How to choose an MFP (multifunctional devices)? The eternal question - which printer to choose? Using special programs

Many users of printing devices want to know the answer to the question of how to view the printer's print history. Thanks to this, you can track which file and when was printed on your device. This way you can establish some sort of print control, which can be quite useful.

Sequencing

So, in order to get the printer's print history, you need to enable a special function that is designed to log all those files that are printed on the print server, which can be both a remote and a local device. For this purpose, go to the "Printers and Fax" section after opening the computer control panel through the "Start" menu.

• Then click on "File" and open a window with server properties.
• Click the advanced options tab to check the box titled "Log print queue messages."
• To view after a while what files and when were printed using your device, open the control panel and go to the "Administration" section.
• Click in the new window on "Event Viewer", then go to the item called "System".
• Then start the search process, specifying the source of the events that interest you "Print". You can sort the resulting list.

In general, as you can see, viewing history on printers is very easy. The main thing is to initially enable the above function.

Using special programs

To solve the problem related to how to find out which documents were printed on the printer, you can download the O&K Print Watch software application absolutely free of charge.

It should be noted right away that this tool is intended not only to maintain accurate printing statistics, but also to differentiate the rights to control access to printers.

This software has a special system of reports for printing on devices, which, if necessary, can be exported in formats such as XML / HTML. To create a report for a specific object, just start the program and click on the "Report" item, and then click on the command to run the report. The final document with a list of printed files, as well as when they were printed and by which particular user, can be presented in the form of a general or detailed report. It should be noted that each default report is generated from the last thousand records. To change this value, you just need to go from the "Report" menu to the "Parameters" item and set all the necessary values.

A good solution to find out what was being done on the printer is to use a software called Print Manager Plus. Due to the fact that the program has support for printers of all major manufacturers, it can track statistics on device jobs with maximum accuracy. Moreover, it can do this not only within local networks with several printers, but also in fairly large companies with various models of printing devices.

The Pcounter software application is a complete enterprise-wide print audit solution. It allows you to track in detail and collect statistics about who is printing which file and on what device. In addition, you can use this software to keep track of the total traffic of print jobs on the network. It should also be added that Pcounter can easily integrate into existing infrastructure and scale in the future.

In addition to the described programs, with the help of which you can view the history of printing office equipment, there are many others. Installing one of these multifunctional programs will allow you to solve some other tasks, for example, to manage the print queue, control consumables, prohibit printing, etc.

One of the important technical points is the memory size of the printer, it is often overlooked, but this is acceptable in cases of normal use of the printing device. What is normal use? These are the default parameters.

For example, the device is designed for small workgroups in the office or at home with a small load of documents. Of course, such a printer has an operational margin. On it you can easily print a fairly large amount of documents and a diploma in the kit. In the case of network work and printing from different departments of the company in the queue, including photo images, such a device will no longer be able to process tasks.

You will receive a message that the RAM is full with all the ensuing consequences for the work of the service engineer - it is not always possible to restore operability after an error in the network infrastructure by simply reloading the parameters.

What will be discussed:

Out of memory - error or malfunction?

In this case, we are not talking about a malfunction, but about the print memory of the printer. Its scope can be found in the description of the model. Typically, a base volume is set, which is designed for the tasks of the model. For this reason, overloading is not recommended. At the same time, there is always the possibility of expansion.

The printer's RAM has the same interface as computers. Therefore, for expansion, it is enough to purchase an additional slot and install it on the motherboard of the printing device. Can you do it yourself, and can you do it on an already purchased device? Of course.

Lack of memory is not a malfunction, it is simply a misuse of the printing device. Usually, a basic set of technical parameters is enough to perform the tasks that are declared by the manufacturer in the description. But consumers do not always follow the recommendations for choosing a model. In this case, there is also a way out, it is enough to contact the service and install, for example, additional memory for the HP printer.

Speaking specifically about this brand, the brand produces high-speed and high-performance models that are designed for a fairly large amount of work, even in basic functionality. And you don't need to upgrade, but there are always exceptions. In this case, the correct choice of microcircuit and correct installation are required.

What signs indicate problems in RAM:

• the printer processes simple print jobs with errors;
• the device freezes and requires a reboot;
• the print queue is not processed.

It is worth making a remark. Even the best default device can fail. In this case, we are talking about logical errors in the installed slot. If during the work you often encounter the problem of processing simple tasks, and you get messages that the memory is full, we recommend testing this particular component. It is possible that the slot will need to be replaced.

