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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Copier Toner

Many of us often refer to toner as dry ink.  The truth is that toner has nothing to do with ink (a pigmented liquid) at all.  Toner, in reality, is a powder that is plastic-based and negatively charged.  The blackness of copier toner comes from pigments blended into the plastic particles while being manufactured.

In a copier, the toner stored inside a cartridge is stuck on larger, positively charged beads.  As toner-coated beads are made to roll over the drum, the toner particles are more attracted by the positively charged ions on the unexposed areas on the drum's surface than the weakly charged beads.  Later, the same particles are attracted even more towards the electro-statically charged paper.  The plastic in the toner lets the user keep it from jumping ship once he/she has finally got it on the paper.  Now all that is needed is to apply heat to the toner.  Once the temperature rises, the plastic particles melt and fuse the pigment to the paper.

The fuser adds the finishing touches, to lend permanency to the toner image on a sheet of paper.  It has to perform two jobs.  First, it has to melt and press the toner image into the paper.  Second, it has to stop the melted toner and/or the paper from sticking to the fuser.

In order to perform these tasks, quartz tube lamps and Teflon-coated rollers are required.  First, the sheet of paper is sent between two of the rollers.  Following it, the rollers are gently pressed down on the page to embed the toner in the paper fiber.

In the meantime, the lamps are on inside the rollers, producing sufficient heat to melt the toner.  The toner, however, does not melt onto the rollers.  How? The Teflon coating on the rollers prevents the toner and paper from sticking to them, just as the non-stick coating that prevents your favorite omelet from becoming glued to the bottom of your frying pan.

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What's The Difference Between A Refurbished Copier And A Used Copier?

If you're going to buy a copy machine, you may have heard a lot of different terms thrown around, like new, used, re-manufactured, demo and refurbished.  Not knowing the difference between these terms can dramatically affect how much you pay for your copier.  Read on to learn the difference between a refurbished copier and a used copier.

New

You probably know this one already, but a new copier is brand new, and comes directly from an authorized channel, like a dealer or distributor.  The phrase "authorized channel" sounds pretty fancy, but all it really means is that the manufacturer's representative receives commission on the sale.  Just like a new car, new copiers lose a lot of value as soon as they "leave the lot."  Generally if you want a brand new copier, your best and most inexpensive option is through a copier leasing program rather than outright buying it.

Refurbished

Refurbished copy machines have been audited, cleaned, tested, and updated by a third party (not the manufacturer).  Most refurbished copiers have been used less than three to six months as rated by their respective manufacturer's recommended monthly usage tables, and come with a "same as brand new" warranty.  Best of all, these copiers are sold at discount levels up to 75% off MSRP.  If you choose this option, just make sure that the company you buy from is as a good reputation and an A-rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Remanufactured

Manufacturers sell refurbished copiers too, but they like to call them re-manufactured, which means the copy machine was refurbished by the manufacturer itself and not a third party. Re-manufacturing means that the manufacturer tested and updated the equipment.  As with the refurbished copiers, these copy machines are usually have less than three months of use, and have been acquired from off-lease contracts, sales demos, short term rentals and/or corporate downsizing.

Used

Used generally refers to a copy machine that is being sold without any repairs, updates, cleaning and limited testing.  When you see a copier sold as used, without a warranty, most likely you're getting it "as-is" and should be aware of the risk you are taking.  Some unscrupulous companies might sell copy machines as "used" that should actually be sold for parts.

For the best deal on a copy machine for your business or office, your best choice may be a re-manufactured or refurbished copier that comes with a warranty.  That way you are spending a lot less money while still benefiting from the protection of a warranty.

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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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Ink Jet Or Laser Printer - Which is More Cost Effective For Your Needs?

Depending on your needs printing can be an integral and expensive part of your computer usage. Making a smart choice at point of purchase can save a lot of money over time and ensure that you own a printer which is capable of your desired performance. I will provide an overview of two of the most common type of computer printers; the ink jet and the laser.

