What copier scanner or laser printer all in one features do you need for your business equipment.  What is better a desktop HP laser all in one MDF’s or a business class Copystar Kyocera copier printer scanner with tons of standard features that cost more to obtain but less to operate?

Do you know the copier scanner or laser printer features you need?  Do you keno what ADF, DAPF, Duplex, offeset and other terms used to describe the best printer copier choice for you?

Who do you ask for help?  An %8.50 hour store sales stocking clerk who just repeats what they are told or a copier printer service repair technicians who has years of experience every day who repairs copiers and printers for a living?

Either way you need to know what they are talking about. If you are looking for a copier printer all in one for your office get advice from experts and learn the following basic copier and laser printer all in one terms:

Copier Features:

The copier printer all in one industry has changed over the past three years. What use to be options now comes as standard accessories on many copier models whether an desktop HP laser all in one or a business class Kyocera or sharp copier scanner.

Automatic documents feeders (ADF or RADF) – Standard

This sits on the top of the copier printer scanner so that gives you the ability to automatically feed a stack of papers to copy, fax out or scan to computer. Some brands of copiers still call this an option. However, a machine never goes  out the door without this. Usually the feeder allows up to 50 pages (some up to 100 pages) at one time on your digital copier or multi-function printer.

Digital Sorting – Standard

All brands of digital photocopiers all in ones for the past 5 years provide offset digital sorting without using an external optional mailbox finisher.

Digital sorting means each copy, print or fax job is “offset” from the previous one (shifted side to side). This feature does not limit the number of document sets your copier can sort. If you had an optional external mailbox finisher then you are limited to the number of slots.

Duplex – Standard on most units

The duplex unit gives your digital copier the ability to do two sided printing and copying. It’s an option on some brands. However the more recent models (3 years old or less) it’s standard.

Paper Drawers

All business class copier printer scanners come with two paper drawers. The lower end personal copiers usually come with one drawer. Each paper drawer “cassette” handles several size papers from A4 up to 11 x 17.  Most of the current models can handle sizes A4 to Legal. Most mid-range digital copier’s drawers handle paper up to 11 x 17 size pages.

Paper Cassette Drawer Options include:  Additional paper drawers (feeders) up to 3,000 pages on some models of copiers. The typical optional copier paper drawers handle 500 sheets of paper. If you are using heavy paper stock you may need to use a bypass tray on your laser printer copier.

Go Green Power Save

This is a standard feature of most recent model digital copiers scanners.  Due to pressure from governments, end user and marketing professionals, power save mode is here to stay. Basically the color copier printer will put itself in a lower power usage stage waiting for printer copier jobs to process. Once it receives a job it powers back up quickly. This reduces electrical expenses – saves you money.

Faxing option:

Usually this is an option not a standard copier scanner accessory.  This copier all in one option gives you the ability to send and received faxes. Plus, with most brands of photocopiers you get fax to email and fax to computers. If you have a network it will require setup of mail boxes and installation of software of each computer.

Security, Client tracking, and Department Billing

Lawyers are great at this. They charge their clients for every piece of paper produced on the printer copier scanner. One way they track the actual number of pages produce is through the digital photocopiers security measures. Most machines have the ability to assign access codes.

You can assign a copier access code for each employee, client or department. Once setup you have to input a security code before a job will print or copy on the all in one. At the end of the billing period just print an access report to get the total pages copied or printed by each access code.

Not Sure What You need?

Ask questions!

If your sales person is all hype and no meat then go someplace else.  Color printer copier features and options are designed for a specific purpose.

Do not assume the digital copier scanner will do what you want. Ask for the specification sheet. Want more information contact me through our blog at Advanced Business Computers Inc.  If you need help determining the best copier or printer then go to the copier printer scanner help form.

All rights reserved Copyright Advanced Business Computers, Inc. 2009

Equipment is getting more complicated and the choices are increasing.  The merging of the traditional printer and copier machines has presented companies with hard decisions.  What is the best manufacturer for the money? Lowest printer copier cost? Best copier scanner options and functionality? Most durable printer copier?  Canon copier, Toshiba copier, Minolta, Ricoh, Gestetner, Xerox, HP, Sharp, Lanier, Copystar, Lexmark, Brother?

Now compound the many brands of copiers and laser printers with copier sales companies that only specialize in one or two brands and it’s clear to see why companies have problems with selecting the right equipment or getting in the wrong lease.

If you get your equipment from a company which specializes in one brand of laser printer or copier scanner all in one take care.  If you work directly with the copier manufacturer be double aware! Why? Because you will receive a bias view.

If a vendor only represent Canon or Sharp copiers how will you know if you should get a Gestetner, Kyocera, HP or Ricoh may be better.  So what should you do? Which is the best copier printer for you?

Do some basic best copier or laser printer research online using the buyer’s lab reports.  Bertl printer or copier scanner report.  Bli best copier ratings.  Or even Better For Business best copier award report.

Look for awards by unbiased sources and low failure rates. If the model is brand new; wait a few months so the copier company has time to get the bugs out.  Do not assume that a BIG NAME means the best copier or printer choice.

Did you know the Lanier / Gestetner/ Ricoh / Savin are  the same company?  Mita / CopyStar / Kyocera too! Did you know HP laser printers are actually Canon based? So what name is better when they are the same? some copier brands are better than others.  The biggest names are usually not the best copiers – they just know how to SELL you better.

