The best MFPs for home and office. The best MFPs for home: compact, fast and inexpensive
“Which is better, laser MFP or inkjet?” - a question that worries many. Multifunctional devices were first created in 1977 by the Xerox company. They are intended for printing and copying images. Today, there are laser and inkjet MFPs. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. In order to understand which is better - a laser MFP or an inkjet one, you need to understand the design of these devices. Additionally, a lot depends on the manufacturers.
Laser MFP device
Any color laser MFP for home has a special mirror. The beam from the drum hits him. There is also a large image drum that wraps paper around itself. The toner is installed nearby, and with its help the image is directly transferred to the page. For this purpose, there is additionally a special transfer roller. At the back of the laser device there is a stove that brings the paper to a certain temperature. This is enough to burn the toner and fix the image on the sheet.
A primary charge shaft is provided for waste powder. Additionally, there is a squeegee for cleaning the photodrum from toner. Also, all laser devices have a blade that protects the paper. The toner compartment of laser MFPs consists of a seal, a hopper and a seal. At the same time, there is a system that monitors the uniform distribution of toner on the paper.
How do inkjet devices work?
For the most part, inkjet MFPs have a similar design. They include the printing mechanism, paper feeding system and control unit. Manufacturers also establish a control scheme, which differs in different models. The printing mechanism consists of a head, which is located in the center of the inkjet MFP. There are also ink cartridges that come in different types. Next, a motor is installed, which is responsible for rotating the head. A belt is connected to it for these purposes. Lastly, there is a stabilizer rod in the printing mechanism. It is necessary for accurate printing and is responsible for the vibrations that occur inside the head.
The paper supply system consists of a tray and rollers. Additionally, there is a separate motor for scrolling the sheet. The paper itself passes through the rollers inside the inkjet MFP.
The power supplies of the above devices are usually standard. Previously, bulky transformers were used for this purpose. These days, power supplies don't take up much space. The control system of the inkjet MFP is presented in the form of an electrical circuit. Her job is to decode the data. Additionally, the control system allows you to transfer information to a personal computer and back.
Some models of inkjet MFPs are also installed. In other cases, they are replaced by a serial device. Manufacturers can also install small computing system ports. There are two types of ink spray technology in string MFPs. The first is the thermal bubble system. Most often it can be found in models from the Canon and Hewlett Packard brands. The second type of atomization is called a piezoelectric system. It is based on the work of special piezocrystals. This technology was patented by Epson.
Advantages of laser models
The main advantage of laser MFPs is fast printing. If we talk about large volumes of work, then this is simply an irreplaceable device. In this regard, it is very superior to regular MFPs. However, it is the first sheet of paper that will take a long time. This fact is associated with the need to warm up the photodrum. The second advantage lies in the simplicity of the device. The need for its repair occurs extremely rarely, and it is quite simple to maintain. Unlike inkjet MFPs, there is no need to constantly worry about ink problems.
What are the disadvantages of laser devices?
Color laser MFPs for the home, of course, also have disadvantages. First of all, it hits the pocket hard. You can especially notice the difference if you choose a color laser MFP. Additionally, it takes up a lot of space, and it is quite difficult to place it on the table. Another drawback lies in the cartridges of laser MFPs. Like the devices themselves, they are expensive on the market. Despite their large resource, sometimes it is the price of cartridges that stops many potential buyers.
Pros of inkjet models
The main advantage of inkjet MFPs is their low cost. Most models are available to absolutely everyone. Moreover, the housings of these devices are quite compact. All this allows you to place the inkjet MFP almost on the edge of the table. Plus, they print the first page much faster than laser ones. Taking this into account, if we talk about one document, then inkjet MFPs are the leaders here.
Additionally, it is possible to supply cartridges directly, which are very cheap. By the way, you can refuel them absolutely independently without any problems. You can print on different types of paper. The ink adheres perfectly to both matte and glossy surfaces. The final advantage of inkjet MFPs lies in print quality. It is simply excellent, and if we talk about photographs, then ink is simply irreplaceable in this situation.
Cons of inkjet devices
Unfortunately, inkjet MFPs also have disadvantages. First of all, this is the printing speed. If you have to work with a large volume, then it will take a long time. Some models are close to the speed of laser MFPs, but there is a problem. The second drawback lies in the maintenance of these devices. The ink often dries out and has to be replaced. In some cases, you just need to replace the cartridge. To solve the problem, you need to periodically use inkjet MFPs to warm up. This will always waste ink.
