How to Buy POS Receipt Printer?

There are many models of printers in the market to look for.  The most common are the dot matrix or also known as impact printers, thermal printers and multi-functional printers.  However, before you decide to buy a printer for your POS system, you must consider the software requirements, hardware compatibility, device drivers, and option of receipt cutting feature in the printer, cable interfaces, environmental restrictions and added benefits.

Some of the printers will work only with specific device drivers and software applications.  You wouldn't want to buy a printer that has limited use in your business.  Assuming that one of your receipt printer breaks down at one of the many POS systems you have, your printer must have the ability to fill in the place of the printer that broke down.  The printer must also be compatible with the Operating System that you are currently using.  It is a wise choice to opt for a printer that is compatible with multiple OS.

Even though most of the printers can work with Windows drivers, some printers will require OLE or OPOS drivers to print the receipts.  Ask you dealer about the compatibility issues that you might have with the printers and your POS.

You can replace your existing printer with a printer from any brand.  Most of them are manufactured in such a way to emulate most of the other brands.  However, asking your dealer about the options to replace the existing printer will be a good decision.

The receipt printer can connect to your POS system through a cable interface, which can be serial, parallel, USB or Ethernet connection.  All the printers will support at least the basic type of interface, i.e. the serial and parallel interface. In some of the printers, the USB interface is an option.  If you think a particular printer fits your requirements perfectly, but doesn't have an interface that you are for, ask the dealer about adding an additional interface.  They usually can do it but at an extra cost.

Another feature to look for in the printer is the option of receipt cutting.  There are two types of receipt cutting: partial and full.  If you do not want a receipt cutter option in your printer, go for a manual receipt cutting option.  If you run a huge business that has a streamline of customers at the checkouts, it is better to have an auto-receipt cutter option since it will save time.  However, for places like a small grocery store or any other business establishments that do not have a heavy inflow of customers, you can opt for the manual receipt-cutting printer.

The printers come with the option of single color printing and 2-color printing.  Printers with the option of two-color printing come with black and red color for printing purposes.  Usually the logo of your company is printed in red and the remaining details of the transaction in black.  You can use the red color to highlight any special deals, discounts and privileges received by the customer.

One thing you must bear in mind before purchasing the printer is the environment it will be used in.  Will you use the printer in the kitchen, POS, hospital, temperature controlled settings etc.  There are different printers that fit into the above categories.  If you end up buying a printer that doesn't suit the environment, your printer will not work properly.

Ask these questions before you buy a printer: Do you need a printer with 2-color? Do you need auto receipt cutting option? Do you need a printer that can handle the printing of receipts, labels and barcodes? What is the speed of the printer you expect to have? Do you want your printer to accommodate huge printing rolls?  Do you want a drop-in paper loading mechanism?  Do you want a printer that can print 2-ply and three-ply receipts?  Do you want to endorse checks and read MICR codes using your printer?

As you read the above questions, more questions will pop up.  Make sure that you address all the questions with the dealer before making the purchase.

How many types of printers are there?

Basically there are 3 types of printers: Impact, Thermal and Multifunctional.

1. Impact Printers: Impact printers are also known by the name of Dot-Matrix printers.  These printers are not only less expensive but also flexible.  They use pins and ribbons to print on the paper.  The printers can print two-ply receipts, one for the customer and the other for the vendor.  These printers are resistant to heat and make an ideal choice for use in the kitchen.  The printer can print two colors - black and red.  However, you must purchase the required ribbons to print the above said colors.

Where can Impact printers be used?

Kitchens, POS checkouts, manufacturing units that have too much heat, places that require 2-ply receipts printed in 2 colors.

2. Thermal Printers: Thermal receipt printers as the name suggests, use heat to print the image on the paper.  They do not use ribbons and pins to print the images.  You require special receipt paper to use with your Thermal printer.  The paper has a special heat sensitive coating that is activated on coming in contact with the printer head.  The printer does not require you to replace ribbons and are cost less to own and maintain.  You can upload the logo directly to the firmware to increase the speed of printing. These printers must not be used at places like the kitchen or any other environment that is prone to heat.

3. Multifunctional printers: These printers are used to carry out multiple functions apart from printing receipts. The multifunctional printers are used to endorse checks, read MICR codes, and print slips.  These printers are more expensive than the previously mentioned ones due to their versatility.  These printers can be used at checkouts to print receipts or in concurrence with POS set-ups.

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Printers - A Practical Buyers Guide

Buying a printer can be a complicated business, there are more shapes, sizes and types of printers available to the home and small business user than ever before. Printers have also become specialized for their intended purpose.

It is no longer a case of "a printer is a printer".  Printers are now designed to be good in a particular area rather than a "Jack-of-all trades", which will do everything.

An often overlooked issue, is the very serious consideration of cost of ownership, which is all about of how much it will cost to keep your printer running (see below).  So making that decision on which printer to go for, can be a seriously arduous task, especially if you are keen to buy a printer that is not only affordable to buy, but also cheap to run.