Comfortable or basic RAM on printers

Modern models have well-established technical characteristics. The built-in memory also belongs to them, with which the recommended model will work without failures. Volume affects the output quality of gradients, small objects and other elements of the photo. With an excessive task, the microcircuit is full.

Laser

The basic built-in memory of the printer has the following meanings in laser and inkjet models, here are some facts:

• models of previous years have 2 MB on board, expandable up to 32 MB;
• the new HP LaserJet Ultra M134a has a 128 MB base slot (see photo);
• newer HP models feature a 144-pin 256MB DDR2 DIMM slot;
• on the HP LaserJet Pro M227fdn or HP Color LaserJet Pro M274n costs 256 MB.

Thus, modern laser models have 128-256 MB (the base amount depends on the series), obsolete from 2 MB, depending on the model. Please note that DDR is installed on new printers, SIMM is installed in old models, so it is not always possible to make a full replacement or expansion. Legacy PCI slots are simply not designed for newer chips.

Inkjet

The principle of operation of an inkjet device is somewhat different, in many respects resembling a matrix one. For image processing, instead of a built-in slot, there is a graphics coprocessor. Image processing is carried out in the cache.

For these purposes, such a concept as "virtual memory" is used, which uses intermediate data when processing the Postscript language. Computations are performed on the computer where the virtual segment is open, transmitted over a high-speed interface, and are placed in the cache queue and printed sequentially. In a simplified form, the processing is done in such a way that these models process the image in a different way. The use of computer power favorably distinguishes inkjet technology with a lower price.

Conclusion

When choosing, pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the features of operation. In this case, the characteristics are fully consistent with the task. You can buy a suitable model for your tasks with a basic set of technical capabilities. If you still make a mistake and an error is displayed, you can always open the case and install a new built-in slot.

This printer has three memory DIMM slots that you can use as follows:

Expanding printer memory. 16.32 MB and 64 MB DIMMs are available (maximum 192 MB).

Flash DIMMs, each 2 MB and 4 MB. Unlike standard printer memory, Flash DIMM memory can be used to permanently store loaded components in memory, even when the printer is turned off.

Flash memory can store fonts, macros, EWS or templates.

Other languages ​​and settings for DIMM-based printer.

Single inline contact memory modules (SIMMs) used in previous HP LaserJet printers are not compatible with this printer.

You may need to install additional memory in the printer if you frequently print complex graphics or PS documents, print using the optional duplex unit, use many downloaded fonts, print in ProRes1200 mode, or use large paper sizes.

The printer has two extended I / O slots to support the printer with the following devices:

Network Card.

A large storage device such as a hard disk.

To determine the amount of memory installed in the printer or modules installed in slots, print a configuration page.

Installing DIMMs

Static electricity can damage dual inline memory modules (DIMMs). When handling DIMMs, wear an antistatic wrist strap or occasionally touch the surface of the antistatic package and exposed metal in the printer.

If you have not yet printed a configuration page, print it to determine how much memory is already installed in the printer before installing additional memory.

1 Turn off the printer. Disconnect the power cord and all other cables. (If the duplex unit is installed, you must first detach the back and the tray.)

2 Remove the two pressure screws from the back of the printer.

3 Grasp the tabs firmly and pull the formatter board toward you. Place it on a flat, non-conductive surface.

4 Remove the DIMM from the ESD case. Hold the sides of the DIMM with your fingers and the back edge with your thumbs. Position the slots on the DIMM over the DIMM slot. (Make sure the clips on both sides of the DIMM slot are open and facing outward.)

5 Insert the DIMM straight into the slot (pushing down). Make sure the clips on both ends of the DIMM slot click into place. (The clips must be opened to remove the DIMM.) The firmware DIMM must be installed in slot 1 as shown. DIMMs can be reinstalled in any slot other than the first.

6 Place the formatter board back into the printer and tighten the two screws securely.

7 If the duplex unit was installed, reattach the tray and the back of the unit. Reconnect the interface cables and the power cable. Turn on the printer to test the installed DIMMs.

If the duplex unit is installed:

1 Slide the rear duplex unit out of the printer.

2 Remove the rear section of the module; to do this, it is necessary to lift and turn it in such a way as to release all the grips from the slots, as shown in the figure.

