A guide to help find the multi-function printer best suited to your needs

THIS week has been full of calls from friends and family on advice to buy a multi-function printer. It seems the falling prices and end of fiscal discounts are making people queue up to buy gadgets. 

A year back I would have suggested home users to stay away from multi-function printers (MFP). The price per print was too high, and the units too expensive — a printer-scanner combo came much cheaper. But restricted spaces and the need for privacy have prompted many to look for MFPs, though the huge variety of options leaves most of them flummoxed. 

Earlier, the choice used to be easy; it was either Canon, Epson or HP. Now, with Brother, Lexmark and many other brands available in the market, things have become more complex. So, what should you look for in an MFP?

PRINTER
It is no longer about a black and white or a colour printer, as most home printers can print colour. The real choice is the cartridge: whether to buy a two cartridge (CMY + BLACK) or four cartridge (C, M, Y, Black) system. All vendors offer a four-cartridge system, though your dealer may not tell you so. If you would be taking a lot of color prints, it is best to choose the four-cartridge model which gives you the option to replace just the cartridge that runs out. (Printers use four colour inks — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. A two-cartridge system has one cartridge for CMY and another for black. If you take more prints of a redder tone, the chances are Magenta and Yellow inks will finish first, while the cartridge will still have decent amounts of Cyan left. However, you will need to change the whole cartridge anyway.) While two-colour cartridge printers are cheaper at the outset, the cartridge cost will offset the benefit in the long-run. However, it is better to choose these printers if a majority of your prints will be black and white.

... contd.