So here is the information that you need to know and consider, that no one tells you about!  We have not expanded on which printer is the best at any given time, because models constantly change and you can find that information in any current glossary PC magazine off the shelf.  Instead, here you will find the good, bad and ugly bits from the different types of printers available so you can make an informed decision yourself.

Laser Printers

Laser printers work in a similar way to photocopiers, except they use a laser instead of a bright light to scan with.  They work by creating an electrostatic image of the page onto a charged photo-receptor, which in turn attracts toner in the shape of an electrostatic charge.  Toner is the material used to make the image (as ink is in an inkjet printer) and is a very fine powder, so laser printers use toner cartridges instead of ink cartridges.

Laser Printers have traditionally been the best printing solution for heavy office users as they produce a very high quality black text finish and offer relatively low running costs.  However, laser printers have advanced a great deal recently and their prices have steadily dropped, as a result there are now compact laser printers, multi-function and color laser printers all at very affordable prices.  Laser printers make sense if you need to do a lot of high quality black or color prints, not photos.  The great thing about a color laser printer is that they can print a very good quality color image on standard copier paper, so you do not need to use expensive photo paper for large jobs.  Do check the prices of the consumables before you buy the printer as these can be very expensive for color laser printers.

Laser printers are the best solution for people who are printing in large volumes, that is, in 100's of pages at a time or 1000's of pages per month.  Color lasers also take quite a while to warm up, so are not ideal for printing single pages.

Solid Ink Printers

Solid ink printers use solid wax ink sticks in a "phase-change" process, they work by liquefying wax ink sticks into reservoirs and then squirting the ink onto a transfer drum from where it is cold-fused onto the paper in a single pass.  Solid ink printers are marketed almost exclusively by Tektronix / Xerox and are aimed at larger businesses and high volume color printing.

Solid ink printers used to be cheaper to purchase than similarly specified color lasers and fairly economical to run owing to a low component usage, today it is not necessarily any cheaper than a color laser printer.  Output quality is good but generally not as good as the best color lasers for text and graphics or the best inkjets for photographs.  Print speeds are not as fast as most color lasers.

Dye-Sublimation Printers

Dye-Sublimation printers use heat and solid color dyes to produce lab-quality photographic images. Dye-Sub printers contain a roll of transparent film made up of page-sized panels of color, with cyan, magenta, yellow, and black dye embedded in the film. Print head heating elements vaporize the inks, which adhere to a specially coated paper, as the ink cools it re-solidifies on the paper. Color intensity is controlled by precise variations in temperature.

Dye-sublimation printers lay down color in continuous tones one color at a time instead of dots of ink like an inkjet, because the color is absorbed into the paper rather than sitting on the surface, the output is more photo-realistic, more durable and less vulnerable to fading than other ink technologies.

The downside of Dye-Sub printers is that they are generally more expensive to buy and run, usually limited to photo sized prints only and can only print onto one type of specialized paper as well as being quite slow to print.

Dye-Sublimation printers are best for those who want to link up their digital camera to a purpose built printer and print out the finest quality photos at home without fuss.

Dot Matrix Printers

Dot matrix printers are relatively old fashioned technology today with poor quality print, slow and very noisy output.  This type of printer is no longer used unless you wish to create invoices using the continuous paper with holes on both sides.  The good thing is that they are very cheap to run!

Cost of Ownership

Many printers today are very cheap to buy, but people are sometimes shocked to discover the cost of replacing the consumables (ink or laser cartridges, imaging drums, fuser, oils, specialized papers etc). The cost of replacing the ink can sometimes cost more than the printer itself!  This is one of the most commonly overlooked factors when printers are reviewed and yet one of the most important things to consider before handing over your hard earned cash.  Tests run in 2003 by Which? magazine famously compared the cost of HP's ink with vintage 1985 Dom Perignon.

A Sheffield City Council report aimed at helping schools decide on the best-value printers to buy, calculated total cost of ownership over the lifetime of a printer (not sure how long that is!).  Adding up all the running costs, ink or toner, paper, maintenance and even electricity, SCC worked out that a color inkjet costs approx 38 cents per page to run compared to a color laser which costs approx 7 cents per page. Sheffield City Council advised its schools that if they printed more than three color pages a day (assuming a 40-week academic year) they should buy a laser.

These figures cannot be taken hard and fast due to the many variables involved, but it is generally accepted that the cost per print of a laser printer is cheaper than that of an inkjet, which is in turn cheaper than that of a sub-dye printer.  However, you would have to do a fair amount of color printing to take advantage of the economy cost offered by a laser printer.

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Computer Printers

Printers are machines that attach to computers as peripheral and help in producing a hard copy of any data that is stored in the computer.  On being given a command any document will get printed by a printer attached to that computer.  The printer uses a special ink, filled in cartridges and prints the data on different sizes on desired size of paper.