3 Disconnect the power cord and all other cables.

4 Disconnect the tray cable by lifting it up and out of the slot as shown in the figure.

Go to step 2.

Reverse the steps to install the tray cable and rear duplex unit. Make sure the tray cable is connected correctly and the cables are routed to the left.

Checking if the memory is installed correctly

Follow these steps to ensure that the DIMMs are installed correctly:

1 Make sure Ready appears on the printer control panel display after turning on the printer. If an error message appears, the DIMM may not be installed correctly. Check printer messages.

2 Print a new configuration page.

3 Refer to the memory section on the configuration page and compare it to the configuration page you printed before installing the DIMM. If the memory does not increase, it is possible that the DIMM is not installed correctly (repeat the installation procedure) or is defective (try installing a new DIMM).

If you have installed the language (or personalization) for the printer, see the Installed Personalizations section on the configuration page. This section should provide information about the new printer language.

Configuring memory settings

Conservation of resources

Resource Save Mode allows the printer to retain downloaded resources (persistently downloaded fonts, macros, or images) in memory when the printer language or resolution changes.

If your printer does not have an optional hard disk drive or Flash DIMM for storing downloaded resources, when you download an unusually large number of fonts, or if the printer is in timeshare mode, you may need to change the amount of memory allocated for each language.

The minimum amount of memory allocated to save resources is 400 KB for PCL and the same for PS.

To determine the amount of memory allocated for a language, follow these steps.

1 In the configuration menu, set save. resources = incl. You may need to add memory to the printer for this option to appear on the printer control panel.

2 Alternatively, from the configuration menu, select pcl, memory or ps, memory and set the parameter to the maximum value listed. This value will change depending on how much memory is installed in the printer.

3 Using your application program, download all the fonts you want to use for the selected language.

4 Print a configuration page. The amount of memory used by fonts is shown next to the language name. Round this value to the nearest 100KB. (For example, if 475KB is shown, 500KB should be reserved.)

5 In the configuration menu, set the values ​​for pcl, memory or ps, memory to the value defined in step 4.

6 Repeat step 3. (You must download all the fonts again, see below.)

When you change the resource preservation setting, all downloaded resources (such as fonts and macros) must be downloaded again unless they are stored on an optional hard drive or DIMM flash memory.

I / O buffer

To keep the computer running without waiting for a queued print job to finish, a portion of the printer's memory (I / O buffer) is used to store the jobs in progress. (If I / O buffering is off, no memory is reserved for this function.)

In most cases, it is best to let the printer automatically reserve memory for the I / O buffer. (For every megabyte of memory added to the printer, 100 KB is reserved.)

To speed up network printing, you can increase the amount of memory reserved for the I / O buffer.

Follow these steps to change the I / O buffer setting.

1 In the I / O menu, set buffer = on.

2 Also in the I / O menu, set the buffer size to the required value.

When you change the I / O buffer parameter, all

downloaded resources (such as fonts and macros) must be reloaded if they are not stored on an optional hard drive or flash DIMM.

Installation of maps and storage devices of large volumes

Turn off the printer before installing cards or mass storage devices.

Use HP Web Jetadmin to delete files from the storage device. For more information, see the printer software Help.

Choosing an MFP (multifunctional device) for the office or home. MFP parameters affecting the choice: speed of work, memory, print and scanner resolution, fax availability, etc.

MFPs or multifunctional devices are optimal for use in small offices or home workgroups. With one device that can print, fax, scan and copy, you can save a lot of space and money.

But not every MFP is suitable for home or small businesses - how to choose an MFP? Many of them, not without reason, are positioned as multifunctional printers capable of performing all 4 functions, but it is not necessary that they all perform them equally well.

If you want to buy an MFP that has a high scanning resolution, or you have separate requirements for faxing, then you need to be very careful in choosing a color MFP.

It doesn't matter if you choose an inkjet MFP for your home or a laser MFP for your office.

MFP speed

Many cheap MFPs and a large number of mid-range models have slow print or copy speeds, especially in color.

Choose the fastest MFP that suits you for the price. When you work, you will certainly feel the difference between printing 12 and 30 pages per minute of the MFP.

MFP memory capacity

The amount of memory in a multifunctional device directly affects its cost. When it comes to printing, faxing or copying documents, the lack of memory immediately makes itself felt.

Memory of 8 MB may be enough to work in a small company or home office.

Nevertheless, if you often work with large documents, or if the MFP has many users, you need to think about purchasing a MFP that has at least 16 MB of memory (although more is better).

