By: Dachary Carey
Shopping for the best all-in-one printer is a subjective process, because what's best for your needs may not be the same as what's best for your neighbor or co-worker. However, the best all-in-one printers do have certain things in common, so look for these features when you're shopping:
- Network connectivity or wireless support: In today's household, multiple computers are commonplace. Parents may have a computer in the home office, while the kids have their own computers in their rooms or laptops for school. Because you often print from multiple devices, or may want the freedom of printing from a laptop that isn't physically connected to a printer, you need an all-in-one printer with network support or wireless connectivity. Wireless printers give you the option of printing from anywhere in the house, without plugging your computer directly to the printer.
- Flatbed scanners with document feeders: If you have enough desktop space for a larger all-in-one printer, a flatbed scanners is great to have. Flatbed scanners give you the option of scanning anything you can put on the glass, including pictures, mementos and keepsakes and other things that wouldn't go through a document feeder. However, if you ever scan multiple documents, or if you want to send multi-page faxes, you'll want to look for multifunction printers that include document feeders in addition to the flatbed scanners. Document feeders enable you to put a stack of documents in the machine and walk away while the printer scans, copies or faxes them.
- Duplexing: If you ever print reports for school or business, or if you just want to save paper when you're printing a huge document, duplexing is a lifesaver. This feature give a printer the ability to print on both the front and back of a document. This is particularly useful if you're copying a document that is already two-sided.
- The ability to print on non-standard paper, such as envelopes and photo paper. The best all-in-one printers support any print endeavor, from printing envelopes and labels to printing on oddly-sized stock or photo paper. If you think you might want to print on non-standard paper or odd paper sizes, look for multifunction devices that support these options. When evaluating printing on non-standard paper, consult user reviews for real performance data. Sometimes manufacturers claim that devices can print on odd sizes, but the performance may be underwhelming.
If you want to print on photo paper, you'll need to know whether your all-in-one printer uses inkjet or laser technology. Inkjets are generally better for printing photos, but regardless of which type you have, you'll need paper designed for that specific type of printer.