An Ink Jet printer operates by propelling droplets of liquid molten material, otherwise known as ink, onto a medium, otherwise known as paper. They are the most popular type of computer printer due to its low cost, print quality, rich color and ease of use. Four major manufacturers account for a bulk of the sales as follows; Canon, Hewlett-Packard, Epson and Lexmark. Each of these manufacturers claims a substantial share of the credit for the development and evolution of the modern day inkjet. 

Your basic consumer ink jet printer has print cartridges which contain a series of tiny electronically heated chambers. The printer runs a pulse of current through the heating elements and this causes a steam burst in the chamber which forms a bubble and this propels a droplet of ink onto the paper.

A Laser printer is the second most common type of computer printer that produces excellent quality text and graphics onto plain paper. Images are produced by the direct scanning of a laser beam across the printer's photoreceptor. Laser printers use a xerographic printing process similar to digital photocopiers and MFPs. First, laser beam projects an image of the desired page onto it's electrically charged rotating drum. Then ink is sprayed onto the drum. 

The ink only adheres to the areas that were illuminated by the laser. The image is then printed on the paper by direct contact with the drum.

When trying to choose between an Ink Jet or Laser printer for your home or business, ink jet is the easy choice at a glance. The average purchase price is approximately $50.00 and many vendors will "throw them in" with the purchase of other hardware. Ink is the catch. The cost of the ink used for inkjet printers is typically a whopping $20 to $40 per cartridge which yields approximately 200 pages.

Thankfully, Kodak through a wrench into this sting last year by releasing the Kodak Easy Share 5500 all-in-one ( a printer, scanner, copier and fax machine). This printer retails at approximately $200.00 and its cartridges are available for $9.99 in black and $14.99 in color. This yields a net savings of 50% over your traditional ink jet printer. This resulted in other vendors slashing ink prices. Furthermore, Brother, Canon, HP and Lexmark began selling more cost effective inkjet printers as well as small business-friendly inkjets.

There is also an extensive line of laser printers available. Laser printers can be set up on and excel on large sophisticated networks. Lasers are durable on all media and provide the best overall print quality. They are better suited for high volume printing with higher capacity supplies and robust remote monitoring. Considering their high duty cycle these printers may be better suited in an environment where IT support is available, although there are low intervention rates. The original purchase price is more expensive than the inkjet but the yield per black ink cartridge is approximately 1000 pages. However, color printing is approximately four times as expensive as black and white. Hence, most people opt for the monochrome lasers and office staff is instructed to save color for special occasions!

Depending on your needs printing can be an integral and expensive part of your computer usage. Making a smart choice at point of purchase is going to require you to project usage and desired quality of output and on what types of media. Occasional usage at home is most likely best suited for an inkjet printer, keeping in mind that less expensive ink is available for certain models. In short, a laser printer is better suited for mass printing on a shared network. There are many in-between options available now especially in light of the cost competition heating up. This overview provided you at the very least with the right questions to ask while shopping!

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How to Save Money on Printer Toners and Cartridges

The top printer brands can produce brilliant print standards, but you really need to be on the lookout for savings.  These things can cost big money, particularly for small business printing operations and those who must have top quality, like professional studios and graphic design businesses.  Home users can also find themselves replacing their printer cartridges too often.  Savings are easier to make than you might think.

These brands are the big names in ink and toners:

·        
·         Samsung
·         Brother
·         Epson
·         Lexmark
·         Panasonic
·         Sharp
·         Xerox
·         Konica
·         NEC
·         Toshiba
·         Rico
·         Dell
·         Hewlett Packard

      ·     Canon

Defining costs- The real measure of savings

Retail is really not an appropriate method of purchasing ink cartridges and laser toner for businesses. You're paying the full mark up price, which over time equates to a cost of anything up to 70% above discount prices.

All it's doing is costing you money.  You really need an industry supplier, with a full package on delivery, money back guarantees, and a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction.

