the states.  I can't tell you how impressed I am with the stores, restaurants and cities that I have visited over the past five months.  I can tell you that we have none of the conveniences that many Americans take for granted.  For instance, I have been using a desktop inkjet printer for almost 5 years now.  The cost per print, let alone if the ink cartridge dries up, is just outrageous.  I spend almost $200 every month to have the "joy" or "privilege" of receiving documents out of my computer.  

Now thanks to my old boss I am going home with a brand new desktop color laser printer.  There were many laser printers to choose from and the initial price points run from a low of $150 to a high in the neighborhood of $3,500.  What differentiates these color laser printers is the total cost of ownership. (initial price, copies per duty cycle and expected duty cycle for a set of ink or toner) What you will find, in almost all cases, is that the desktop color laser printer near the bottom end of the price range has a much higher total cost of ownership than the printer that enters near the top of the price scale.  I don't mind paying for quality if I can save money (buying multiple printers, ink, etc.) over the long haul so I chose the Hewlett Packard CP4025dn because I wanted a medium to high duty cycle with the lowest cost of ownership.  Using a total cost of ownership tool I was able to compare all of the top name brand desktop color printers on the full range of total cost of ownership.

Desktop Color Laser Printer Reviews, Coupon Codes, Etc.

The website I visited even had the latest desktop color printer reviews, both laser and ink, feedback from industry experts on each name brand model and coupon codes that helped me save 10 percent on my color laser printer.  I want to say goodbye to my current printer and hello to my new desktop color laser printer, you will make my life so much better and my documents so much more fun to print.  I want to be nice about pitching the old one in the trash.  More than likely I will just kick it to the curb without another thought.   Color laser printer technology improvements and price drops have got to be some of the most important, impactful improvements in the technology industry over the past five years.  Do your own comparison of total cost of ownership between a desktop inkjet printer and a laser that prints color and I think your eyes will be opened.  Desktop color laser printing technology will win hands down.  The total cost of ownership for a desktop color laser printer is on average 50-60% cheaper than that old inkjet.

Total Cost of Ownership for the Color Laser Printer

Total cost of ownership consists of multiple factors that should be taken into consideration; initial cost, ink or toner cartridges costs, whether you can use refilled or re-manufactured cartridges or whether you are stuck with the Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) ones and finally the number of prints per cycle.  The number of prints per cycle is the number of pages you get for each set of ink or toner.  What did I find?  Well, you can imagine my surprise when I started looking at desktop color laser printers in today's market and found that some of the new breed of desktop color laser printer had an initial price point that would seem to keep it from consideration, but after closer review the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) on the high-end gave those desktop color laser printers a lower TCO than the lower-end or the current breed of desktop inkjet printers.  When all TCO factors were tabulated, the medium to high-end desktop color printer of the laser variety was actually much cheaper over the expected life span of that printer.  Add a service contract onto the end of the manufacturer's base warranty and the TCO number decreased even more substantially.  There is a never-ending supply of TCO information and comparisons of TCO between the desktop color laser printer and inkjet printers on the Internet.  I can tell you that what helped me the most was looking at Total Cost of Ownership tools and running the numbers to find the most reasonable desktop color laser printer that also offered the lowest cost toner cartridges, duplex printing and all of the network connections I wanted. (HP CP4025dn) Happy shopping and happy printing.

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Advantages of Having an A3 Printer Scanner

There are many printers available in the market and each one has to decide based on what each of them offers.  Most people will buy printers just for the sake of printing.  However, the choice of a printer depends on the kind of features the printer has.  People choose the features that exactly match that of their needs.  In this article, we will focus more on what an A3 printer and scanner can do that will make buyers want to choose one.

Let us first see its advantage in printing.  The advantage that an A3 printer scanner has, coming from the name itself, is that it can print up to a maximum size of 17" x 11".  This is the standard dimension of an A3 size.  Not all standard desktop printers are capable of printing this size.  This offers more benefits compared to other standard printers since you are able to print materials that will require larger paper sizes.  Examples of these are newsletters, posters and banners.  You also have the option to print documents that need more attention on larger paper sizes.

The next advantage of an A3 printer scanner is it can also scan documents.  Not only is it able to scan documents, it is able to scan A3 size documents as well.  This will be very helpful in occasions where you need to scan larger documents.  If you want to scan documents like newspapers and posters, it will be convenient for you to use an A3 printer and scanner.  One common use for it is to scan pictures. Considering that we are still transitioning from filmed cameras to digital cameras, there are a lot of people who still have pictures to be scanned.  With an A3 scanner, you can put in more pictures and save time scanning.  You can then get some photo editing software and just crop the pictures.