Hewlett Packard laser models
“Which MFP is better to choose?” - a complex question, but Hewlett Packard has long established itself on the positive side, and it has something to offer. Laser models of this brand differ from others in their reliability. It is possible to work with paper of various densities. The average print speed is 25 pages per minute.
Additionally, many models are equipped with a fax. It supports a wide variety of operating systems. Additionally, you can note the user-friendly interface. On average, the memory of these devices is 128 MB. In general, they can be described as productive. The most popular model is the Hewlett Packard M1536dnf. This laser MFP has good reviews from customers.
Hewlett Packard Inkjet Products
In terms of print resolution parameters, Hewlett Packard inkjet MFPs are significantly superior to laser models. It is possible to print on photo paper, as well as gloss. Additionally, there is a function for optimized resolution of work from a personal computer. A variety of paper sizes can be skipped. However, the recommended sheet density is 75 g per square meter. m. On average, the printing speed is 4 pages per minute. In turn, the first sheet is ready in 24 seconds. The boundaries of the printing area are quite extensive. You can also select a wide range of colors.
Power consumption is insignificant and allows you to save money. When in operation, the Hewlett Packard inkjet MFP consumes approximately 10 W. At the same time, only 2 W are consumed in standby mode. Also, in many models, manufacturers have installed a sleep mode system. When activated, the Hewlett Packard inkjet MFP consumes 0.9 W. One of the features is the presence of special contact image sensors. In general, the color depth is approximately 24 bits. Additionally, there is a scanning input mode. Copy speed is 4.5 sheets per minute.
How are Canon laser MFPs different?
Many models have a good maximum print resolution. This figure came very close to Canon inkjet MFPs. Additionally, we can note the good quality of document scanning. A wide variety of paper formats and densities are allowed. However, there is, of course, no opportunity to work with photo paper or a matte surface. The average print speed is 23 pages per minute.
As a rule, Canon laser MFP is equipped with a fax. The printing boundaries are quite extensive: the top, bottom and sides are 5 mm. Management is generally satisfactory. Many models are equipped with a convenient display for this purpose. The total memory of most models is at 256 MB. Operating systems support a variety. However, the Canon laser MFP consumes quite a lot of power. In operating condition, the device consumes approximately 500 W. In standby mode, power consumption is 5.4 W.
All this makes us think about the cost-effectiveness of laser MFPs. Moreover, their dimensions are quite impressive. On average, a Canon laser MFP model has a height of 390 mm, a length of 440 mm, and a depth of 360 mm. In this case, the weight of the device will be approximately 12 kg. The Canon MF217W model (laser MFP) is perfect for home use.
Canon inkjet models
Most Canon inkjet MFPs boast good optical resolution. In this case, the droplet size is 2 pl. The density of printing paper is allowed from 64 to 105 g per square meter. m. Additionally, it is possible to work with photo paper. On average, a Canon inkjet MFP model produces 10 sheets per minute. If we talk about color printing, then this parameter drops to 6 sheets per minute. In turn, photo printing takes an average of 44 seconds. Additionally, you can highlight the ability to print without borders. The interface is generally pleasant and many will like it.
You can also highlight the cost-effectiveness of inkjet MFP models. On average, only 0.7 W is consumed. When copying, the Canon inkjet MFP consumes only 0.19 W. The dimensions of most models are quite compact. On average, the height of the device is 300 mm, the length is 440 mm, and the depth is only 150 mm. In this case, the weight of the device is on average 5.5 kg. The Canon MG4240 model is in greatest demand. This MFP has only positive reviews.
Summarizing
"Which is better - laser MFP or inkjet?" - a question to which there is no clear answer. However, first of all, it is necessary to determine the requirements that will be imposed on the device. If you look from the point of view of print quality, then the leaders in this regard are inkjet MFPs. They are simply irreplaceable for working with photographs.
However, this class of equipment is definitely not suitable for offices. Documents must be printed quickly. In this case, there should be no problems with the device. From this point of view, laser MFPs are clearly becoming the leader. Considering all of the above, the question is: “Which is better - a laser MFP or an inkjet one?” - must be considered on a case by case basis.