Bulk buying makes sense, all the time

Buying bulk printer ink can save a lot of money in a hurry.  If you're working in advertising, marketing, or doing your own basic business print jobs, you can spend a fortune, even if you're only doing black and white fliers and letter drops.

Look at it this way: Every hundred or so of these prints costs you a cartridge.  If you do a few thousand, they cost you hundreds of dollars per run, and the net value has to make up for the cost, just to break even.  With bulk buying, you save hundreds before you even start printing.

Outlay savings

"Outlay" is a word which represents expense, money out of the business, and it also represents a cost against profits.  It's a problem for businesses trying to do high quality print jobs.  For graphic designers, heavy outlay on inks is nothing less than a professional curse.  Advanced prints involve quite a bit of trial and error, and lots of ink.  Your beautiful name brand printer can do the jobs, but can your wallet take the stress?

These are problems well worth avoiding.  It's a basic business principle: "Cut outlays".  The quickest way to do this is with discount purchasing.  70% savings is obviously a good deal, and more importantly, it's money which stays in your business.

Product life savings

The average printer has a product life of about 5 years.  You can save hard cash over that 5 years with a bulk purchase, or even just buying on discount when you need inks.  You save money per cartridge over that entire period.

Say you use a 4 cartridge pack every month or so.  Call it 10 packs per year.  How much would you save? Enough to buy a new printer.  To get the best deals on name brands, always buy discount.

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Digital Copier Security - There's More to Overcome Than Just the Hard Drive

The CBS Evening News recently broadcast a story called "Copy Machines a Security Risk?"  The information presented in the story was alarming, to say the least, but CBS only scratched the surface of the topic.  For companies who rely on securing confidential and proprietary information from competitors or hackers, there's much more you need to know about the inconspicuous digital copier.  In this article, we'll look at five areas where confidential information may be compromised.

If you haven't seen the CBS story please click on this link at the bottom of this page and view the five-minute broadcast before you continue with this article.

In addition to the risks presented by the CBS story here are 5 additional areas where copiers can compromise your security.

1. Many digital copiers are also network printers that store network information such as IP addresses, subnet masks and gateway IP's.  These settings are not stored on the hard drive and are not cleared by the digital copier "Purge" feature.  Network settings must be manually cleared.  Security experts will tell you to keep your network configuration private.  You don't want competitors or hackers to know your internal network configuration.  The more information about your network infrastructure that's accessible to hackers the less they have to figure out on their own and the sooner they can compromise your network.

2. Many digital copiers store the IP addresses of your DNS servers and/or Domain controllers.  Depending on the type and model of your copier, this information may not be cleared by your copier "purge" function.  You definitely don't want competitors or hackers knowing the IP addresses of your Name Servers or Domain Controllers.

3. Many digital copiers store email addresses and some even download your entire Email Global Address List to the copier.  Again, you don't want this to be accessible to those outside your company.

4. The "purge" function used by older digital copy machines doesn't delete any data from the copier hard drive.  It only renders the data inaccessible to the copier software.  It either deletes a file we techies would call a "file allocation table" or it will use other tactics to render the data unreadable to the copier software.  The "Purge" button merely gives an allusion the disk has been cleaned.  However, the data is still there and can be removed as shown on the CBS story.  Most copier security policies rely on this built-in Purge function and think their data is cleared.  It is not cleared.  It can still be accessed with free scanning tools available on the internet.

5. If your copier has a fax capability, the copier also stores all the phone numbers it dialed and numbers that dialed it along with any information you provided in your Fax phone book.  Again, the "Purge" function will not clear this information.

One of the biggest obstacles surrounding this whole issue of Copier Security is the apathy and ignorance of the Manufacturers.  Most copier technicians today still believe the built-in Purge function deletes all information on the copier.  To make matters worse, most copier technicians don't know where the different type of information is stored.  Some data is stored on the hard drive, some data in flash memory, and some data is stored in firmware.  Sensitive information is stored in different places depending on the manufacturer and model of copier.  Just when you think it can't get worse.  Let me drop the final shoe.  There are no utilities that will scan a copier and certify that it has been completely purged from older digital copy machines.

