The use of printers are ingrained in our everyday lives, and it’s hard to imagine an office without them. It makes sense then, that if you are in the market for a printer, you may not know what to look for when making a purchase. It would seem like all printers do the same thing and you could just pick any single one out. This simply is not the case. When looking for a printer you want to make sure it is the best fit for you. Below are four different questions to ask yourself when choosing a printer.

1.Do you need a multi-function printer? This is an easy question. If you’ve already got copier, scanner, and fax that works great, then you can skip the multi-function printer. On the other hand, if all of your machines need an upgrade, this is something to consider. 2. What kind of workload will your printer be bearing? Try and calculate how much, and how often you’ll be using your printer. Different models will last longer and run more efficiently depending on how much work you expect from your printer. 3. Do you need any advanced printing options? There are a lot of options available to create the printer you want. If you want multiple people to have access to the printer, consider wireless options that allow printing from mobile or tablet software. Duplex printing might be something you want to include in your search if you’re hoping to do double sided prints. Narrow your search by deciding what specific features you want or need. 4. Will you need a higher resolution printer? This question can be answered quickly depending on if you are printing graphics. If you are mostly planning on printing text, you can skip the high resolution.

A printer is a large purchase. It only makes sense […]

An often overlooked area of network security within an office is its printers. There are many ways that documents and information can be compromised. The two areas that need to be protected are what information is housed inside of the printer, such as the hard drive, and the actual physical documents that are printed externally. A security plan that covers both of these aspects is essential.

Internally Unbeknownst to some, jobs sent to a printer may be saved on the hard drive. To protect stored data, always have the printers hard drive removed and wiped before returning a leased machine or getting rid of an old one. Another internal threat that exists is via your network. Hackers can access information sent to PCs and printers. Check to see if you can encrypt these connections. Your machine may have the capability, or you can purchase additional software. Finally, fix known security issues with up to date software.

Externally Securing your physical documents are a little easier. First, place your printers in a common area of the office to discourage snooping. You can also password protect access to the printer so that it only prints when the code is entered. Password protection can also limit other people from changing printer settings.

There is no such thing too insignificant to secure. While a printer may not seem like a top priority in your IT security plan, there are many reasons that it should be. Access from internet or connections between PCs and printers need to be secured as well as the hard drive protected. Equally important is the location of your printers and who has access to what. For more information about security and printers contact us!

A lot of thought went into choosing the right printer for your business. Along the way, you probably asked yourself a few questions about what you were looking for in a printer and figured out what functions were most important to you. Now that you’ve got the machine, it’s time to use it to the best of its ability. Take a look at how to get the most out of your printer by utilizing the following functions.

To Save Money

When printing basic forms and documents, it’s best to adjust your printer settings to induce cost savings.

*Greyscale: This is the lowest quality setting for font color. If you are printing primarily text, this is an appropriate setting

*Duplex printing: Cut back on the use of paper by printing on both sides. You’ll save money and have less of an environmental impact.

*Turning Toner Save Mode on: This setting will decrease the resolution and save resources.

*Copy and paste from web browsers: Instead of selecting print from your web browser directly, transfer the text to a text editing document to condense some pages needed for printing.

To Increase Quality

For projects that require increased quality printing, you can take advantage of settings that create a superior product.

*Use manufacture recommend products: Printers are made to work best with approved products, and it will show in your printing.

*Maintain and clean your printer: To maximize the use and longevity of your printer, continue to keep all aspects of the inner parts clean from debris that builds up. Likewise, protect the outside of your printer from the surrounding environment.

*Adjust print speed: Slow down the speed of printing to produce quality prints that take more time such as those in color or with high resolution.

The Control Is Yours

Your printer has one job, to work for you. Whether you are looking to cut costs or improve your printing quality, […]

Every year it becomes more imperative and socially conscious for businesses to prioritize reducing their impact on the environment. The effort is continuous but does not to be all consuming. By taking a few simple steps, there are areas in your office which can continue to function up to speed while running on greener settings. A great place to start is with your office printer.

Green Printing

1. Print Settings– The easiest place to start is with duplex or double-sided printing. Double-sided printing will automatically reduce your paper consumption. Duplex printing can easily be selected from your printer settings and can even be your default print mode.

2. Remanufactured Print Cartridges– A remanufactured print cartridge is created from recycled empty cartridges. Considering how many printer supplies your business runs through this is an excellent way to reduce your waste. These cartridges are also less expensive and will help cut costs.

3. Managed Print– If you haven’t used a managed print service, it’s an excellent way to go green with your printer. Managed print will assess your printing fleet to make sure your equipment is up to date and not using an excessive amount of energy. It will also be the catalyst to implementing printing processes such as requiring a code to access print jobs. This will eliminate wasted paper from unnecessary copies.

Easy Changes

It can be overwhelming looking at the big picture and wanting to revamp your office systems in one fell swoop. By taking small steps, you can gradually work your way to a greener office. By beginning with your printer, you will have a sense of the number of physical products such as paper and cartridges that you throw away.

For more information about printers and other office systems, contact us today!