Another advantage that an A3 printer scanner has over others is that it can act as a copier.  Most printer scanners have this advantage.  They have the option to directly copy a scanned document and print it in an instant.  If it is a colored printer, then you have the added advantage of copying colored documents as well.  This is a very handy capability so that there is no need to go out and look for shops that can offer large format scanning.

Apart from the advantages that A3 printer scanners have over standard desktop printers, they have disadvantages as well.  These printers are larger than other printers since they need larger areas to hold A3 paper.  One disadvantage that printer scanners have over printers is that they need more caution when handling.  This is because of the glass of the scanner. It is one of the fragile parts of printer scanners.

These are the advantages that A3 printer scanners have over ordinary printers.  Other equipment, also have additional advantages as well.  If you take a look at all-in-one equipment, they have additional features like facsimile.  These features are very ideal if you use these equipment in offices.

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Canon & Xerox Copiers

In an office, one of the main things that need to be done is the copying of various documents for circulation within or without the office space.  There are many commercial bureaus that specialize in making copies, but its too costly for an office to entirely rely on these commercialized copiers. That is why it would be wise and timely to invest in a copier.  Here, I want to specify that it is not just any other copier but the Canon copier which has been proven to produce quality work over all the years it has been in the market.

The Canon or Xerox Copiers  come in small, medium, large, & extra large sizes depending on the scope of work you want to engage it in.  The small sized ones are more convenient to use because they do not occupy much space, yet, regardless of their size, they are equally efficient and effective.  Their only limitation is in the number of colors that will be reflected on your work as when compared to the regular or larger sized ones which give you a wider palette of colors and shades and will deliver more in quantity in a short period of time.

Make a visit to a Canon & Xerox copier store such as Correct-Tek Copier Service  at their on line  store  (www.ctcopier.com) to find out more about the prices and also get to be shown in a more practical way how the copiers operate.  You may also want to know what accessories come with the copiers for example  the (laser copier, RDF, Print & Scan, LCT, Finisher, etc.) which however, is optional.  Get to know also whether they come with a warranty.  Once you have decided on a model to buy, all there is to do is to ensure you have enough space for your copier.

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How to Buy a Used Or a Refurbished Copier

Note that we say properly re manufactured copiers.  Simply cleaning the outside and making sure it still works is not sufficient.  Before buying a used copier, ask the dealer about their refurbishing process.

Because of this extensive maintenance, refurbished copiers should come with a warranty: 30, 60, or 90 days are most common.  Even a used business copier can cost thousands of dollars, so you should make sure your investment is protected.

Whether buying new or used copiers, it's best to buy a full maintenance agreement that includes the fuser and drum and all the xerographic process parts.  For better piece of mind.

Whether you are buying new or refurbished copy machines, here are three questions you'll need to answer:

*Used Copiers - Buying Tips

-What is the true cost per copy with a service contract and without, including your cost of ownership (lease payment)?

-Don't go all-in.  The $200 all-in-one printer, scanner, and fax machines are useful for home offices only. Per-copy prices are much higher and they're not built to handle a business copy volume, so stay away from them for any multi-person office.

- Check the meter reading.  Copiers have built-in counters that track total usage.  Ask your dealer what the meter reading is.

- What length of time warranty do they offer?  If they have no warranty, find a different dealer and make sure the warranty includes all parts and labor.

What do I need the copier to do? *  Modern digital copiers are sometimes referred to as "multifunctional products" because they can do more than just copy.  Almost all are also capable of printing, faxing, and scanning.  You may want extensive document handling and sorting/stapling features.  And you also need to decide whether you need a copier that supports color - expect to pay 20% to 30% more if you do.

- DO NOT buy a used analog copier.

2. What is my volume?

Start with your current copy volume. And have the dealer analyze your volume.

Refurbished copiers should perform almost as new, but keep it within the recommended monthly volume.

3. What speed do I need on the copier?

Most offices will get by comfortably with machines in the 20 to 50 ppm range.

Correct-Tek Copier Service

1514 E. Waverly Ct.

Arlington Heights, IL 60004 US

Tel: 847-398-5212

Mobile: 847-398-5212

Email: ctcopier@sbcglobal.net

Web: http://www.ctcopier.com/

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The Environmental Impact of Buying Refurbished Copiers

"Going green" seems to be a very common trend these days.  From household cleaning products to the car sitting in your driveway to the recycling bin at your grocery store; almost every product has a way to help preserve the environment.  Did you know though, that you can take this a step further and keep your office green as well?  Buying refurbished copiers can help save money, natural resources, raw materials, and help protect the environment.