While many printers are individually connected to a specific computer, many others are connected to a network and are shared by a number of computer users simultaneously.  Such arrangements are very common in workplaces.  Many modern day computer printers also include non-printing features like fax and scan.  They are called multifunction or all-in-one depending on the feature availability in them.

The evolution of printers has seen various types of printers and printing technologies.  These became famous peripherals of the computers with the advent of dot matrix printers.  In such printers the machine relies on pixels or dots to print the document.  These were used quite excessively until the next generation of printers came.

The modern age laser printers can print at a much faster pace and can give output in hundreds.  These are generally toner based printers and are available in both colour and monochrome varieties.  Though some recent research has indicated that laser printers emit some harmful ultra fine particles, yet they still remain the most widely used and most popular printers in the corporate sectors.

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Sharp Printer Products And Supplies

Choosing a name brand product, such as Sharp, for your printer and supplies can have many beneficial outcomes.  Similar to purchasing other electronics you will find yourself asured with a name brand buy rather than an off brand item temptingly offering a discounted price.  You get what you pay for with electronics and when shopping for Sharp printers and supplies you can expect the best.  Options include many sleek styles with simple to complex features to match the needs resulting in the purchase.  Sift through the variety of models and toners and find the best buy for not just your purpose, but your wallet too.

A good way to begin your search is by deciding on how quick you need your products to be.  Let's first unveil all of the printers Sharp offers that will print anywhere from under 20 to over 40-60 pages per minute.  The lower end, 20 ppm average, products will still give a quick speed and other positive features.  Products can hold large quantities of paper and send your documents to any user connected to the printer.  Easy read display screens allow for you to view documents and use the zoom button when needed.  Mid-range products, 30 ppm average, will give you even more freedom.  They hold more paper for faster print jobs and will sort or reverse documents as requested.  Some models will come with build-in keyboards for easy data input.  The upper range, 40-60 ppm average, can not just print quickly, but they can put the final touches on your product.  Stacking and stapling are often boring, timely tasks so Sharp printers are made to help you with these undesirable jobs.

For those people or companies that need maximum production there are products that will finish from 65 to 90 pages per minute. You can expect all of their high volume products to have all the power that the lesser speed models above withhold and much more.  For the best Sharp printer, you can hold over 8,000 sheets inside at a time while shooting out over 80-90 pages per minute.  You better hope you clicked on the right document to print!  With large quantities shuffling out, they offer you multiple finishing options to include in your prints to ensure your approval.

Complete your printer setup with the supplies it needs.  Inks and toners can most likely be found just an aisle or two past the place where you found your printer.  OEM companies produce brand new toner and ink for all Sharp products.  However, supplies can become very expensive for everyday users.  An alternative to consider is buying in bulk, a simple saver that compatible toner and ink companies offer people.  While toner and ink remain high quality, the production with the use of recyclables allows for an inexpensive sale.  Individually you find Sharp specific compatible products or in large sums as listed above.  Thinking ahead and buying your supplies in bulk can cut the individual cost down by a third.  By setting your new Sharp printer up with the right supplies you will never regret any part of the purchase.

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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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The Brother Copier - Is It The Right Choice

When searching for a copier it doesn't matter if you are working in the corporate world or at home, you need a reliable copier that will do the job. While there are many different types of copiers that can economize good caliber print work, the Brother Copier is reasoned to be one of the best low end copiers  on the market today.

Since the very inception of the company's history the Brother Group has offered high quality products for its customers.  They have also been recognized as one of the leaders in customer support.  Now this is important, because when you have an issue with your copier you want it to be handled with professionalism and speed.  Now if you want to select a desirable copier for your company you need to have a clear idea of what type of tasks you will need from this copier.  Today, copiers have a wide variety of functionality along with a variety of prices.

This info will be imperative and can help you select the Brother Copier that will give you the highest economic value in your work.  Now, I will tell you pay special close attention to the multi functional copiers.  You know the ones, they have the capability of faxing, printing and copying.  Although, they have improved a lot, they have more moving parts that are trying to function together.  Common sense will tell you, more chances of some small failures.  Something you don't want to experience when you are trying to get that copy project done that has the deadline of an hour.

While there are quite a a number of copiers, all of these copiers can be divided up into two distinct groups.  One group is the color copier group.  The other group delivers black and white only copies.   Believe me there is a significant price difference in these two groups.   To see which Brother Copier that you may need you should travel to one of their store fronts or you can visit an office supply store or a computer store.  All with have variation in selection and price.

From these places you can select the type of Brother Copier that you can afford and one that will also provide first-class caliber work.  Remember, test the product to see what the outcome is going to look like.  I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised as to the amount of people who just buy the product without testing it first.  For any one who is not too sure of the type of copier that will be appropriate for their tasks, they can ask for help in choosing these copiers.  The shop personnel should be able to give you a little verbal description of the functions of each Brother Copier.  However, if they are good at their job (which we sometimes expect), then they will be able to answer your questions.