It’s a challenge to make an educated best copier selection. Be careful.  Ask questions. Get referrals. Check the service record of the copier service or printer company you choose.

Check you current copier lease.  When is your printer copier lease up for renewal?  Does it offer a lump sum or 1$ buy-out clause at the end of the lease?  What is the current value of the digital copier or laser printer?  What is the estimated life of the copier/printer?  Most of these questions are simple to determine with a few keystrokes on the Internet.

Get all the answer before you commit.   Ask questions about the maintenance program or what the copier lease includes. Look at the terms.  Know you page counts and be very careful not to fail in the low ball tactics of some copier printer leasing companies.

Call to get a competitive quote or to get an unbiased report on the copier.  Feel free to call Advanced Business Computers Inc any time you have a questions concerning printer copiers,  copier scanners fax or other all in one office equipment.

Yesterday a client called to repair and HP 3800 printer. It needed a fuser assembly which is a wear and tear part (a part that is used up a bit every time you print a page).  Between labor and the part it cost them $483 to repair the color printer with a value of less than $500 on the used market.

The HP factory certified technician recommended the replacement of the printer instead of repair due to the age and the high operating costs.  They were offered several models of HP, Lexmark and others which would increase productivity plus save them $2,573 per year in direct business costs.

In addition, they would not have to spend a dollar of working capital. what did they do?  They decided to repair.

Why?  Because of “Status Quo”.  The printer has worked well so why change? In some cases this works. But not in this case.

Why save money, increase productivity and enhance their corporate image when they could just stay the same?

Many people and companies fall into the trap of keeping “status Quo”.

People tend to get comfortable and overlook the fact that business practices change. Printer, Copier and fax Technology advances. New ideas can reduce their overhead. Instead many managers would rather keep the “Status Quo” than think beyond what they are doing now.

The a previous article discussed new models of printers and the associated costs.  Many companies would say “well if it’s not HP or Dell then I do not want to know about it”.

This is the same type of thinking that turned IBM into a household name because of the personal computers in the early 80’s.  However, how many people now own a true IBM machine. Why the change?

Why is Dell now the PC leader when just a few years ago it was Gateway?  And before that Hewlett Packard who is number two now?  Simple – people started to realize that they need change due to benefits and costs – they broke out of “status quo”.

Have you broken out of “status quo” lately? When was the last time you took a hard look at other brands and ideas which are outside of your comfort zone?  Progressive and growing companies stay ahead of their competitors. They look at new technology advantages which is an important factor in every business.

Change will happen. The difference is whether you will be part of change and reap the benefits. Look at new ideas and brands.  Review costs and increased benefits of new technology.

Call us now for more ideas and programs that would greatly benefit your company.  Yes, it may take a little bit of your time. However, if you don’t do it your competitors will!  Get new ideas, benefits and business edge.  Challenge “status quo”.  Advanced yourself and your business.

If you have may questions please feel free to contact us.  See our website for additional information. Feel free to call us or request help through our website or post a response here.

(And More Tricks Copier Printer MFD Companies Pay to Legally Steal from You!)

Part I

First, if you are looking to lease a new or used photocopier, digital printer copier or laser printer office equipment you need to know a few facts before you sign on the dotted line.

Important questions to ask leasing companies for laser printers and digital copiers beyond the monthly payment amount before you sign on the line:

1. Look to the future:  What is the buy-out amount?  What does the buy-out clause say on your copier lease maintenance agreement?  If you do not see a buy-out clause then do not sign on the dotted line!  The copier lease should say either $1 or FMV (fair market value).

If your lease agreement says FVM then have them write in an actual dollar AMOUNT.  If they say the can not because they do not know then they are full of it or trying to keep you in the dark to get you when the lease is over!

Printer and copier amortize the cost of the hardware over the lease period of the copier. It is not like a car lease where the car still has a high value.  They know the value at the end of the copier lease and it’s usually 10% or less than the original cost. If they refuse to put in a value then tell them you want a $1 buy-out copier printer lease instead of FMV office equipment lease. If you have a 3 or 5 year lease then monthly amount between FMV and $1 copier lease buyout is very small!

2. Are your copier printer leasing company and the maintenance company the same?  Be careful with this one it could cost you BIG time!  Recently, several new clients had this problem. They lease a copier printer from Ricoh Lanier copiers, Toshiba copier printers, Sharp Copiers or other big name company who actually are the service providers not the actual finance company.

This is not a big problem until one company is bought out and the new service company refuses to service the equipment but the client still has to keep paying the copier lease monthly amount. The equipment copier printer leasing finance company says talk to the copier or printer service company. The bought out copier printer service company says they are no longer obligated to service the equipment. So the client is stuck in the middle with a broken machine and still has to pay the copier leasing company money!

Make sure everything is under one company! You pay the copier lease monthly amount to one company and the contract says that the company you are paying is responsible for the service and the finance for the office copier printer.

Whoops: I need to get this post out so look for part II soon. I need to go to a meeting!  If you need to know faster how to prevent getting hooked into an expensive lease and ticks copier leasing companies play contact me now  through our blog or go ahead to our website for a quick response. I hope this article was helpful.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at Advanced Business Computers Inc.

http://www.abctechsolutions.com