All-in-one home office: space saving machines that perform multiple functions - multifunction peripheral

Sunset, May, 1997 by Diane Jacob

Is your home office out of space? Need to squeeze in a printer, fax, copier, answering machine, and perhaps a scanner? That's a lot of machinery. Even if you have the space, the price of each machine - $200 to $1,000 - might break your budget.

One solution is the new multifunction peripheral (MFP), also called multi function device, or MFD. It offers combinations of print, fax, copy, phone, scanner, and - most recently - answering machine functions, in one compact package. In the last year, prices have dropped to around $600 and quality has improved. An MFP saves money over buying each piece of equipment separately. In addition, you can save by buying paper and cartridges for only one machine.

A slew of manufacturers have put all these functions together and are competing for market share. But does the MFP sacrifice quality to save costs? Most of the time, yes. Printing is slower, and a smaller paper tray means filling it more often. Scanning and copying are usually sheet-fed, making it impossible to scan pages from books or magazines. And if the machine breaks down, you're in trouble - all those capabilities disappear when the machine goes in for repair.

Even so, the conveniences and savings an MFP provides often outweigh its limitations. It helps you limit your office machinery by handling most of your documents on one machine. It also offers capabilities that you may not be able to justify as separate purchases, such as scanning and copying.

If you're considering an MFP, first examine your home office needs. Your machine will probably see more duty as a printer than in any other role. And its print quality will dictate how well the machine makes copies and receives faxes. Here are some guidelines.

BUYING TIPS

Printer. The most popular and least expensive models are based on ink-jet printers. For everyday text printing, from business correspondence to your children's homework, an ink-jet with a resolution of 360 dots per inch is fine, even though it's slow and the ink may smear. Just don't attempt a large print job.

If you already have a good printer, you can buy an MFP without a printing function. The Lumina Series 2000, for example, copies to your existing printer.

Fax. Most MFPs offer speed dialing, group faxing, and delayed fax transmission. Look for an MFP that lets you fax directly from your PC instead of first having to print a copy, then slip it into the feeder. The option of receiving faxes directly to your PC rather than to the MFP itself is best.

Copier. Face it, you won't get copy shop speed or quality. Instead, look for versatility. Can the machine produce multiple copies, collate them, and change the size of the image?

Scanner. Black-and-white output is the norm. Try to find a model that can at least print shades of gray (gray scale).

Telephone. Many MFPs feature an answering machine jack that lets callers leave a message if you're using the same line for faxes and phone calls. some MFPs have built-in answering machines or electronic voice mail as well as speed dialing and redialing.

When you go to the store, you'll probably find the machines crowded together on a shelf without PCs attached, so you won't be able to try them fully. And salespeople aren't always knowledgeable. For best results, call the vendors' product information lines, and make sure the store has a generous return policy. With the right MFP, you can enjoy a complete home office for a fraction of the traditional cost.

SOURCES

A sampling:

* Brother MFC-390MC, $299; (800) 827-6843.

* Canon Multipass C2500, $599; (800) 848-4123.

* HP OfficeJet 350, $549; (800) 7520900.

* Lumina Series 2000 Model 2096, $349, and 2144, $449; (408) 487-0400.

* Ricoh MV74, $795; (800) 637-4264.