Now you can also find selective information for these Brother copiers from various links on the internet. Here as you look through the many World Wide Web sites you will now be able to find performance evaluations.  Although, not all companies are delivering this information, many are trying.  You will also be able to find out what past customers have to say about the many different makes of Brother Copiers.

When you have finished with your information search you can go to the store that you feel will give you a good deal on the various Brother Copier products and choose one of these copiers.  This also gives you an opportunity to get any last minute questions answered.

Before you you pull out your credit card to pay for the copier you should find out what the go back policy is regarding the Brother Copier.  This data will help you if you find any problems or defects in the product that you have just purchased.  So, do your diligence and research the various Brother copiers. With this information you will be armed to make the right decision.

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Guidelines For Choosing a Printer

Buying a printer is a complex decision and because of all the options available in the market it is difficult to decide on the best one.  Nowadays printers have become essential for office use as well as domestic use.  A good printer at a workplace helps the progress of the work and increases speed of the work accomplished at offices everyday.  There is no point of using the computer to create documents and reports if one is not able to produce the end result in a printed form.

This review will help you out with the confusing task of buying a printer.  The different types of printers available in the market are toner-based printers, liquid injet printers, solid ink printers, dye-sublimation printers, thermal printers and UV printers.  The best way to differentiate the quality printers from the others is to compare their different features.  The print speed and the print quality of the printer matters a lot when it comes to buying a printer.  

The speed is determined according to the prints that the printer can produce per minute.  In the latest printers there is the option for users to transfer the media and images for printing directly from USB devices, memory cards and flash drives.

When buying a printer one must keep in mind what the printer will be used for.  Nowadays printers are available suiting different kinds of work loads.  Some are designed for domestic use, and others for small business work and large complex business work.  

Once you are able to determine the function of the printer you will have a better idea of what printers fall under for your requirements.  When you are buying a printer you should surf around the market and visit a number of places before you make your final decision.  This will give you a rough idea as to what the market price of the printer is, and than you can buy the one that fits your budget.

Keep in mind that the price of the replaceable ink cartridges is also affordable as sometimes the cost of the ink cartridges is more expensive than the actual printer and users face a lot of problems in the future when the cartridges need to be changed.  You can also find, refurbished models that come with a warranty but aren't as good as new.  You can check them thoroughly before buying them and this can be a very good deal.  This kind of deal saves a lot of money and you still receive perfect results from these printers.  Take your time when you are buying a printer and I am sure my tips will help you tremendously in buying a printer.

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Tips on Obtaining the Best Deal on Office Equipment

Buying office equipments can be very tricky.  While you want to acquire machines that will give you the best services for your business, buying them without the proper knowledge and insight can be more costly.  It can cost you thousands of dollars per machine.  

Operation cost, wide of the mark outputs, and unnecessary maintenance schedules can wreak havoc to your business' resources and can even make your reputation flawed.  And so, choosing the right office equipment and the right deal, whether you are small to medium-size or huge businesses, is essential if you want to save money, value resources, and maintain a good reputation with your customers.

Here are some feasible tips to help you get through the challenges:

1. Know what you need

Not knowing what you need is as bad as not having enough information about the products you want to buy.  Today's technology has provided state-of-the-art products and equipment's built to provide businesses the reliability and efficiency that their customers need.  If you don't know specifically the type of functions you need, you could end up buying the wrong product.

For example, you can evaluate the kind of output you need.  If your business is into marketing or advertising, you may find that getting the best printer with remarkable color rendition can be an asset.  If you want to save money and energy, it is best to attach the machine into a network where people can easily access instead of acquiring dedicated office equipment's such as printer and scanners.

Office equipment nowadays are equipped with multi-functional devices built for the modern office environment.  All you have to do is to find the right function and model to help you create outputs needed by your customers.

2. Do your homework

Try to find suppliers or vendors that will give you the best deal.  However, keep in mind that low prices are not always a bunch of good deals and may not always guarantee reliable services.

When choosing the right supplier, always try to give the greatest attention to details such as flexible options, reasonable prices, availability of discounts for bulk purchases, good warranty, and guaranteed maintenance and repair services.  The last two factors are very important, since even the best products can also wear out in due time.  Hence, getting the best warranty and repair services can put your business' bottom line in the best level.

3. Ask for recommendations or references

Getting the highest quality of service always come with the best testimonials and recommendations from trusted colleagues, friends, or relatives.  Nothing works better than first-hand experience.

In today's highly commercialized world, businesses know how important word-of-the-mouth marketing is.  In fact, it is considered to be the latest trend in marketing and more and more people are getting the best results through this type of promotion.  That's because most people will most likely buy products from suppliers or vendors whose services have already been tested and proven.  And so, referrals or recommendations from other people will help you find the best product and the best deal.