Seasoned office workers probably still remember the times when they had to run around the office, torn between the printer, scanner and copier, tripping over boxes and constantly changing numerous cartridges. But not much time passed - and voila: all the most important options of a modern office were reunited in one multifunctional device, without losing any in quality or performance. Moreover, they have become quite affordable for ordinary families with low incomes.
Which company's laser MFPs are better?
There are a great many good manufacturers of laser MFPs. Since the quality of printing and copying is of greatest importance for a unit of this kind, traditional manufacturers of printers and copiers remain the leaders, namely: Hewlett-Packard, Canon, Brother, Xerox, Kyocera, Samsung.
HP and Canon boast the widest ranges of MFPs. Their products are very popular both because of their reliability and affordable prices.
The Japanese company Brother boldly entered the Russian market and has achieved significant sales success over the past 8 years, although not so long ago it was little known in Russia, despite its more than 100 years of age.
Xerox has always been considered a leader in the production of devices for professional printing and copying.
Stable demand is also observed for laser MFPs from Kyocera and Samsung.
But you won’t find laser MFPs from the famous Epson company, since this company does not produce them. But in the inkjet MFP segment there is a great variety of its products.
So, which laser MFPs offered by the listed companies to Russian consumers are considered the best?
These two devices are very necessary for the home, especially for students and office workers. Today in our article we will talk about combining these devices into one. Yes, yes, a printer and a scanner can be one single device called an MFP. MFP (multifunctional device) - is, as mentioned above, a printer and scanner, due to which the device also includes a copier. That is why in this article we will tell you how to choose the right MFP for your home.
What is the advantage of an MFP over a printer and scanner?
The MFP has a lot of undeniable advantages over the printer and scanner as separate devices. First of all, the MFP will take up less space than these two devices separately, and this is an undeniable advantage, since there is always little space on the computer desk, and besides, you don’t want to furnish yourself with computer equipment, but you want space and minimalism.The second indisputable advantage of an MFP is the presence of a copier; if you have a printer and scanner, in order for you to make a copy of a document, you must first scan it and save the image on your computer, and then send it for printing. In turn, to make a photocopy using an MFP, you just need to press one button and you will immediately receive a ready-made copy.
In addition, the cost of an MFP is lower than if you bought a separate printer and scanner, and considering that you also get a copier, the advantage is obvious.
Which MFP to choose: laser or inkjet
The first thing you will encounter when choosing an MFP is its type. As you probably already know, there are two common types of MFPs: laser and inkjet. These two types have their fundamental differences. We will tell you about the features, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of which below.Laser MFPs are used primarily in offices, as they have high print quality and are easy to maintain. Laser MFPs are very effective at printing black-and-white documents, which are mostly needed at home; their print quality is an order of magnitude higher than that of inkjet MFPs. Moreover, one refilled laser MFP cartridge is enough for a fairly long period of use, which is also important when frequently printing documents at home. The advantages of a laser MFP include the low cost of refilling cartridges, if you do not buy new ones every time. The main disadvantage of laser MFPs is their high cost, as well as the high price for a new cartridge. MFP models with laser printing, as mentioned above, are used primarily for black and white printing, which is not the best option for the home. In addition to black and white models of laser MFPs, there are also color ones, but they are very expensive, which is unprofitable for home use.
Inkjet MFPs, compared to laser ones, are slightly inferior in print quality, but not significantly. The advantage of inkjet MFPs is that they have both black and white and color printing, which is very good for home use. Moreover, inkjet MFPs have a low cost compared to laser ones and are also economical to maintain if you use self-refilling cartridges or a CISS (continuous ink supply system), which we will discuss below.
Therefore, let's summarize briefly. If you need to print black and white documents in large quantities, then a laser MFP with black and white printing is the best option. If you occasionally need to print both black and white documents and documents in color and pictures, then an inkjet MFP would be the best option. Now let's look at what you should pay attention to when choosing an inkjet and laser MFP.
How to choose a laser MFP for your home
Initially, when choosing a laser MFP, you must determine the printing color: black and white or color. In principle, if you decide to opt for a laser MFP, then it is more logical to give preference to a black-and-white type of printing, since if it has color printing, you will only be able to print color documents, and not pictures or photographs, so make your choice initially on non-color.
When buying a laser MFP, we recommend finding a service where you can refill the device’s cartridge, as this will help you save a large amount of money. For comparison: a new cartridge costs from 1,500 rubles, when a refill will cost about 300 rubles, the difference is quite noticeable, isn’t it!?
