Printers

The world is focused on recycling. One of the best places to start may be with your office laser printers and multifunction systems.

Here are three simple steps to cutting waste and saving money: continue reading...

• Recycle Paper Put recycling bins next to your printers and copiers. Most municipalities have recycling services. You can also use recycled paper in your printers and copiers. Make sure to select a good quality of recycled paper that is rated for laser printers and copiers.
• Duplex Printing A great way to immediately cut paper usage is to set your printers and multifunction systems to default to duplex (two-sided) printing. This is especially helpful for long print jobs because duplex printing literally cuts your paper usage in half.

All too often, we hear and even use terms assuming others know exactly what we mean. One term used in the document industry is workflow- but what does it mean?

According to Wikipedia

A workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It is a depiction of a sequence of operations...

The flow being described often refers to a document that is being transferred from one step to another.

A workflow is a model to represent real work for further assessment, e.g., for describing a reliably repeatable sequence of operations. More abstractly, a workflow is a pattern of activity enabled by a systematic organization of resources, defined roles and mass, energy and information flows, into a work process that can be documented and learned. Workflows are designed to achieve processing intents of some sort, such as physical transformation, service provision, or information processing. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workflow ) continue reading...

When a company wants to go paperless and begins to scan the contents of their filing cabinets into a document management system many are surprised to find many files previously thought to be lost.

When it comes to document storage, filing cabinets are simple things with no brain. We’re provided a drawer and a key and the rest of the work is left up to us. There’s no advice on where to put documents, we’re not told exactly where certain documents can be found, documents aren’t automatically routed to the right people in workflow, and our key certainly can’t be taken away to stop our access to the files.

Filing cabinets have gained the reputation as the office “Bermuda Triangle” of lost documents. Over the years multiple people in the office file, misplace and not return documents to the filing cabinets. As people organize to their own standards and methods, documents are inevitably filed in the wrong places and the next time a file is needed, it can’t be found. continue reading...

An office printer is one of the most expensive pieces of office equipment to buy. Given the size of the office, it is important to be careful that you are getting the most for your money.

It is unwise to buy the cheapest model of printers available, because to buy a replacement and with maintenance costs, it may ultimately cost you more in the long run. One of the first decisions to make when purchasing a printer is whether you need one that is just for black and white documents or for color documents. This decision can ultimately affect the price. Color printers are typically higher in cost, but definitely worth it if you will be printing images. If the majority of printing in your office comes in the form of text documents and memos, a monochrome printer may be your best choice. continue reading...

If you’re in the market for a color laser printer for the first time, you are in for some surprises and a few shocks. Color laser printers have come a long way in function and reliability and are now offered by a large number of companies. Laser printers can be all-in-one machines and be as industrial-strong as any company would need them to be. They can also be more moderately priced for the smaller companies and even less expensive for home, business, or personal use.

When comparing color laser printers you need to consider many aspects in order to ensure the best purchase for your needs. Excellent refurbished printers are available at remarkable savings and many will include a warranty that will give peace of mind concerning the cost. Any color laser printer comparison needs to consider those as well. Some laser printers are capable of label making, shredding, gluing pages, collating, stapling and will easily serve the printing needs of one computer or an entire department. A color laser printer comparison needs to consider the ink the printer will use, because toner and cartridges can get very expensive. continue reading...

With so many brands and types to choose from, finding the perfect printer for your needs can be daunting.  It’s important to assess your printing needs before buying.

First, decide whether you need an inkjet or laser printer. An inkjet printer can provide decent print quality in documents and photographs, but are not usually professional grade.  Generally, laser printers are faster and more precise than inkjets.  A laser printer is a better choice if you regularly print photographs, documents that contain graphics, or if you print in high volume.

Another point to consider is whether you need a printer that is multifunctional. Many printers are now all-in ones or Multifunction Printers. They scan, fax, copy and print documents. Multifunction Printers can either be inkjet or laser and the cost of the machine reflects the number and functions the machine provides. continue reading...

