What an MFP Gives You

Printing, scanning, copying, and often fax in a single unit. Saves space and money compared to buying three separate devices.

The Downside

  • If the scanning unit breaks, the entire device goes to service and printing stops too.
  • Queues at the device: while one person copies a stack, everyone else waits.
  • More expensive and bulkier than a printer of the same print class.

When a Printer Is Enough

  • You already have a scanner, or documents arrive electronically.
  • You need a second print point near a workstation.
  • Printing is critical and downtime is unacceptable — in that case, two printers are better than one MFP.

The Optimal Setup for a Department

One high-capacity MFP as a shared print-and-scan hub, plus an inexpensive printer for those who need to print constantly. This way queues don't build up, and one device failing doesn't paralyze work.