How to choose an inkjet MFP for your home
If you prefer an inkjet MFP, then pay attention to the number of colors in it. In this case, we want to draw your attention to color shades. Most budget inkjet MFP models have 4 printing colors. In addition to the main black, there are the following colors: yellow, blue and crimson. More expensive models have more than three color shades, resulting in better print quality and color rendition. For simple household tasks, 4 colors, including black, will be enough, but if you set more complex tasks for the device, then pay attention to this issue.
Very often, many MFP buyers buy this device with inkjet printing in order to print photographs. Think about how often you plan to print photos? Most buyers subsequently do not print photographs at all, and if they do, it is in small quantities. Therefore, think about whether it makes sense to overpay and buy an MFP with the ability to print photos in order to print 10 pictures a year that can be printed in a photo salon!? As practice shows, for home use a regular color inkjet MFP will be sufficient.
A few words should be said about savings. When buying an inkjet MFP, you also need to consider the cost of new cartridges, which are by no means cheap. Yes, the quality of printing on original cartridges is incomparable with analogues, but the difference is not too big, which cannot be said about the savings. Replacing all 4 cartridges in an MFP with original ones will cost you about 1,500 rubles. That is why many buyers prefer analogues of original cartridges.
There are two analogues of original cartridges for MFPs – CISS and refillable cartridges. If any of you remember, previously cartridges could be easily refilled by adding ink to them, but now manufacturers, for obvious reasons, stop this and exclude the possibility of refilling cartridges. In addition to this, a special chip is installed that blocks the used cartridge. This is why the types of systems mentioned above were developed.
The continuous ink supply system consists of ink tanks and a pseudo-cartridge, which are connected by tubes through which the ink flows. A button is installed on the pseudo-cartridge that resets the chip, indicating to the MFP that new and refilled “cartridges” have been inserted. CISS saves ink, and the filled system lasts for quite a long time. The disadvantages of this option are the high cost of the system itself, and it will also take up extra space from the outside. There are cases when the quality of printing on CISS noticeably deteriorates compared to printing with original cartridges.
Refillable cartridges are identical to the original cartridges, only their containers are refillable and also include a system for resetting the cartridge level. In our opinion, refillable cartridges are the most practical and profitable solution for saving money.
How to choose an MFP by parameters
Before purchasing, ask your consultant to show you a printed sample so that you can clearly compare the print quality of different models.
Which MFP is better to buy for your home?
Which MFP is best for home? If you have chosen a laser MFP, then the best models will be devices from Samsung, Canon and HP. Among the manufacturers of inkjet MFPs, we would like to highlight the following companies: Canon, EPSON and HP. Now a few words should be said about MFP models.If you don’t know which laser MFP to choose for your home, then in our opinion, the best option is the Samsung SCX-3405. Single-color printing type, has a print resolution of 1200x1200 dpi, A4 sheet printing speed is 20 pages per minute, first page output is 8.5 seconds. Printing format: A4, A5 and B5. Scanning speed – 20 pages per minute, first copy out in 14 seconds. The resolution of the scanned image is 600x600 dpi.
If you decide to purchase an inkjet MFP, we recommend choosing the Canon PIXMA MP230. This is the most optimal model, which has a lot of positive user reviews. This MFP has 4 colors: black, as well as yellow, blue and crimson. Paper size and type: A4, B5, A5. In addition, the device allows you to print photos. Black and white printing speed is 7 pages per minute, color printing is 5 pages per minute and 40 seconds per photo (10x15). Scanner resolution: up to 600x1200 dpi.
– Small-sized device
– Highest quality color photo printing
– Real correspondence between cost and quality. Automatic duplex printing
– Longest cartridge resource.
Which MFP is better to buy for home family use: inkjet or laser? Inkjet printing performs well when printing multi-colored documents and photographs. Among other things, the price of an inkjet MFP for color printing is several times lower than the price of an MFP with laser technology. Therefore, if you are interested in high-quality printing of color photos, then an inkjet printer is primarily suitable for you, and if you want to print documents mainly in black and white, then we offer you a laser MFP.
In this article we will help you choose the MFP you need. And so let's get started...