Boiled down, saving money and getting the most out of your office equipment are not entirely dependent on prices and quality alone.  You have to rely on the services and efficiency that their suppliers and vendors provide.  After all, in a built environment like offices, you may need all the services you can get to guarantee satisfaction.  It is useless to buy good products, if people responsible for their quality and efficiency will not stand behind their products.  And so, buying office equipment should never be an either-or thing.  Acquiring the most comprehensive knowledge in choosing the right equipment will always guarantee your business' success.

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Can Offices Rely On Toshiba Toner and Printer Products?

Many different people have heard of Toshiba printer and toner products but the question is how reliable are they actually? Owners of businesses and home offices have come back reporting good things about Toshiba. It actually has gotten top reviews according to some office goers. They say it just makes the day go by faster and makes the work-load get done with better quality. Just from this, you can tell that Toshiba is a reliable product to choose.

Finding a printer with good toner products can be a pain. Trusting in a printer company is a big deal. The ability to achieve everything an office needs in one machine is a great achievement that Toshiba was willing to spend the time to do. Toshiba customers have had complete satisfaction in the fact that their printer makes the best looking documents and pictures and doesn't cost them too much to do it. It is also a highly recommended brand because the units last. They aren't constantly jamming and breaking down because the mechanics of the machine are formulated in such a way where the designers were thinking ahead and taking all scenarios into consideration.

There is no false advertising with Toshiba. They are talked about in a good way where everyone can go through their day smiling while using one of their pieces because of the worry-free feeling it creates from being a trusted machine. The toners for one thing, last for a very long time. They print color and black and white with a beautiful sheen that will impress you and your co-workers the first time you see it come out. Just because the printers are small and seem kind of frail doesn't mean there's not a large body builder of a beast inside there.

While you can rely on them to work well, you can rely on them to catch peoples' eyes as well. The designs fit perfectly into the office setting and they all have a nice looking surface. Of course there are many different designs and colors that these pieces come in but there will be the one for your office that just looks like it already belongs in there. Making your office happy is going to make work more pleasurable as well. You can rely on Toshiba to make your entire office a better environment to work in. Your office is your second home. You have to make it the best you can.

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Tips for Choosing the Right Copiers For Sale

COPIERS FOR SALE

Copiers are machines which make paper duplicates of documents.  They are very useful and have been around for many years.  

Most of the copiers make use of heat fusion, while some models use inkjet technology to make copies.

Types of copiers

• Analog copiers: These are outdated
• Digital copiers: These may be able to print, scan and fax in addition to making copies.
• Types of digital copiers include: Monochrome copiers: these make copies in black only.
• Color copiers: these can make copies of documents in a range of colors.
• All in one copier: these can print, scan and fax.
• Multi functional copiers: these come with a very wide range of functions. Factors to consider in making a choice of copier

In making a purchase of a copier, the following factors will need to be put into consideration:

The amount of paper that can be loaded into the machine at a given time should be considered.  Smaller copiers will be able to able to receive about 100 sheets of paper, while the most advanced models can be loaded with up to 2500 sheets.

The size of the paper used: some models can only accommodate a particular size of paper, while others will accept a large variety of paper sizes.

The speed at which copies are made: the speed could be as low as 10 copies per minute, or as high as 100 copies per minute.

Toner: this is for digital copiers. The monochrome copiers use only one toner cartridge, while color copiers will require several toner cartridges for the different basic colors.

Memory: the latest models have some memory features, which makes them work more efficiently.

Extra capabilities: some of these features include scanning, faxing, networking capabilities, emailing, security features, image editing.

What are some companies that manufacture copiers for sale?

• Konica Minolta: this company offers a wide range of digital copiers
• Sharp: they manufacture multi functional copiers with a wide range of capabilities.
• Toshiba: manufactures a wide range of copiers for office use.
• Xerox: machines made by this manufacturer are noted for their durability.
• Ricoh: produces a wide range of digital copiers.

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The Creation Of The Copier

It hasn't always been so easy to make copies.  We now can just walk up to a photocopier machine and press the print button and we instantly receive perfectly replicated copies of our original.  Just forty seven years ago the copy machine was a pen and some sheets of carbon paper.  Instead of pushing a button you had to write and write and then write some more!  Just before the 60's this was a reality and carbon paper was a big seller.  Chester Carlson, a patent attorney knew how much of a pain it was to continue rewriting everything by hand because Carlson had arthritis.  Carlson had an idea of designing a machine that would automatically make copies, so he didn't have to do all of that copying by hand.

Think about doing your job without a copier.  You probably will have a hard time imagining it.  Did you know that most manufacturers didn't think that a copier would be of much use?  Chester tried for years to get people to catch his vision but nobody was interested.  Between 1939 and 1944, Carlson got the thumbs down by many corporations, including IBM, Kodak, General Electric, and RCA.