Buying a refurbished copy machine means that you're eliminating the need for new raw materials for a new machine.  This helps preserve the natural resources that are necessary in the manufacturing of the plastics, metals, and chemicals in the ink and toner.  The natural resources that are preserved in the manufacturing process alone are reason enough to consider buying a refurbished copy machine

Copiers can also have power save modes or sleep features.  This is very similar to when your computer goes to sleep after a period of inactivity.  The copiers will go through the same process, shutting down unnecessary programs in order to save electricity.  This not only puts money back in your pocket, but also helps cut down on your company's carbon footprint.  Looking for the "Energy Star" logo on your refurbished copier is a wonderful way to make sure that your copier has been endorsed by the government's energy saving programs.

Even simply buying ink and toner cartridges and refilling them after they've run empty can help lessen the impact on the environment.  This process will provide the same benefits that buying the refurbished copier will: lessen the use of natural resources during the manufacturing process, and reducing the need for raw materials.

Refurbished copiers also help keep the materials out of landfills.  Copiers and ink and toner cartridges are composed of elements and chemicals that take hundreds of years to completely decompose in a landfill.  Buying a refurbished copier can help reduce the pollution from the landfill.

Refurbished copiers are a wonderful way to help reduce the impact on the environment.  Even big brands like Canon copiers, Ricoh copiers, and Toshiba copiers can be refurbished to help keep your office Eco-friendly.  So if you need to help keep your office green, why not buy a refurbished copier? From preserving natural resources, cutting down on raw materials, and reducing the energy costs, refurbished copiers are a wonderful way to help protect our environment.

Correct-Tek Copier Service

1514 E. Waverly Ct.

Arlington Heights, IL 60004 US

Tel: 847-398-5212

Mobile: 847-398-5212

Email: ctcopier@sbcglobal.net

Web: http://www.ctcopier.com/

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Copier Fax Machines- 4 Important Reasons To Get One For Your Office

Copier machines and fax machines are among the most important office equipment today.  Almost every office needs them both, so why not just get a dual-purpose machine?  Copier fax machines have all the functions of both copier machines and fax machines.  If you are not sure whether you should get one for your office, here are a few reasons to convince you:

1. Copier fax machines save space.

Combining the two large machines into one smaller apparatus can automatically free up a lot of space in your office.  You can even go for one of the smaller models of copier fax machines.  You can lose the bulkiness without losing any of the features.  Sometimes these small copier fax machines even have more features than their larger counterparts.  Besides, they look much sleeker and will make your office feel much more modern.

2. Copier fax machines save time.

If you are very busy, and most people are, copier fax machines can help you save time.  They can do more than one task at a time.  Many of these machines can send out several facsimiles at once, using several phone connections.  You can also make copies of documents and send them to your clients at the same time.

3. Copier fax machines save energy.

In the past, office employees had to make copies on the copier, then rush to the other end of the office to send the fax.  With copier fax machines, they can do it all in one place, minimizing the hustle and bustle in the office.  Copier fax machines also save on electrical energy consumption by combining two machines in one.

4. Copier fax machines save money.

When you use a separate copier machine and fax machine, you need to buy two different kinds of toner. With the copier fax machine, you only need one kind.  Moreover, with the copier fax machine, you will have to pay for the repair and maintenance of only one machine, rather than for two separate pieces of equipment.

There are many different kinds of copier fax machines available that you can choose from.  You will have to consider various factors before selecting the right kind of machine for your office.  No matter what your needs are, there is sure to be a copier fax machine that is perfect for you.

Correct-Tek Copier Service

1514 E. Waverly Ct.

Arlington Heights, IL 60004 US

Tel: 847-398-5212

Mobile: 847-398-5212

Email: ctcopier@sbcglobal.net

Web: http://www.ctcopier.com/

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5 Things They Don't Tell You When You Buy A New Copier

The copier industry is all about introducing new copiers.  Oftentimes, a copier might even be updated or replaced in a manufacturer's product line more than once a year, bypassing the hundreds of thousands of used copiers such as used Xerox or Canon copiers freely available on the open market.  Why does the copier industry do this, pushing new models when there are plenty of service able used copiers?  We'll address why these manufacturers of monochrome and color copiers do this in the remainder of this article below.

1. Manufacturers Don't Make Money on Used Copiers

The truth is, manufacturers simply don't make any money on used copiers. They might make money off of toner or ink cartridges for the used machines, but there is no money for manufacturers in the market exchange of used copiers.  This cuts into the manufacturer's bottom line, which is why manufacturers are happy to push newer models as an alternative to used copiers.  Whether HP, Lexmark, Xerox, Brother, or even Canon copiers, these manufacturers don't make money selling used copiers.

2. New Copiers Are Not Better Than Used Copiers

Beware of the myth put forth by manufacturers that new is always better than used.  Oftentimes used copiers have capabilities that closely match newer versions, so don't be tricked into buying new when you can purchase perfectly serviceable used copiers.  Technology moves fast, but not as fast as the manufacturers would lead you to believe.  Has paper and toner really changed that much in the last 15 years?  Do you really need a new copier?