The best inkjet MFPs for home
| PECULIARITIES | |||
| 15 000 | 1 000 | 1 000 | |
| Photo printout | + | + | + |
| Borderless Print | — | — | — |
| + | — | + | |
| 7 | 15 | 19 | |
| 21 | 20 | 19 | |
| Color Print Brightness (bits) | 48 | 24 | 24 |
| Issue of paper, sheets | 500 | 60 | 125 |
| Color cartridge reserve, pages | 900 | 165 | 300 |
| 1 200 | 190 | 600 | |
| Wi-Fi availability | + | — | + |
Advantages: Affordable price
Manufacturer country: USA
This model is the most inexpensive of those that you will see in our review. Color printing will be up to 1000 pages per month, of course, more is possible, but then this will lead to problems. Photo printing is possible, as well as printing on photo paper, cards and envelopes. Regular black and white text is printed at a speed of 20 pages per minute. Moreover, the weight of this printer is only 3.42 kg, which is the lightest among its rivals. One of the disadvantages of this model is the small paper tray - only 60 sheets. This printer does not have Wi-Fi. Due to the low cartridge resources, refills have to be changed frequently, which is another disadvantage. In general, the price-quality ratio is completely justified.
Advantages:
Manufacturer country: USA
In terms of its functionality, this MFP model is a little similar to Canon, but it is still cheaper and therefore slightly inferior in terms of characteristics to the famous brand. This printer can also do duplex printing, photo printing, and has Wi-Fi access. The reserve of a b/w cartridge is designed for 600 pages, and that of a color cartridge is half as much. This may not seem like much, but it is quite enough for home use. One of the disadvantages of this printer model is the time it takes for the first print to come out, which takes 19 seconds.
Video review:
Advantages: Multifunctionality
Manufacturer country: Japan
The best price-quality ratio in our rating. This model is suitable for both home use and small offices. It is distinguished by high speed of operation, high brightness of printing and, most importantly, a high level of resource for black and white and color cartridges. For black and white it is 1200 pages, and for color it is 900. This feature of the model will greatly save your money when refilling cartridges very rarely. This machine supports Wi-Fi, which allows you to print documents and photos from devices that support a wireless network. Ease of use and fast printing are the main indicators of the best model among its competitors.
Video review:
The best laser MFPs for the home - budget up to 15,000 rubles.
| PECULIARITIES | |||
| Number of pages per month, units. | 8 000 | 8 000 | 10 000 |
| Borderless Print | — | — | — |
| Automatic two-sided printing | — | — | — |
| After how many seconds does the first print occur? | 9,5 | 7,8 | 8,5 |
| Rate of making black and white copies, ppm. | 20 | 18 | 20 |
| Color Print Brightness (bits) | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Issue of paper, sheets | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Black and white cartridge reserve, page | 1 500 | 1 600 | 1 000 |
| Amount of RAM | 128 | 64 | 128 |
| Wi-Fi availability | + | — | + |
Advantages: Beautiful design
Manufacturer country: Japan
This is one of the fastest models in terms of the speed of the first print - in just 7.8 seconds. In addition to this, one of the largest black and white cartridges in terms of resource is 1600 pages. Ease of use, small size, beautiful design, fast printing, inexpensive cartridges and all this at an affordable price. But there are also disadvantages to this MFP. The scanner and copier are not very convenient, or rather, it is not entirely customary to place paper.
Advantages: Advantageous multifunctional device
Manufacturer country: USA
Quite a practical model from the well-known company HP. High-quality and fast operation of the printer are the main advantages of this device. Quite a high output speed of the first printed sheet - only 9.5 seconds. This printer model is recognized as one of the best scanners. The main advantageous quality can rightfully be considered cartridges. The resource of a black and white cartridge is enough for 1500 pages, and refilling them costs almost nothing. But there are still significant disadvantages - the rather high cost of the device and failures in connecting to Wi-Fi.
Advantages: Real match between cost and quality
Manufacturer country: The Republic of Korea
One of the most popular companies, Samsung, has released a very high-quality and multifunctional printer model. Affordable price and some of the best properties are collected in this MFP. Very high resource of b/w printing – up to 10,000 pages. Fast delivery of the first print – in just 8.5 seconds. Uninterrupted Wi-Fi access. A worthy first place in our ranking.
Video review:
The best inexpensive laser MFPs for the home - budget up to 8,000 rubles.
Advantages: Small-sized device
Manufacturer country: Japan
Inexpensive, small in size and quite functional printer model. The speed of printing and scanning documents and photos is average. RAM is 64 MB, and the sheet drawer can hold 50 sheets of paper. A black and white cartridge is enough for about 1000 sheets. Your first print will come out in just 10 seconds. One of the significant disadvantages is the lack of Wi-Fi.
