Q) I received an all-in-one printer as a gift. I haven’t opened it as I seem to remember that these things aren’t very good and I wanted to keep it in a condition to return it. Should I keep it?
A) That’s a pretty general question, but let’s tackle it. You are correct that the all-in-one (AIO) devices used to be pretty bad. There was a time when I recommended people buy separate machines for separate tasks. But things have changed dramatically. Not only have they gotten better, but they have gotten much less expensive.
Most AIOs today are printers, copiers and scanners. A few of them are also fax machines, but faxes are almost never used anymore and they require a phone line, so they have fallen out of favor. You should be able to get a decent AIO for around $100.
Here are a few things to consider:
Does the one you’re thinking of getting (or in your case have already gotten) have an individual ink tank for each color? This is important as one tank for multiple colors will force you to buy new ink when not all of the colors are empty.
Do you print a lot of photos on special photo paper? If so, this is the one case where you might want to consider a single function photo printer.
Do you need a high capacity paper feeder? Today most of the AIOs in the $100 range only allow one page at a time to be copied or scanned. The more expensive ones have document feeders.
Do you need a fax? Probably not, but there are still a few AIOs out there (the more expensive ones) that do this.
Do you want a wireless printer or will it be connected directly to your computer with a cable? Today, wireless is much more common than it used to be, but you need a wireless (wi-fi) network to connect the printer to your computer. Not all of us have a wi-fi network at home.
Now a couple of hints, no matter which AIO you get.
Always buy genuine branded ink instead of third party (for example, Office Depot’s brand) or refilled cartridges. I know that it’s less expensive to buy non-manufacturer ink, but you will invalidate your warranty if you don’t use the manufacturer’s ink. Furthermore, the non-manufacturer ink may not be up to the standards of the printer manufacturer. Pigments are different colors and the ink itself may jam the printer’s jets.
When buying paper, any brand will do for plain old document paper. But if you plan on printing photos and will be buying photo paper, use the brand recommended by the printer manufacturer. Photo paper has certain qualities (absorption levels, drying times, etc.) that are different by brand.
If you have a favorite brand of printer, by all means stick with that brand. For me, the major brands that stand behind their products are the best to consider. My experience has shown that Canon and Epson are good choices. While Hewlett Packard sells a lot of printers, several people have told me that they have had problems with that brand. The same goes for Brother. While Brother tends to be less expensive than the others, premature replacement will certainly nullify and cost savings you thought you were getting.
I hope that this has helped you decide whether to open up that gift. And if you decide to return it, maybe this has given you some information on what to buy to replace it.
Al Loebel is a retired technology consultant with over 50 years of high tech experience. He has been a Healdsburg resident for over 16 years. If you have a technical question for Al, email him at Al*******@Ou*****.com.