As I mentioned earlier, this CBS news story only scratched the surface of the real risks associated with digital Copier Security.  The Copier Security pioneers who were interviewed in the CBS story, Digital Copier Security inc., have done extensive research on these security risks and are working to provide services and resources to help companies thoroughly purge their older copy machines.  I applaud Digital Copier Security for bringing this issue to the attention of Corporate America and for working diligently to address this significant security hole.

I encourage the Copier industry to take responsibility for ensuring new copiers have the capability to purge themselves of all sensitive information and to provide a certification report indicating what has been purged.  This should be a standard feature on all Digital Copiers and not an add-on feature that comes at an additional cost.  Additionally copier technicians should be trained to thoroughly purge all Digital Copiers.

Until such a time, Corporate America must take necessary steps to ensure their own safety.  They must ensure they are not exposing themselves to unnecessary security risks or even breaking Privacy Laws. Digital copiers must have processes defined (and documented) that ensure appropriate actions are taken before copiers are released to third parties.

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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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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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How to Search For Used Copiers

There are numerous copiers available in the market these days.  You can take your pick from amongst a large number of the best documentation machines money can buy.  However, there is a point here.  Copiers can be a bit expensive, especially those that are meant for business purposes, and have a capacity of documenting large volumes of copies or prints.  This is one of the reasons why quite a number of people prefer used copiers over newer ones.

The problem is how do you search for used copiers and not just any used copiers, but good used copiers that won't give you any trouble.

The Internet Search

In a world where the internet is fast emerging as the foundation for a global marketplace; it's very easy to search for used copiers on the internet.  Just type in your query in any search engine and you will get a whole list of suppliers who deal in used copiers.  It's important that you get in touch with these people and see what they have on offer.  Most of the information is available on the website of these dealers.  However, when choosing used copiers, you would do well to check them out in person.  You can't be too careful about used copiers.

Through References

This is one of the better ways of searching for used copiers.  Ask around your business counterparts about the availability of used copiers.  They might be able to guide you towards the perfect dealer who can offer you the best used copiers.  Through this method of search, you are assured of the fact that you are getting a good used copier as the seller has an honest reputation and is recognized for his used copier services.

Through Newspapers and Magazines

Another great way of searching for used copiers is through newspapers and magazines.  There are quite a number of magazines available these days that concentrate solely on the developments happening in the field of documentation.  This essentially means that such magazines carry ads that inform the customers of the availability of a variety of used copiers.  All you need to do is get in touch with the seller and take your pick from the copiers they have to offer.

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/

Read more ...

Workings Of Laser Printers

Laser Printers are commonly used printers that are known for its rapid printing abilities.  The other marked feature of a laser printer is the high quality text and graphics printing.  It works basically on the principle of the xerographic printing process.  However, it is different from the analog photocopying machines in which the image produced is the result of direct scan of a laser beam on the photoreceptor of the printer.

Using a laser printer has a number of advantages over any other types of printers available. The speed of a laser printer varies from one model to another as it depends on a number of factors like the graphic intensity required in processing the job and others.  The latest models of laser printers can print more than 200 single monochrome pages in one minute, which is more than 12 thousand pages in an hour!  The color laser printers are relatively slower, but even they can print at more than 100 pages per minute.  The high speed laser printers are generally used for printing of mass mailings like utility or credit card bills etc.

The cost incurred in using the laser printing technology is dependent on more than one feature such as the cost of the toner, paper, once in a while replacement of the drum, and change required in other consumable parts of the printer like paper feed system rollers, the transfer assembly and the fuser assembly.  Laser printers having drums made of soft plastic can be costlier in the long run than one can comprehend; its high overall cost becomes apparent only when the printer requires a drum replacement.