In 1937 Chester invented a process called electro-photography.  They renamed it Xerography in 1938. He figured out that if the image of an original document was projected onto a photoconductive surface, current would flow only in the areas where the light shined on it. The first copy was made with a sulfur coating on a zinc plate.  He took a glass microscope slide and wrote on it 10-22-38 ASTORIA with ink.  He then pulled down the shade to darken the room.  He built up an electrostatic charge buy rubbing the sulfur surface with a handkerchief.  Then the slide was placed on the surface and a light was shined on it for few seconds.  He then sprinkled lycopodium powder on the sulfur coating.  Gently blowing on the surface, the loose powder blew off and all that was left was the inscription, 10-22-38 ASTORIA. 10-22-38 is the date that the first photocopy was made.  Astoria was the location.

The Birth of Xerox The company that decided to take a chance on Carlson's dream was the Haloid Company.  Haloid was a photo-paper manufacturer in New York.  Guess what they came to be known as? Yes, the Xerox Corporation.  In 1960 the first office copier was produced.  It was the Xerox model 914.  It was the first office copier that could make copies on plain paper.

Being a copier repairman for over thirty-five years, I have seen the good copiers with the bad copiers.  I began working on copiers in 1975.  The copiers that I began working with were messy and they would not last long in between servicing.  The prices for the machines were very high especially for higher volume copiers.  There were some interesting ways of transporting the paper through the machine like the Sharp SF-740.  It grabbed the paper with two gripper devices that were driven with chains.  This machine fused the toner to the paper with a toaster oven type device.

Some people may even remember having to pour toner into the copier from a bottle.  Today's copiers have a cartridge system that works well.  They keep most of the toner inside the copier, not on you best pair of slacks or your dress.  They have rollers for fusing the toner to the paper and have very sophisticated paper feed and transport systems that help reduce jamming problems.  Digital copiers are now on the market.  Now you can not only copy, but print, scan and even fax with them.  Perhaps the most revolutionary change in the industry is the full color copier.  The sales of full color copiers have really started to explode.  There are a lot of new and exciting products being introduced and the quality is really quite good. We have come a long way from Carlson's '10-22-38 ASTORIA.  I just can't help to think what the future will bring us.  What will the copier of the year 2020 look like?

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Choosing a Copier for Your Business

Whether you need to make copies for inter-office meetings or create high-quality marketing materials, you can find a supplier in the market that manufactures an office copier that fits your needs.  Modern business copiers combine all functionalities such as; Fax, Copier, Printing, Scanning and/or Document Imaging solutions in one copier machine.  Correct-Tek Copier Service can provide that. 

Copier industry is growing rapidly and the competition among manufacturers drives them to improve the functionality and to provide competitive offers among suppliers/vendors who install and service copier machines.  They can be broadly classified into Analog and Digital.  Analog is dead and today's businesses choose "Digital" for various good reasons.  Most manufacturers have stopped introducing new models in Analog copiers, but they do support/service the existing models.

Why Digital?

Some people are understandably wary of the new digital paradigm; this is usually due to a lack of understanding about the technology.  In analog copiers, copies are produced by transferring the image optically from the original to the copy by means of mirrors.  With today's digital copiers, the information is scanned optically from a piece of paper electronically thru what they call a CCD and a laser unit. Information is then converted into a digitized format and then processed for printing.

In the midst of changing office environment technologies, some things remain the same:

1.        Need to improve efficiency
2.             Need to increase productivity
3.            Need to control cost
4.           Need to maximize investment in technology

Simply stated, Digital copiers make it possible to have a wide range of features at an affordable price.  In fact, some things cannot be accomplished with Analog copiers that can be with Digital copiers.

Following are the various types of copier machines that you can get in the market:

Black-and-white copiers: Black-and-white copiers are a popular choice for schools and for office printouts.  Black toner costs less than color toner, resulting in a lower cost per copy.

Color copiers: Color copiers can help you make a splash with high-impact presentations, brochures, flyers, and more.  For print-quality color reproduction, consider Graphic Color copiers.  Some color copiers also include a designated black-and-white mode.

All-In-One copiers: All-In-One or Multifunction can make copies, fax, scan, and print in black-and-white and color, making them a good choice for offices with limited space.  Many support internal memory upgrades as well as add-on modules for image editing (for example, add watermarks or resize) and stackless duplexing.  If you want to give you staff the ability to print, copy, or fax over the office network, look for network multifunction copiers.

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Finding The Perfect Digital Copier

When companies are trying to secure a big deal, they often have to spend countless hours preparing documents.  You have to double and triple check that the font is correct and the margins are just right. Each of the pictures used to give the report a professional, dynamic look is in its place.  Now all that is left is to make copies of the final report.  You do not want to take the chance with printing off copies with just any old printer.  This project that you worked so hard on should be printed off on the best printer possible.

Nowadays, you can find copiers in call kinds of sizes, shapes, colors, prices points and various different abilities.  The main question you should ask yourself is how do I find a printer that will give me the quality I need for my business?  You can start by looking at the brand name of the printer. For instances, Canon is a great brand along with HP, Brother and others.