Advantages: Best cartridge yield
Manufacturer country: Japan
Another of the famous MFP manufacturers PANASONIC has released this inexpensive but functional printer. The main advantages are fast printing from 24 pages per minute and the cartridge is designed for 2000 sheets, with 32 MB of RAM. Ease of use, affordable price and minimal cost of cartridges – that’s what it’s all about. The disadvantages of this model include a slight noise when turning on the printer for operation and quick-use cartridges, which are sometimes not enough for the 2000 stated in the specifications.
Advantages: Affordable price
Manufacturer country: Japan
This model is not particularly distinguished by its wide functionality: a rather low speed of issuing the first print - a waiting time of 13 seconds, a very low speed of black and white printing - 16 sheets per minute, the sheet drawer holds only 10 pieces and there is no Wi-Fi connection. But at the same time, with all this, it has a fairly good reserve of a black and white cartridge - 2000 sheets. In general, judging by customer reviews, this is a fairly economical and convenient MFP model for home use.
The best inexpensive color MFPs for home - budget up to 30,000 rubles
Advantages: Longest cartridge yield
Manufacturer country: Japan
The most inexpensive and multifunctional model in our rating among the best color MFPs. Color cartridge consumption is 7000 pages, and b/w - 6000. Compact, beautiful in design, scanning and copying documents and photographs - that's all about this model at an affordable price. One of the most convenient advantages is that the cartridges are arranged so that you can monitor the amount of ink in the printer yourself. There is only one small drawback that is noticed - the noise when printing documents and photographs.
Advantages: Real match between cost and quality. Automatic duplex printing
Manufacturer country: Japan
The productivity and efficiency of this MFP is at a very high level and rightfully takes an honorable second place. One of the fastest scanning and printing speeds for documents and photos: in color - just over 3 seconds per page and in black and white - just over 2 seconds. The print speed is 18 ppm with a fairly spacious paper tray, which can hold 250 sheets. A very convenient duplex printing function that will save your time when working at home or even in the office. There is convenient and uninterrupted access to Wi-Fi.
Advantages: Highest quality color photo prints
Manufacturer country: Japan
This particular model can be called the best for printing color documents and photographs. Thanks to six-color printing, your documents and photos will be bright and clear. Just 12 seconds and this MFP will give you your first 10x15 photo with expressive depth and quality. You can print on envelopes, photo paper, CD/DVD discs, etc. And the fact that there is a multifunctional and easy-to-use liquid crystal display will please the eye, and it is also convenient for visually selecting and tracking photos for printing. Unfortunately, there is no access to Wi-Fi and this is not a very compact device model.
Video review:
We wish you happy shopping!
Greetings, friends!
Do you want to buy an MFP for your home and don’t know what to choose? Yes, the market offers a greater variety of models. Now we will figure out what exactly you need! First about that
What is MFP
An MFP is a multifunctional device that includes at least three devices: a printer, a scanner and a copier. Large office combines may also have fax machines, staplers, additional paper trays and other options.
The three-in-one layout saves space on your desktop, increases ease of use and speed of work. This is especially true for the home. It's good when the workplace is not cluttered with technology, right?
Printing technologies in MFPs
MFPs intended for home use use two technologies - laser and.
With laser technology, the image is recorded on a special photosensitive drum using a very thin laser beam.
A special fine powder - toner - sticks to the places where the beam hits.
This toner is transferred to the paper as it passes through the fuser.
There, the toner is fused into the paper and a stable image is obtained.
There is a type of laser technology - LED, where instead of a single laser emitter a line of miniature LEDs is used.
In inkjet printing, images are produced by tiny droplets of ink ejected from special holes called nozzles. The diameter of the nozzles is less than the thickness of a human hair.
The smaller the droplet volume, the smaller the “blot” on the paper, and the higher the image quality.
There are two types of inkjet printing technology - thermal inkjet and piezoelectric. With an equal volume of ejected droplets, the “blot” during piezoelectric printing is smaller. Therefore, the image turns out more realistic.
EPSON is the leader in this technology.