Among many businesses it is typical for print costs to consume almost 3% of total revenue in a given year. For many organizations, printing costs are nearly equivalent to the amount spent on research and development each year!

Businesses need to begin looking at the high costs of uncontrolled print services. They need to address how to cut costs while continuing to grow, manage and create opportunity. Within many businesses, hardcopy costs remain uncontrolled and unchecked, regardless of industry. continue reading...

New color multifunction systems allow businesses to create color documents quickly and cost-effectively.  These systems print, copy and scan in brilliant color, equipping you with the tools to create, duplicate, and store your creations.

Make sure you’re staying ahead of the curve by investing in a color-enabled MFP.  Enjoy the same function and added benefit of professional color for about the same investment as a black-and-white system. Compared to ink jet or laser printers, a color-enabled MFP allows you to print, copy, and scan in full color at faster speeds for a fraction of the cost. Digital copiers also produce high-resolution copies with more clarity and detail than analog copiers. continue reading...

By Jamie Bsales, Associate Editor, October 9, 2009

At the Canon Integrated Solutions Showcase held last month in Las Vegas, attendees got a sneak peek at the first imageRUNNER ADVANCE models—products Canon executives characterized as the company’s most important introductions since the original imageRUNNER line debuted 10 years ago. True to the “Integrated Solutions” phrase in the name of the event, the imageRUNNER ADVANCE series is about more than improved hardware: The line brings with it a spate of new or enhanced software offerings that put the machines at the center of a company’s workflow.

More Than MEAP

As expected, all of the announced and upcoming models in the imageRUNNER ADVANCE series support MEAP, Canon’s platform for running a host of embedded applications directly from the control panel of a compatible device. Less expected was the announcement of particular SKUs, called Solution Models, that include a trio of productivity-enhancing workflow software called Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE Essentials (customers can still order base model SKUs that don’t include the software). That suite is made up of imageRUNNER ADVANCE Desktop, a PC-resident application for accessing and working with files stored on the device's hard drive from a networked desktop PC; an updated version of Canon’s Workflow Composer, which lets administrators create custom workflows and push them out to the devices as one-touch control-panel buttons; and imageRUNNER ADVANCE Tracker, a tool that lets users track device use by user or by function.

“With imageRUNNER ADVANCE, Canon is making knowledge workers more productive in the day-to-day work they have to get done,” said Dennis Amorosano, senior director, Solutions Marketing and Business Support. “People are the most important element of an organization, and these tools allow them to focus on more strategic tasks for the business, rather than on trying to get the technology to work.” continue reading...

By Jamie Bsales, Associate Editor, October 1, 2009

The first wave of MFPs in the new imageRUNNER ADVANCE series was introduced at the Canon Integrated Solutions Showcase 2009 in Las Vegas recently. The more than 1,500 dealers, customers and partners who gathered for the two-day event got to see eight of these models in action on the show floor, along with new or updated companion software and services offerings from Canon, eCopy, Adobe and others.

“This is the most important product launch for us since the introduction of the original imageRUNNER 10 years ago,” said Sam Yoshida, vice president and general manager of the Imaging Systems Group at Canon U.S.A. “The imageRUNNER ADVANCE series has been completely redesigned from the ground up.” The company is touting the new series as an integrated document platform that seamlessly blends hardware, software and services to advance today’s business environments.

New Design Inside And Out

Hiro Imamura, senior director of product marketing at Canon U.S.A., echoed that sentiment, calling the imageRUNNER ADVANCE family a “clean-sheet design” with a new look on the outside and a new architecture within. The company has rounded the edges of the chassis and used a warmer beige tone to make the new MFPs look less industrial. More importantly, the new MFPs feature larger touch screens than previous Canon devices—8.4 inches or 10.4 inches, depending on the model—and those screens are more user-friendly SVGA full-color panels. Canon also took the opportunity to redesign the touch screen’s user interface, delivering a customizable UI with larger buttons to help define and simplify specific workflows. The new panel also features a Main Menu key to easily access primary functions, plus a customizable Quick Menu key that can bring one-touch workflows and frequently used jobs or functions to the surface. continue reading...