Another feature in the family of laser printers is the duplexing model.  This allows printing on both sides of a paper without the need to remove the paper at all.  This technology can cut paper cost directly into half and also lessen the filling volumes.  Formerly, the duplexing technology was available only on the high-end laser printers.  However, now they can be seen on a number of mid-range office laser printers. Although, the duplexing technology can reduce the printing speed to some extent as the paper path length increases.

The dot-matrix and inkjet printers take the incoming spooled data for the printer and directly print that on the paper making it a slow process which can stop as soon as the printer is waiting for more data.  On the other hand, a laser printer cannot work this way, the reason being the large amount of data required to output to the printer in a continuous fashion.  The printer cannot wait for data arrival and if that happens, there can be gaps and misalignment on the page.

To take care of the above problem, a printer buffer is used.  The data is built up and kept in the large printer buffer that is generally present in the printer.  This data bank is large enough to account for every single dot that can be printed on a page.  However, this requirement of storing the dots in the memory before printing can begin which has limited the printing capability of laser printers to small size like 8.5x11 or 8.5x14.  Most laser printer cannot print long banners as there is no memory to hold that amount of data.

The printing takes place in seven steps. A Raster Image Processor scans the entire page line by line and stores a bitmap of the page in the raster memory. The drum is then charged negatively and the bitmap is written on the photosensitive drum using a laser beam whose functionality is dependent on the bitmap image. The charged toner particles are charged negatively and wherever the laser has not discharged the drum, the charges will repel and printing won`t take place, hence creating the required print out. The toner contains a plastic powder that is attracted to the parts where the laser beam hit and in the end the plastic powder is fused at 200 degree Celsius to bond the ink with the paper.

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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Laser Printer: The Better Printing Option

Laser printer is a very common term that many of us get to hear today.  Almost all offices have switched to laser printers from the traditional ink jet ones.  The laser printers have many benefits over the regular ink jet printers which makes them a better printing option in a lot of cases.

Before looking at the laser printer let us first look at the history of printers that we have had to date. The very first printer of sorts would have been the simple type writer.  It functions very similar to the printer with the only different being there is no computing interface between the typist and the printing device.

The evolution of the typewriter was the dot matrix printer.  This was based on the same concept as a typewriter in that the contents where printed on the paper by impressions hitting a ribbon of ink. Depending on the kind of patterns that hit the ribbon, the corresponding images or text got transferred onto the paper.

The next jump in the printing domain was the ink jet printer.  This printer uses a spray of ink to create images on the paper.  The first printers of this kind were black and white printers and they could produce a much better and neater looking printout as compared to the dot matrix printers.

With time, the technology evolved and coloured inks made way into printing.  Now it is not difficult to get colour printouts as well as black and white printouts from the printer.  So much, so that, most printers have the option to load multiple cartridges and support both printing options.

The next evolution in the printing technology was the laser printers.  This solution was quite different from the traditional printing options that were available.  All the previous versions used some form of ink to create images on the paper.  The laser printer changed that approach and introduced the option of using electrostatic charges to print and create images on the paper.

Given the accuracy of the laser beams, the print outs from these printers where crisper and of much superior quality as compared to the other forms of printing.  The ink jet printers, also created great images, but there is always some lag time between getting the print out and the ink drying out.  The modern solutions do address this problem, and we have some really quick drying inks available today.  The quality of laser printouts is still superior to other printouts.

The only limitation of the laser printer for a long time was the lack of the colour printing option.  As a result, it was a norm to use ink jet printers for colour printouts while sticking to laser ones for purely black and white needs.  However, this is changing now with the advent of colour laser printing.  Now one can get laser quality printouts for not just text, but also for vibrant colourful pictures and photos too.  While the colour laser printers remain a premium product today; pretty soon they will become mainstream and the general public can enjoy the high quality printing solutions.

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/

Read more ...