Canon has long been known as a reliable manufacturer of quality and durable printers and copiers.  They have taken their good name and brand image into the world of copiers.  In fact, Canon is the leader of the pack.  The company's Digital Copier is the cream of the crop in terms of similar copiers.  There are a few things that you should consider when looking for the best digital copier for your needs.

First off, you have to consider your needs.  Think about how much you are willing to spend as well as additional costs for things like printer toner cartridges.  What is crucial to giving you the professional appearance in documents that your business demands?  How often will you print out your projects and can you afford the toner and printer toner cartridges needed?  Which printer ink or laser toner will provide the most professional look?  Deciding on the right digital copier can make or break any business deal.

Most copiers on the market today can perform a host of things like fax, scan, make calls and print.  The decision boils down to whether you want a copier that serves as a communication hub or just a simple printer/copier combo.

Make sure you read reviews and perform other research before you decide on the right copier for your business.  Visit an electronics store if you want expert advice from someone who can answer any questions you have about a particular copier.  Find out which digital copiers use the most printer toner for copies.  When it comes to owning a printer, the biggest expense is printer toner cartridges, so you need to make sure that you choose a copier that gets the most out of its printer toner cartridges. But the folks at Canon are confident that your research will lead you to their products.  They have been favorites of consumers requiring sharp, clear printouts.  That is what has made their brand a success and what could make your company a success as well.

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Maintenance of a Digital Copier

A digital copier can break down all of a sudden and you require a servicing company that deals with these situations immediately and also has the facility to change the required parts whenever necessary. Thus, it is important you take care of your printers and copiers well enough, and also employ a copier servicing firm like (Correct-Tek Copier Svc.) that will be able to help you out whenever you need them.

Any modern mechanical device needs a well-skilled maintenance and servicing team.  It is important you don't end up wasting too much time in repairs and upkeep.  A good service system makes sure that precious man hours are not wasted.  Though modern copiers are more reliable than analogue or manual copiers, their servicing needs to be done by a skilled maintenance crew and needs special care and attention.

A regular diagnostics check up and servicing will ensure that the copier is rid of any small glitches, even before they start to become big problems.  This way you ensure that even though there are many people using the copier or it is undergoing heavy usage, it can still run smoothly.

Some points to keep in mind about Digital Copiers and their problems

1. One of the most common problems affecting digital copy machines is that the toner in the copier gets fused because of the heat.  You can use cold water to remove the toner from its clothing.

2. There are times when the copying needs to be done with the lid open.  In such cases it is advisable to do so by using Edge Erase if your copier has the option.  In any case it is advisable not to keep the lid open when copying, as then the copier cannot monitor the amount of toner used, which then results in a thick black layer of ink on the paper.

3. When the digital copier is not in use it is advisable to keep all the paper clips, staples and rubber bands away from the machine.  If any of these get jammed into the drum housing area, they can cause some serious damage.

4. Very important is that all the personnel who are going to use the copier must be trained in the proper way of using it.  Many times the copier gets spoiled, because of misuse or overuse.  A major part of the problem will be solved if the copier is used properly.

5. Another problem that occurs is that the paper gets jammed many times and this can be very frustrating and results in a lot of wasted time.  A solution to this problem is that you should use good quality paper.  This will not only give you great printing, but will also reduce the chances of a paper jam. Whenever there is such an occurrence, it is advisable that the paper jam should be cleaned out completely to avoid a recurrence of the jam.

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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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Multifunctional Copier For Your Business

Investing in a powerful, multi-functional copier for your business is one of the best investments you can make for the productivity of your office.  That said, there are several factors you'll need to consider when looking for the right copier, the most important being how often will the copier be used.  When working out how many copies are made per day or month, you will be better able to determine whether you will need a color or black and white copier, the size of the copier as well as its tray's capacity.  The second aspect to ensure about your copier is that it has a duplex option.  This will allow for double, and single sided printing and copying, with the option of making one or the other the default.  This will save plenty of paper.  There should be an option to use single sided printing as well, but ensure this feature should only be used when absolutely necessary.

Ensure that the copier chosen uses a tiny amount of standby power, and that it automatically switches between standby and active mode when not in use.  Plenty of the newer copiers automatically enter into standby mode the moment they are not being used and have awfully fast start up times.  A comparison of some new copiers shows that they only consume 3w of energy as opposed to 690w for some older copiers.  Yet another aspect to consider before deciding on a copier, is whether a multi-functional copier will be a worthwhile investment.  These copiers are able to take on the workload of a scanner, printer, and copier and even fax machines, all in one.  It can also save you a lot of space, if you are running a small office, and will save you money in running and servicing costs should you need to utilize each of these machines for your business.

