Sure, Multifunction Printers (MFPs) are one of the smartest solutions available for offices these days. With multiple capabilities — printing, scanning, faxing, and copying — and the most advanced technologies, MFPs are hardy, do-it-all machines that can save time, money, and sanity.
So why bother with a standalone device when MFPs are so versatile? For some businesses, a standalone machine might be necessary due to extended options or special requirements. One of those standalones is the scanner. Here are some tips to help you determine whether or not you should consider a scanner instead of relying on an MFP for scanning.
1. Multi-Page Documents
MFPs often have automatic feeders to make scanning easier. However, very few models have the scanning speed that a dedicated scanner boasts, nor do many have the ability to scan both sides of a document at the same time, which a scanner can do.
2. Transparencies
Scanning negatives or slides requires a special type of device, such as a film scanner or photo scanner with transparency adaptor. Some MFPs can handle transparencies (look for a transparency adaptor), but those machines are spendy, with both scanner and printer optimized for photos.
3. Photos
MFPs and most standalone scanners can support photographic scans, but because they are mainly designed for documents, the quality might not be what you need. Look for 1,200 pixel-per-inch resolution, or consider a photo scanner for best results.
4. Books
Book scanners are designed to scan a large volume of book pages. Unlike MFP scanners, book scanners can hold books flat for better scanning capabilities. If you intend to scan substantial numbers of book pages, a book scanner is a much better option over an MFP.
These four types of scan represent the main types of scanning that may require a standalone printer. If you don’t need to scan any of these, a multifunction printer will probably work just fine for your office. Whatever your copier, printer, scanner, or MFP needs might be, in Fort Collins, Denver and other nearby areas, contact Capital Business Systems.