Features of quality laser and inkjet fax machines are provided to help determine which is the best to purchase for a business or home office.
Fax machines are one of the fastest and securest means of communication between people, offices, and businesses. They have become a permanent fixture in businesses and many home-based businesses for sharing information and placing orders.
Color fax machines are not readily available and only work between two color fax machines.
Laser and Inkjet Fax Machines
There are many brands and types of fax machines on the market today. The major question is which fax machine you should buy. Of course this is a personal choice, however research is needed. Fax machine types include:
Inkjet: uses ink droplets to transfer image to paper, best for less than 30 faxes per day, approximately 400 pages per cartridge
Laser: uses light emitting diodes (LED) to transfer image to paper, best for large volume of incoming faxes, and approximately 5000 pages per cartridge
Choosing the Best Fax Machine
The major consideration is the purpose of the fax machine and uses in home or business; this will help you select the features you need. Feature considerations include:
Quality: laser is best with 64 shades of grey and color, inkjet can do the same
Page Memory: fax machine’s ability to store pages, varies 20 – 1280 pages
Transmission Speed: sending speed anywhere from 2 seconds to 30 seconds, transmission speed is controlled by speed of slowest fax machine involved, Modified-Modified Reader (MMR) provide faster speeds than older Modified Readers (MR), typical 36.6 kilo bits per second (kbps) or 6-10 seconds per page, 14.4 kbps much slower
Dialing: speed dialing, delayed dialing
Paper Handling: print last page first
Paper Tray: 8.5 x 11 inch, legal size 8.5 x 14 inch
Dual Scan: send and receive at same time, good for large volume
Paper: plain paper is the best option
All in One Fax Machines
All-in-One machines are more efficient for a small business and home office. They require less space and make it efficient for use by one person. The advantages and disadvantages of All-in-One Machines include:
Advantages:
Printer, Fax, Copier, and Scanner in one machine
No clutter of individual machines and electrical requirements on desks and tables
Integration of features all in one machine
Disadvantages:
All-in-one feature
If printer breaks, you ability to print incoming faxes is eliminated
You can lose all your capabilities at once if you have a problem with the machine common to all functions, such as power supply
Comparing Fax Machines
Once you have narrowed your fax machine choice(s) to either laser or inkjet, visit your local store and check out its(their) features:
Controls: ease of use and layout
Size: foot print - amount of space it takes up on desk or stand, legal size for large documents and books
Resolution: at least 300 x 300 dpi
Ink cartridge: cost
Sharing: network and/or wireless capable
Paper tray: at least 100 pages is best
Speed: page transmission speed varies, high volume need faster speeds
Sound: how noisy in operation
Type: do you want a laser of inkjet fax machine
Choosing the best laser or inkjet fax machine is always a personal choice and requirements. You should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each fax machine when comparing them to help you make your choice.
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