Like every other product, all in one laser printers have good and bad sides. If you’re shopping for one, you’re probably trying to figure out exactly what these are so you can make an informed, educated purchase. This article outlines the advantages and disadvantages of all in one laser printers to help you make a smart decision.
Good Sides
The best and most obvious benefit of all in one laser printers is the space that they save. When you’re not going to use an all in one device, you need to make room for a laser printer, a copier, a scanner, and a fax machine. Having these four devices in a single room can take up a lot of space.
All in ones are also more energy efficient than single machines. The energy consumption of four devices is conserved into one, and if the all in one laser printer is Energy Star qualified, this adds to the cost savings. This helps you save money on energy bills, and you’re also helping the environment because you’re reducing the bad effects of different electronic devices to Mother Nature.
It’s also more cost efficient to use an all in one laser device than separate devices because you don’t have to buy each one separately. While a laser printer, scanner, copier, and fax machine can cost around $300 each, a good all in one laser printer can be bought at around $1000. This is already a good bargain when you consider other factors such as the energy costs.
Updating the device is easier to do when you’re using an all in one machine. Instead of having to update the firmware of a laser printer, a scanner, a copier, and a fax machine individually, you only have to update a single device and all of the functions are simultaneously updated. This allows you to save a lot of time and energy in updating your device.
Bad Sides
Considering the good sides of the all in one laser printer, the bad sides are just as valuable to keep in mind. One of the most important bad sides of an all in one device is the functionality that you’re looking for. If you really don’t need a copier, scanner, and fax machine, why buy an all in one laser printer at all? If there’s only a particular device that you need like only a copier or only a scanner, then you don’t have to go through the trouble of buying an all in one and just make a single device purchase.
Another big drawback of all in one devices is that when it gets damaged, all of the functions are affected. Even if only the copier gets broken, the entire thing needs to be fixed. This means you won’t have a printer, scanner, and fax machine to use even if only the copier needs repair.
Maintenance is also very costly for all in one devices. The structure of these devices is much more complex if you compare it to a single function device which makes it more difficult to manipulate even if only one function needs repair. A repairman or technician will most likely charge higher for an all in one even if it’s a very small technical problem as compared to a big damage on a single function device.
Conclusion
Purchasing an all in one laser printer in lieu of a single function machine is wise if you need all of the functions that the device offers. But you need to consider all of the good and bad sides of the device before making the final decision. Keep in mind the above pros and cons and I’m sure you’ll make a smart decision that benefits you or your business for years to come.