Subtleties of operating MFPs for home
Before you make a choice in favor of laser or inkjet printing, you need to decide how many and what copies you will print. Both laser and inkjet MFPs allow you to print color images and photographs. Better photos are obtained with inkjet MFPs.However, when using inkjet MFPs, high quality printing is obtained only on special paper (photo paper), which is much more expensive than regular office paper. And when using original cartridges, which are also expensive and in most cases have a very small volume.
You have to pay for quality!
To save money, many users use inkjet MFPs (continuous ink supply system) and refillable cartridges. With a successful combination of circumstances, you can really radically reduce the cost of printing.
However, over time, the tightness of the CISS may be broken, air may accumulate there - and this will certainly disrupt the operation. The cost of CISS is comparable to the cost of a cartridge. It can be very unpleasant when the CISS starts acting up.
Using third-party inks may cause colors to fade or reduce print head life.
Think before you play this lottery!
Epson, aware of the widespread use of CISS, has released a line of inkjet MFPs called “print factory”. These MFPs differ in that instead of small cartridges they have ink tanks with a capacity of about 70 ml. And these tanks can be filled with ink! This is an alternative to “semi-finished” CISS.
Let's note one more thing. Inkjet MFPs cannot be left idle for long periods of time.
Otherwise, the thin nozzles will dry out, resulting in poor print quality. Laser MFPs are better in this sense. They can be left unemployed for a long time.
So.
If you print mostly text documents and a few color photos, buy a laser monochrome MFP. And photographs can be printed in a photo salon.
If you print a lot of color documents (and are willing to spend money on expensive consumables), buy a color laser MFP.
If you print mainly photographs, take a “print factory” inkjet MFP.
Print and scan quality in MFPs
The print quality of a printer is determined in dpi (dot per inch, dots per inch). The higher the dpi number, the higher the quality.
The quality is higher because the object contains more image elements.
However, it cannot be said that at 1200 dpi quality a monochrome image will be twice as good as at 600 dpi. The average user will not notice the differences, especially when printing text.
Scanners in MFPs do not have the highest resolution - the same 600 or 1200 dpi. But, most often, high resolution is not necessary! If you need to make a scanned copy of a document, 150 – 200 dpi will be enough. It will be quite readable.
If there is a need for frequent high-quality scanning, it is better to buy a separate professional scanner, which can have a resolution of 2400 dpi or higher.
The quality of copying in an MFP is determined by the quality of the scanner (its resolution in dpi).
MFP performance and consumables
When purchasing, you should focus on the expected print volume. Laser MFP is characterized by a monthly printing resource. It is not recommended to exceed it.
Printing speed in MFPs for the home is not as important as for office high-performance MFPs. After all, printing volumes at home are usually small. When choosing an MFP for your home, you don’t have to pay much attention to this parameter.
The fun begins when the toner or ink in the starter cartridges runs out. It turns out that consumables are not cheap.
It would be good to inquire in advance about the cartridge resource for the specific model that you like.
Many users know that you can refill toner or ink cartridges. But such actions lead to termination of warranty service. Printing problems may also occur..
Which MFP should you choose?
One day I walked into our printing office and a touching picture was revealed to my gaze. Workplace, computer, and on the left is an HP printer, on the right is an EPSON. They are given tasks one at a time - and these workhorses hum obediently.
They have been serving us for a long time. I just wanted to stroke their smooth plastic sides! It has long been noted: if you treat technology with respect, it responds to you in kind. And it serves true and true.
I got a little distracted, sorry.
If you need high-quality color printing, pay attention to the EPSON inkjet MFP.
EPSON has a series called Print Factory. It does not use cartridges (the volume of which is small), but special 70 ml ink containers.
Although the price of such devices is relatively high, the starter kit will last a long time. Thus, the EPSON L222 model allows you to print 6,500 color and 4,000 b/w copies.
If you work with text at home, look at a simple monochrome laser device without any bells and whistles.
For example, on HP LaserJet PRO MFP M125RA. Its monthly print volume is 8000 copies, cartridge life is 1500 copies.
Or on Xerox 3025BI with a monthly volume of up to 15,000 copies and a cartridge resource of 1,500 copies.
If you don't want extra wires on your desk, look towards models with Wi-Fi. True, you will have to pay extra for this.
Where is the best place to buy an MFP?
It is better to buy MFPs in specialized stores that supply consumables and provide pre-sale, warranty and post-warranty service.
Technology must work, and people must think.
It is better to buy from companies that have been on the market for many years and have a staff of consultants who understand the equipment, and not just want to sell.