The resolution of the copier establishes the clarity of each page such as the crispness and clarity of an image, which may be very important depending on the copier's purpose.  Resolution is calculated in dots per inch.  There are copiers equipped with very high resolutions, but save you and require a regular amount of prints with exceptionally clear images, this will certainly impact on the running costs of your copier.  Consequently, dramatically high resolution copiers are mostly only worthwhile to designers and printing businesses.  The next aspect to take into consideration is the speed at which you will require your copier to perform.  A copier's speed is measured in pages per minute.  If you and a lot of other people will be using the copier on a regular basis, it is advisable to get a copier that performs at a faster rate in order to aid productivity.  The software available for the copier should be thoroughly researched to see which capabilities it is equipped with, should you need to make use of it in the future.  Some software may be very useful, particularly for larger organizations where you can keep tabs on what is being printed, and instigating departmental quotas on printing.

A copier is a large investment to make, thoroughly research any decision before making it, and only buy from trusted, accredited suppliers.

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Used Copiers - The New Trend

In this day and age, any professional nowadays that have copiers, they have been a staple in almost every white collar job out there. This is for a number of reasons such as documentation, filing or just simply reproduction of data.  Producing copies from copiers are generally cheaper and less time consuming than recreating new versions of them.  The only catch is that, the copiers themselves cost a small fortune, and you would need a few years of using it before you can actually feel the return of investment for these copiers.

A new trend nowadays is buying used copiers rather than brand new ones.  Investing in used copiers can benefit anyone in many ways and that's why many people are shifting to used copiers rather than saving up for brand new ones.

A used copier is very easy on the pocket book.  A quality used copier can cost about one third the price of a brand new one and even one half the price of the latest versions.  This would allow you to spread your investments into other things like another copier or other equipment all as the cost of one brand new copier.

Used copiers although old, can still offer the same quality copies as brand new ones.  Especially if you do not need any high end graphics and details to be copied, used copiers could be more than enough for you.  Any quality used copier can handle and text documents with little or no difference from a brand new one.

Many used copiers in Chicago offer competitive prices for any type of professional.  Whether for work or personal use, you will be sure to find a quality used copier in the Chicagoland area.  Used copiers in Chicago cost much less than used copiers sold elsewhere, so it would be best to take advantage of this offer if you are living in the Chicagoland area and go get your used copier.  You need not worry about having a hard time finding a used copier in Arlington Heights.  You can find a used copier in Chicago at almost any computer hardware store there.  You can also inspect the used copiers if they are up to your caliber In quality.

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Tips to Choosing a Digital Copier

There are many really good copier manufacturers, like Canon, Lanier, Epson, HP, Sharp, Toshiba, Xerox, etc. All you have to do is understand your business or individual requirements and consider a few points so that making the choice won't be a problem. Don't worry, it's not a very daunting task if do your research well enough.

Tips to buy you Digital Copier

Requirements - First, determine the requirements of your business. If you are a large corporation and the use of your copier will be heavy, then you will require a heavy duty copier that has the capacity to produce large numbers of copies at a time and has the durability to do so. A copier used at home would not be the same one used at a publishing house.

Cost - Cost is another factor you should consider. If you are going to buy more than one copier, make sure you are getting the best deal possible. Make a comprehensive cost comparison. But don't be deterred by high prices and opt for a cheaper model if you are going to require the features of the higher priced model.

Volume - Volume means the ability of a copier to make copies as quickly as possible in the least time. If you are going to require a heavy duty copier, then you need a copier that will provide a high volume turnover and speed. The speed of a copier is dependent on the pages per minute. The basic copier today has a monthly volume of 10,000 copies at 15 pages per minute. The higher end copier can go up to 100ppm and 60,000 copies monthly. Of course, you will have to spend a little more on the high-end copiers, but it will be balanced out by your requirements.

Colour - If you require only a black and white copier, there is no point in investing in a color copier. Although, if you later want to upgrade to a color copier, it will make you pay at least 20-30% more than the black and white one.

Network Card - A copier with a network card is a better solution if you require heavy usage. You can even install a printer mode along with the network card to make your copier a laser printer, thus allowing you to sit at your desk and make copies somewhere else.

Scanners - Scanners are used to scan documents and once that is done, everything can be sorted in the copy machine itself, after which you can let the copier to do its job, leaving you free to get on with your job. Scanning can be done with software called OCR, which stands for Optical Character Recognition, which converts your copier into a scanner. This turns the scanned document into an electronic file, which you can edit and save on your computer.

Fax Machines - Some copiers today come with facilities to both send and receive faxes so that when you receive a fax, it will be directly printed. This saves you the headache of buying a separate fax machine. You can send or receive even multi-page faxes. If you are connected with a network card, then you can even send a fax from your desk.

Editing - Some copiers even come with editing facility. This means that you can even number your pages or add a watermark. You can even add dates to your documents and some copiers even allow you to rotate images. This means the copier recognizes the paper and restyles the content to fit the paper, thus reducing the loss of paper.

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