Small businesses form the backbone of most economies. Numerous innovations have fueled the success of small enterprises in the last decade. None more so than the all-in-one printer scanner copier fax. Lengthy paperwork is now both affordable and less time consuming. The burden of costs to acquire a separate printer, scanner, copier and fax machine is now completely done away with, all thanks to this innovative multifunction device.

Deciding to equip your small/home office with an all-in-one printer is most certainly a step in the right direction. However, making the decision is a small task compared to the job of choosing the right multifunction device to cater to your specific needs.

The market is flooded with Multifunction devices from various manufacturers. Each of these devices has a different price tag and capacity. This difference is primarily because of the different segments of users for the printer scanner copier fax. The different segments include the home user, the small office user and finally the users who operate from fairly large offices. Always remember to ascertain the needs of your business before you go shopping for a copier multifunction device.

You will want a printer scanner copier fax with a fax modem speed of at least 33 kbps. Any slower and faxing documents will end up becoming an expensive and tedious affair.

Most multifunction devices have a standard memory of 8MB. However it is advisable to have at least 16 MB of memory. Especially if you frequently work with large documents. Certain multifunction devices are equipped with an expandable memory. Keep a lookout for this useful feature, especially if you are intent on a future upgrade.

The printer and scanner of the multifunction device should have a resolution of at least 1200dpi x 600dpi.

Most multifunction devices have a resolution of 600 x 600dpi which leads to unclear and blotchy images.

The minimum required speed for the printer of the multifunction device is 22ppm. Preference is usually given to multifunction devices possessing a laser printer. Although more expensive than an inkjet printer, the laser printer has greater output and documents printed by it show greater durability.

Most importantly ensure that your multifunction device has an automated document feeder. This part of the device is a tray which usually holds 50 sheets of paper. It is a valuable aspect of the multifunction device, since it feeds the papers into the machine at preset time intervals without you having to stand next to the printer all day long.

Last but not least while you are at the store try out all the functions of the all-in-one printer. Play around with it for a bit and feel free to ask the sales rep the smallest details about the product. Also, ensure that you inquire about the after sales service before handing over your credit card.

Getting your business to grow requires great foresight. Acquiring information about the latest developments in technology is always in the good interest of the small business owner. The printer scanner copier fax is one such technological development which allows business owners to optimize their resources.