There are a lot of reasons we put off replacing office equipment. In some ways, we are attached to printers that we know how to use and have worked with for a long time even as they drive us crazy. Turn the situation around by thinking of all the reasons replacing your old printer would benefit your company.

If Your Printer Is……

• 1. Slow If you’ve been putting up with a slow functioning printer for too long, it’s time to move on. If you are working with an inkjet printer, you might consider a laser printer which works at higher speeds. The faster people can complete tasks at the printer the quicker they can return to their projects.
• 2. Overworked As your company grows, it may outgrow its printer fleet. Your employees will become frustrated if too many people are using the same printer. Also, the increased usage of the printer is going to wear it out faster. Find a printer that is designed for higher output and will still produce quality documents.
• 3. Always Needs Servicing Constantly having to have your printer serviced slows down productivity. Instead of continuing to patch up things as you go, consider the time and money you will save in the long run with new equipment.
• 4. Outdated Business needs change, and that can include the printing technology you use. Maybe you feel that a multifunction copier would be the best fit for your office instead of several single-use machines. Or perhaps you are looking for a printer that can staple pages to create a workbook. Whatever the case is, replacing your printer can open the door to increased productivity and efficiency.

Handle Business Demands

Keeping up with today’s technology can be overwhelming, but don’t let your printer keep you behind. Replace your slow and outdated printer, and you will be amazed at the difference […]

There are many things to consider when purchasing a new printer. Your needs and business will direct what kind of machine you end up with. To help guide you in the process here are three things to know before your printer purchase.

1. What Projects You Will Be Printing

When you are looking for a new printer, there will be lots of options. To narrow down your choices, consider what type of documents you will be printing. If you want to create engaging brochures or company manuals, focus on finding a printer with finishing options. On the other hand, if you’re only printing text documents you can find a printer with less advanced options.

2. You Can Claim a Tax Deduction

Make sure to save your receipt after a printer purchase because there is a tax deduction for small businesses who buy new equipment. The deduction is called Section 170 and helps small business invest in themselves. You must make the purchase by December 31st and includes copiers and printers that are available to the general public.

3. Mobile Printing Capabilities.

As more people use cloud technology, the more they will be printing from devices other than a desktop computer. To keep up to date with current technology look for a printer that is wifi enabled and has mobile printing capabilities.

While choosing the right printer for your office is unique to your business, planning what you’re looking for ahead of time will help you secure the right machine. It’s better to spend more time on the planning process than to end up paying for extra functions you don’t need.

Call us today for more information on printers and other office equipment!

It’s time for a new printer, and you’re not sure where to start. It would be easy to choose a printer based on brand and price alone, but that’s not going to get you the printer you need. There are specific details particular to individual printers that will affect how they work for you.

Why Small Details Matter

It can be helpful to think about what you did and did not like about your previous printer and use this information to decide which printer features you want. Read through this checklist to make a note of which features you want your new printer to have.

• Paper Size – Most companies will only need a printer that supports legal letter size paper. If you are looking to create bigger projects such as blue prints or banners, you will need to look at large format printers.
• Duplex Printing – Printing on both sides of the paper, when appropriate, is economical and sustainable.
• Page Per Minute – A larger office will want a printer that can readily produce print jobs for multiple employees. If you work with a smaller amount of people who rarely print, a slower model will work perfectly fine.
• Print Job Volume – You’ll want to look to see if the printer has a paper tray or cassette to find out the capacity of a printer. A tray caps out at 550 sheets while a cassette can fit up to 2,000.
• Finishing Options – Stapling and hole punching are just two of many finishing options that can be included in a printer.

Working With a Trusted Dealer

Having thought out what features you want on your printer in advance will make for an easier shopping experience. You should also work with a knowledgeable copier dealer who can help narrow down your choices even further. Copier dealers may have more information about new […]

We use printers so often and without issue, that when something isn’t working quite right, we notice immediately. If you’ve ever worked with a printer, there’s a high chance you’ve encountered one of these four problems.

1. Paper Jams

One of the most frequently encountered, and frustrating, printer problems is the paper jam. A paper jam occurs when paper becomes caught in the feeder and stops operation. The worst thing you can do is try and tear out the document. Instead, carefully turn the feed wheel and allow the paper to churn itself out.

To prevent paper jams make sure to use the right paper size and load it correctly. Dust can also accumulate and cause jams so clean the feed tires on a regular basis.

2. Cartridge or Toner Issue

Printing relies on a cartridge or toner being present and functioning within your machine. If your equipment is telling you there is a malfunction with the cartridge or toner, there could be one of two things happening. First, there could be a manufacturing error which can be corrected by the place of purchase. Secondly, you could be using an incompatible product, if so your quality will suffer.

3. Creased Prints

If your documents are continually coming out wrinkled, you should look at the paper quality and then your paper tray. Equipment such as feed and exit rollers can prevent sticking when worn out which will lead to a wrinkled document. If your paper is of good quality before being placed in the machine, have a technician review your printer.

4. Uneven Print Quality

You can usually fix light and dark print discrepancies in your printers settings. Resetting your density levels should be the solution. If the settings are not the source of the problem, the next place to look is the toner. If you’re not using the recommended product for […]