I've been thinking about getting one of these, but I started thinking, how quickly do these things run through ink?

I feel like if you made 10 copies of a 5 page document you might start running low...anyone got any experience / recommendations?

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bump.

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I have an HP laserJet 3330 in the office. It can be set up for scanning, I believe, but I've never tried it.

It's not an ink jet so I don't know what the page count would be. But, I've only used three toner cartridges in nearly eight months so it's pretty good on laser copies.

Faxing, copying, printing, etc. is great. Quick and clean.

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I've had 2 different printer/fax/copier/scanners -
an early one which used thermal rolls, and a newer one with ink.
You can also get laser versions, which have come down alot.

Here's what I've found-

1) Perhaps you only need a scanner?

In many cases, if you already have a good printer
you might only need a scanner- most mutifunction machines are
"feed through" - so if you will need to copy books or larger maps,
you might want to consider a flatbed scanner.

I usually need to copy 8.5 x 11 so I was fine with a single page scanner and my printer for a long time. You scan the pages in, the program gives you a area to sort images, then you drag the images to a printer link or a fax link.

The first multifunction machine I got was by Brother, and used thermal roll paper- so I found it was much easier to scan the pages in, and then use the software to print them on the normal printer I'd acquired.

One side benefit is that the multifunction machines generally let you save faxes electronically, then view the faxes, then decide if you want to print them - nice if you get junk faxes. It also works as a backup when the paper or toner runs out.

A side benefit for me is that when people fax legal sized paper,
having the fax go to the computer makes it easy to print the page on legal sized paper.

When you just need to make occasional "file copies" - for your records rather than clients, I've begun just using my digital camera instead.
You might look strange doing the 'james bond' spy camera thing but
it's great when you're on the road.

2) Print/Fax/Scan/Copy
If you get a multifunction machine, they don't go through ink any faster than your average printer.

If you've got a good fast printer, you might want to print using that printer..

One nice feature is to get a 4 color printer that has 4 individual cartridges.
Most of the multifunction machines also print in color. The cheaper ones have 1 black cartridge, and 1 color cartridge. The problem is that when you use up too much of 1 colour, you can't print in color anymore.

I'm naturally frugal, so I'd usually use up the leftover color ink by setting my Word documents (that were for my use) to print in "dark red" or "dark blue" or "dark yellow" to use up the remaining colors in the color cartridge- and stretch out the remaining black ink a little.

The other consideration is how the multifunction plugs in- some work in USB, some require a printer port, but most will work with either.

Hal

Are you wondering about the desktop models or the full size versions?

If you're asking about the desktop models, our experience has been that they stink. We got one early on in our business (when it was only my husband and I) thinking it would solve lots of problems. It didn't. The use of toner was obscene; we were constantly changing it. It was also painfully slow and the print quality left a lot to be desired. I felt like our "final products" looked like they were generated from a small time business and that wasn't what we were going for.

We ended up buying all of the pieces separately for use as we expanded. When we beat those up (and they worked MUCH better separately than the all-in-one), we decided to upgrade to a full sized version with copier/printer/fax/scanner. We got a great lease price from Canon. We got a bum unit at first, and the resulting customer service was atrocious, but the replacement unit (once we got it) has been great.

My advice is that, if you can afford to upgrade to a full sized unit, do so. If you can't or don't have the volume, use separate pieces. I just don't think the all-in-ones are worth the trouble.

http://staples.com/Catalog/Browse/sk...2DOne+Machines

Roughly 1 month old. I havnet even run a full ream of paper through it.

$145 and its yours.

Malloy, it uses ink cartridges right, I'm looking for one that uses toner, what I am trying to avoid is having one that works for now, bt when the team grows to 5+ people, I don't want to have to run out for ink carts all the time.

I may have to plunk down for that HP 3330

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