MFP print resolution

The higher the dpi (dots per inch), the better the image quality. The standard 600x600 resolution is quite suitable for many types of printing, except for printing photographs.

Pay special attention to the scanner resolution, as it is often low on multifunction devices. Also pay attention to the qualitative difference between interpolation and optimal resolution.

MFP fax option

Check the speed of the fax / modem. Most MFPs with fax functionality have an integrated fax / modem with a transmission rate of 33 Kbps, which means your faxes travel faster over telephone lines, and you can save on this.

Do not purchase an MFP with slow faxing. Also, take a close look at the functional characteristics of the fax.

If you need a fax with the function of sending, sending at a specified time, sending on an external request, receiving to a personal box, forwarding to e-mail, SMB, FTP, make sure that the MFP you have chosen has all these options. Indeed, many MFPs do not have a full set of facsimile options.

Auto paper feed

Do not buy an MFP without an automatic paper feeder (this is sometimes the case with a number of cheap models). And to stand all day at the car, feeding a piece of paper into it is a dubious pleasure.

Buy an MFP equipped with an ADF that has a minimum capacity of 50 sheets. Here the size matters, as they say, matters.

MFP pre-purchase check

In no case should you buy a multifunctional device without first checking it on the spot.

Read the data sheet and check how the MFP behaves when it is turned on. Test each feature separately to make sure the device you choose meets all your needs.

History and basic information about printers and MFPs

If you are asked to name a peripheral for your computer, the printer will most likely come to mind first. Devices with similar functionality appeared long before monitors, that is, computers could not show anything, but could already print information. It is rather difficult to call those first devices full-fledged printers, because in the days of computers the size of a house, they hardly thought about the compactness of output devices.

Everything changed with the advent of personal computers. Following computers, printers also began to decrease in size, gradually reaching the modern level. Several technologies appeared, by which printers worked, their functionality expanded. One of the most widespread printing technologies has become, and still is, the so-called laser printing. The advantages of laser printers can be written down to the low cost of printing, although not the lowest: dot matrix printers print much cheaper, but at the same time they are very slow and noisy. Other advantages of printers based on this technology are high productivity, reliability and ease of maintenance. The high price of such devices for a long time did not allow them to be used at home, but a few years ago the situation changed, and now laser printers became available - not only monochrome, but also color.

In addition, over the past few years, a new class of devices has emerged that combine the functions of a printer, scanner, copier and even a fax machine. Such combined solutions are called multifunctional devices, or MFPs. Let's try to choose a printer or MFP that is most suitable for specific tasks.

As you know, the image is displayed on the monitor in the form of dots. The number of these dots vertically and horizontally is called the resolution and it usually looks like 1920x1080. Agree that the printer resolution, usually denoted as 1200dpi or 1200 x 1200 dpi, is difficult to correlate with the image resolution, however, despite the different spellings, they are essentially the same thing. The mysterious combination of letters "dpi" means "dots per inch" (dots per inch), that is, the number of dots that a printer can print on one inch (2.54 cm). This parameter is key, because it is by him that you can determine the quality of the finished print. The higher the resolution, the better the finished print. Sometimes the resolution of printers is indicated as 2400 x 600 dpi. This means that the horizontal resolution is different from the vertical resolution, that is, each dot printed by the printer is not square, but rectangular. High resolution will be especially useful when you need to print large amounts of text in small print or a large number of images.

If you need a printer exclusively for printing text, then any one with a resolution of 600 dpi will do, and a higher resolution will rather be a disadvantage, since printing at a higher resolution increases the toner consumption. If you plan to print graphs, small text, such as cheat sheets, then high resolution will be a very important parameter.

A printer's print resolution and, as strange as it may seem, its memory size are closely related parameters that greatly affect the performance of the printer.
In the description of printers, the amount of memory is always indicated, for example, for the Samsung SCX-3205 model it is 32 MB. The larger this parameter, the better the quality of the images the printer can print. For example, to print a 1280x1024 picture, you need 3.75 MB, and for a 2560x2048 picture, 15 MB.

The higher the quality of the images you plan to print, the more memory the printer needs. It should be borne in mind that all documents are transferred to the printer as images. Also, a large amount of memory will be useful if the printer is accessed by multiple users, for example, when connected via a local network. Everything is simple here: the more memory, the more print jobs you can send and the faster they will be completed.

