Let’s be realistic a bit, even though we are living in a digital era with all the technological advancements that have happened in the recent years, offices really can’t go paperless entirely. Regardless of the office you run, having printers and paper copies is still a must, and one of the primary reasons is having a hard copy backup on the most important documents.
While digital technology has made everything easier and faster, the truth is that it also allows for loss and document corruption. Being able to have a physical copy and print all important documents will help you stay prepared in case of a computer crash, loss of data or some other similar problem. What’s more, some documents require to be signed by hand, so having a printer will help you always stay up-to-date.
Dealing with all kinds of forms and documents is also a part of an office job, so whether signing contracts, filling out tax forms or job applications, printing them out whenever needed is pretty convenient. A great number of today’s printers also come with scanners which is pretty convenient when in need to scan and print something at the same time. Printers are really smart solutions, especially if they are multi-functional and contain copying, scanning and printing documents.
What Is the Best Type of Office Printer?
The choice of office printers these days is huge, and while the world has gone mad over the amazingly useful 3D printers which can find use in many environments, even in hospitals, offices aren’t in much need of them. The need for printers for offices is quite different, and nowadays you can choose from an extensive array of office printers ranging in type, size and ink.
Laser
The first laser machine was invented by Xerox in the 1960s. And nowadays these printing machines are some of the most well-known and popular mainly because of their fast printing capability. They are extremely precise and are perfect for printing sharp high-quality texts and graphics which makes them perfect for being used in offices. These laser office machines are also ideal for offices that need high-volume print jobs. These machines are designed to grow with your business which is just another reason why so many offices still use them.
LED
It’s said that these machines for printing are similar to the laser ones but instead of laser they use light-emitting diodes for printing. They are cost-effective and energy-efficient, perfect for businesses and home offices that require printing different kinds of texts and media. Practice shows that the LED ones are way better than the laser models because the former are reliable and more efficient, using fewer moving parts.
Solid Ink
As the name suggests, these printers use ink technology. Instead of using laser or light-emitting diodes, they melt solid ink sticks during the printing process which is great in producing more vibrant and bold colours. These printers are considered space-savvier and eco-friendly because they are made from non-toxic vegetable oils. The only downside of these printers is they need a bit of time to warm up. You should also keep in mind that their printing cannot be laminated.
Business Inkjet
These printers are designed for larger and busier offices that rely entirely on the printer output. In other words, these printers are designed to print highly detailed and photo-realistic prints. They don’t need a lot of time to warm up and leave a small footprint. The downsides of them are that they produce wet prints, are less reliable than laser printers, and have higher costs per page than laser printers.
Home Inkjet
This is maybe one of the most popular models of inkjet printers in home offices. It was made in the 1950s with the ability to produce good prints and photo-realistic prints. These printers leave a small footprint and don’t need to warm up in order to work. Their downsides are that they have higher running costs per page, slow print speeds, wet prints and are prone to clogging.
Multifunction
MFPs (multifunction printers) are designed to copy, print and scan documents, and some of them can also be used as faxes. They are mainly used in home offices and small businesses that are limited in space.
Mobile
As the name suggests, these printing machines can be easily moved around. They are portable and are designed for those of you who are always on the go and spend more time on the road than in the office. Usually, they come with a battery power allowing you to scan, copy and print anytime and anywhere. They have long battery life and flexible connectivity options.
Large Format
These are designed for printing large-scale prints which makes them perfect for graphic designers, architects, photographers and more. When using them, expect to receive prints with high-quality text and graphics which is the goal.
