How to Compare All-In-One Scanners, Printers and Copiers

All-in-one printer, scanner, copier devices combine three common office functions in one device, saving space and time. All-in-one printers are commonly marketed for home office and small business use.

Scanning Options

Scanners on all-in-one printers can scan photos as well as documents. Choose a scanner with high resolution for high-quality image scanning. If you use the document scanning function, consider an all-in-one that comes with optical character recognition (OCR) software, which can turn a printed document into a searchable digital document.

Single Vs. Multiple-Page

Some all-in-one devices have only a flat bed that can scan or copy only one page at a time. Others may include a multiple-page feeding system. A flat-bed-only scanner may be sufficient for basic home office usage, while multiple-page scanning and copying functions may be useful for a small business.

Speed

Printing and copying speed is measured in pages per minute and can vary depending on printing quality and color usage. Small businesses that do a lot of printing may choose all-in-one devices that offer a higher page-per-minute rate, while slower page-per-minute speeds may be acceptable for home use.

References

• Consumer Search: Important Scanner Features

Resources

• Top Ten Reviews: All-in-one Printer 2010
• CNET: Best all-in-one printers