A device that combines the functions of a scanner and a printer has several advantages over a scanner and a printer used separately. Firstly, this technical solution takes up less space on the table. Indeed, a scanner mounted on a printer takes up less space than two devices mounted side by side.

The second, no less important, advantage is the ability to copy offline. You do not have to turn on the computer if you need to make a copy of a document (everyone has such situations with different frequency). Autonomy means that there is no need to turn on the computer and run specialized programs. Thus, you simply place the original in the scanner, select the number of copies with the device control keys, and press “copy”.

Quite often, you need to print a document on both sides of the sheet. The easiest way is to print the sheet on one side, flip it over and print with an arc. It would seem nothing complicated. Now let's imagine that there are 124 such sheets. Agree, not a very interesting pastime.

To facilitate this procedure, printers have been developed with support for duplex printing, or, as they are often called, printers with a duplex unit. These printers automatically turn each sheet after one side is printed. An example of a device with a Duplex Unit is the Samsung SCX-4728FD MFP designed for office use.

Scanning is the reverse of printing, that is, entering an image from a sheet of paper into a computer. The more dots the scanner can recognize, the more accurate the image will appear on the screen. Thus, the resolution of the scanner affects the quality of the scanned image. As with printing, scanning resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi), and the higher the resolution, the better the finished picture.

Resolution without additional processing using software is called optical, and this is what you should pay attention to when choosing an MFP. For example, the scanner as part of the Samsung CLX-3185FN MFP has an optical resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi, that is, for every 2.54 cm vertically and horizontally, the scanner will shoot 1200 points.

What if I need to scan or copy a large number of pages?
As with double-sided printing, there are two ways to do this. One comes from the Stone Age, meaning you have to change leaf by leaf yourself. This is inconvenient, and we live in the 21st century, so this method is not for us.

A second way to make this simple but mundane task easier is the Automatic Document Feeder, or ADF. With this option, scanning a batch of sheets will be more convenient than ever. Just load a batch of sheets, click "scan" and wait for the result. Many Samsung MFPs can boast of this option, for example, the Samsung SCX-4623F.

When choosing a printer, you should pay attention to the method of connecting this device to your computer. If you have one computer and the further purchase of a computer or laptop for family members is not foreseen, in this case absolutely any printer with a USB port will do, since now it is more difficult to find a computer without this connector. If the printer will be used by several people, it is better to choose a printer with built-in WiFi or network interface.

The advantage of WiFi is the absence of wires, allowing you to install such a printer in any convenient place - the main thing is that there is a power outlet nearby. The Samsung ML-1865W is a great example of such a device - a small, elegantly designed printer that's perfect for home use, and thanks to WiFi support it can be used by any family member (author's note: WiFi router required - sold separately).

The network interface is less convenient: since wires are required to connect such devices to the network, it is better to use them in places where a local network has already been built and there are free network outlets - for example, in offices.

It is difficult to imagine how to make the printer more convenient. It would seem that there is a box: I sent a print job, it buzzed and gave a ready print. But there is no limit to perfection.

Samsung has vast experience in the production of various consumer electronics and knows how to make the device pleasant from any point of view. Let's take a look at some of the proprietary technologies that will make your printer enjoyable.

All Samsung printers are equipped with technologies that help reduce the noise during the operation of the device. Agree, the quieter the device, the less discomfort it causes - especially at home and especially at night, when every rustle is heard around.

Many Samsung printers and MFPs have a screen print button that allows you to reproduce a copy of the screen on paper. This is convenient, for example, if you need to print e-tickets or a map of the area from the corresponding Internet services.

The Samsung AnyWeb Print app makes information gathering a lot easier: while browsing the web, you can select and drag-and-drop any portions to the print panel in the browser window. AnyWeb Print will help you compose and process any information that interests you from the web, whether you need it to work on an important project or just for fun.

For system administrators, it will be very convenient that all Samsung printers work with a single Universal Print Driver, which is supported by all Samsung printers. Maybe for home use this is not so critical, but for an enterprise where equipment downtime is expensive, this functionality will be very useful.

Finally, I would like to say a few words about environmental protection. Samsung is committed to reducing the environmental impact of all of its devices. Printers and MFPs are no exception. Most modern Samsung printers are equipped with the innovative Eco-button. Pressing this button automatically reduces paper and toner consumption, minimizing operating costs and, just as important, human impact on the environment.