3. Your Supplies Will Likely Cost More Than Your New Copier

It's sort of an industry-wide secret that over time the average business or consumer will probably spend more on their copier supplies than they will for their actual copier.  Your laser color copier for example requires you to replace the drum, the magenta, yellow, cyan, and black toners separately.  In addition, you've got all kinds of moving parts inside the machine, many made of plastic, which simply aren't created to last for hundreds of thousands of duty cycles.

Instead of wasting money buying something new that is essentially a wear item, buy something that costs perhaps half as much, and just maintain what's necessary.  Buying used copiers and maintaining only what is necessary will save you a bundle!

4. The True Cost of a Copier Requires Factoring In Maintenance

Manufacturers don't want you to know that copiers are not made to last forever, simply because they make more money selling new copiers, not by selling parts.  There is simply more competition in this space.  While this seems less than ethical, this is a pretty common practice.

One great rule of thumb is to calculate the replacement cost of your toner or ink cartridges, plus the costs of replacing the drum and any other essential supplies over a two to three year period and compare between manufacturers. There's also maintenance of the internals and wear-items.  You will likely find that some models make more sense to purchase when you factor in the cost of maintenance!

5. New Copiers Lose Value the Moment they're Purchased

Copiers, like cars, lose value the moment they're purchased.  Unless you can return it to the manufacturer or to a store and get your money back, you're going to be stuck with a copier that has depreciated in value by 25% to 50% the moment you use it for the first time.  This is why purchasing used copiers, or opting for copier leasing options makes sense.

Used copiers are already discounted due to their used status, and copier leasing makes sense because you are essentially paying for maintenance and rental of the unit, without the headache of disposing of it or deciding when it's time to push out a large sum of cash to buy a new copier.  Copier leasing helps you have one less thing to worry about!

Correct-Tek Copier Service

1514 E. Waverly Ct.

Arlington Heights, IL 60004 US

Tel: 847-398-5212

Mobile: 847-398-5212

Email: ctcopier@sbcglobal.net

Web: http://www.ctcopier.com/

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What to Look for in a Printer Copier Combination

What Do I Need in a Printer Copier?

This can be a difficult decision to make because you need to know things like workloads, and duty cycles. But you can learn all about these things by turning to the internet and doing some research on a printer copier.  It's important to learn how a printer copier will work and how it can benefit you.

Once you know the employees in the workplace or how the company will use the new office equipment, you can begin to compare specs between different brands on the internet.  It's always a good idea to compare a few different brands at the same time to get an idea of prices and features they offer.

What you should look for is a brand that stays within your budget and will also get you all of the features you want.  Also make sure it performs the way you need it to.  If you have a fifty cent budget, don't expect anything high quality.  Your best bet is to wait until your budget is a bit higher to ensure you get a better printer copier.

Network Ready

Is your printer copier going to be used by more than one person in the office?  The best way to achieve this goal is to put the machine on your local area network, and give access to the people who use it the most.  This solves the problem of having people leave their work area constantly to print, or copy items.

Wherever you choose to buy your printer copier, be sure to ask about ease of installation on your network.  You don't need your network people taking all day trying to figure out a complicated setup for a new piece of equipment.  This takes away valuable time of your network technicians.

Space Saver

Typically the multifunction units are quite compact when compared to other office equipment.  They can normally be setup in a small cubical, or storage space.  This makes them ideal for small work places. They can usually sit on a desk or a shelf.  They aren’t big pieces of equipment and don’t require a lot of space.

Fewer parts breaking means they will save you time when it comes to repairing them.  This will save your company some money and every company, owner or boss likes to hear the words “money saver”.  If your office isn't a place that will demand anything extreme out of this equipment, it will do everything you need it to.

Performance

* 20 Copies Per Minute

* First Copy Out at 8 Seconds

* 600 dpi Image Resolution

* Scan Once Print Many

* Printing Speed: 15ppm

* Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi

* Standard Full Color Scanning: 50 - 9600 dpi

Features

* Single 250-Sheet Cassette

* 50-Sheet Bypass Tray

* GDI Printing

* Full Color Scanning

* SRU (Service Replaceable Unit)

* 2 in 1

* Auto Exposure

* Toner Save Mode

When you think about buying a new printer copier or scanner for your business or home office, taking suggestions from different resources can lead you to making the best decision. Getting the right printer copier for your business is not that far away.

Correct-Tek Copier Service

1514 E. Waverly Ct.

Arlington Heights, IL 60004 US

Tel: 847-398-5212

Mobile: 847-398-5212

Email: ctcopier@sbcglobal.net

Web: http://www.ctcopier.com/

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