Here are some of the commonly asked questions of churches when evaluating and selecting an office printer.

1.  What type of printer should I buy?
To determine this, it is very important for you to first analyze the following questions:

* What do you need the printer to do?
* What type of applications will you be printing and at what volumes?
* Do you need full color, spot color, or any type of finishing capabilities?
* What is your budget?

Answers to these questions will help you determine what type of printer would be your best bet. 

If your office's main use is to print documents such as letters or small-volume applications (30 to 50 pages), a business printer (either inkjet or laser) would be a good fit. 

If you want a printer with the added capabilities to copy, scan, and/or fax, a Multifunction Printer (MFP) would be recommended. MFPs are becoming more prevalent in the marketplace because they have become more economical and convenient, and they can handle multiple functions with one unit instead of having to purchase separate machines to do similar tasks.  

If you are printing high volumes of the same application (such as a church programs, newsletters, or envelopes), then you may want to consider a digital duplicator. Digital duplicators are very cost-effective printing systems that run at a much faster speed of up to 150 ppm, at up to 600 dpi resolution, and print for as little as a fraction of one cent per page.    
 
2.  What is an MFP?
An MFP is a Multifunction Printer, which consolidates the functionality of a printer, copier, scanner, and/or fax into one machine. Many business printers offered these days are MFPs, and they are becoming a popular choice for the budget-minded office that wants to consolidate assets, reduce costs, and improve workflow. 

In addition to the several standard built-in features such as scanning documents to a PDF and the ability to print from a LAN network, several optional features are also available, which include bookletmaking, hole punching, and corner stapling, making it a truly versatile and productive unit.     

3.  What if I want to print in color?
Full-color printing can be fairly expensive, so the affordable alternative to printing in color is by doing spot color with a duplicator. Items such as newsletter headers or church logos can quickly be printed on documents, adding the attention-grabbing splash of color without paying the price of full-color work.     

4.  What is a duplicator?
A duplicator is a digital printing system that uses an ink-on-paper process by digitizing an image, transferring the image into tiny holes of a master, and then pressing the ink through the master onto the printer. 

It combines the speed of an offset press with the ease of use of a copier and with the networking capabilities of a laser printer. With the latest technological advances in master material and image resolution, digital duplicator output is much higher in image quality than in the past, and the gap between copiers/printers and duplicators has narrowed. 

In addition, there are fewer moving parts in a duplicator, so maintenance overall is considerably less than a printer. Also, it runs at much faster speeds, and the cost per copy is very affordable, making it ideal for high-volume church applications.

The disadvantage to a duplicator compared to an MFP is that it does not have any in-line finishing capabilities. 

5.  What should I ask a sales consultant when considering purchasing a printer?
It is best to get advice from more than one consultant in the copier/printer industry, as well as from the digital duplicator industry, so that you can have the right information to make a fair assessment of your needs. You should also inquire about the service support you will receive from the local dealer or vendor to make sure they have the knowledge and capability to maintain the equipment with a quick response time. 

Si Nguyen is product marketing director for Duplo USA Corporation, www.duplousa.com.