did i make a mistake?

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rb

I bought a combo printer, fax, copier yesterday. It seemed to be a terrific
deal, and I had to make a decision in a short time span.

After rolling the dice and getting it (it was $10), I discovered it uses a
roll of film for imaging on regular copier paper. I can get two rolls of
film for approx $13, and one roll is estimated to print 150 copy/fax/doc
pages. We get very few faxes, so won't be using much film.

After I made the purchase, I found other brands have other ways of imaging,
such as printer type ribbons, etc.

Did I blow it or will this be OK, long run?
 
rb said:
I bought a combo printer, fax, copier yesterday. It seemed to be a
terrific deal, and I had to make a decision in a short time span.

After rolling the dice and getting it (it was $10), I discovered it uses a
roll of film for imaging on regular copier paper. I can get two rolls of
film for approx $13, and one roll is estimated to print 150 copy/fax/doc
pages. We get very few faxes, so won't be using much film.

After I made the purchase, I found other brands have other ways of
imaging, such as printer type ribbons, etc.

Did I blow it or will this be OK, long run?
Click to expand...

No, you didn't blow it. $10 spent on a multi-function device that actually
works is a bargain as you suggested. After you've gone through using it you
can decide whether or not the output is acceptable, or it even works.
You can still explore the other multi-functions, supplies needed and
costs. At the worst consider the $10 spent as part of your education to
learning about what is the best device for your needs.
 
I like your philosophy!!! Thanks for the response.

It works fine. I just didn't know if I'd made a mistake going to the film
type printer/copier, as opposed to ribbon types, etc.

We'll be using the thing primarily as a fax, and only as a 3rd alternative
printer.
 
rb said:
I bought a combo printer, fax, copier yesterday. It seemed to be a terrific
deal, and I had to make a decision in a short time span.
.....

After I made the purchase, I found other brands have other ways of imaging,
such as printer type ribbons, etc.

Did I blow it or will this be OK, long run?
Click to expand...

It may be fine in the long run; I used to see this technology in Costco
from brands like Sharp, and immediately realized that the consumables
are wasteful and a ripoff. Of course, this thermal process is cheap to
manufacture, and therefore, cheap to sell. I guess for very occasional
use it's OK. I wonder how long that film will be for sale, too.
Nowadays, I think that inkjets have taken over for that type of service.

I can think of one possible advantage: this technology may be very good
in terms of maintenance -- you're always using a fresh consumable for
each image.

Richard
 
rb said:
I bought a combo printer, fax, copier yesterday. It seemed to be a
terrific deal, and I had to make a decision in a short time span.

After rolling the dice and getting it (it was $10), I discovered it uses a
roll of film for imaging on regular copier paper. I can get two rolls of
film for approx $13, and one roll is estimated to print 150 copy/fax/doc
pages. We get very few faxes, so won't be using much film.

After I made the purchase, I found other brands have other ways of
imaging, such as printer type ribbons, etc.

Did I blow it or will this be OK, long run?
Click to expand...

You didn't blow it, but consider that $10 a cheap education. My experience
with thermal film type units is very bad. Go buy yourself a new HP fax
machine that uses either ink jet or laser technology.
 
I like your philosophy!!! Thanks for the response.

It works fine. I just didn't know if I'd made a mistake going to the
film type printer/copier, as opposed to ribbon types, etc.

We'll be using the thing primarily as a fax, and only as a 3rd
alternative printer.
Click to expand...

AFAIK, film vs ribbon are the same, just different form factors.
For occasional use, they are stable, I guess.

The other options would be laser ind inkjet.
 
I can think of one possible advantage: this technology may be very good
in terms of maintenance -- you're always using a fresh consumable for
each image.
Click to expand...

That said, they are insecure, in that the spent foil could have images of
your received faxes and other printed material.

Something to consider.
 
I think only you can decide this, based upon the output quality you
require and if it meets those needs.

There are about 5 technologies and each have their good and bad points.

Thermal. This uses heat to develop a chemical in the paper. Older fax
machines and many point of sale registers use this method.

The advantages: it comes on a roll, is relatively cheap and requires no
other consumables. The fax can be as long or short as required since it
is on a roll.

The disadvantages: The material is thin and curls and have a slippery
surface. The image can become obscured (either get darker or fade away)
over time depending upon the storage.

Thermal transfer: This is probably what you have. In this case, the
paper uses is standard bond, and a usually pigmented toner or wax
coating on a film is heat transferred to the paper.

Advantages: It is usually relatively cheap and it uses standard paper
It is relatively fast

Disadvantages: The fax size is limited to paper size. The transfer
pigment may crack off the paper over time,. With some you cannot write
on the surface where the material is, as it is waxy. Usually fairly
fade resistant. There is leftover consumable (the mylar or plastic film
with part of the pigment that isn't used, which must be discarded).
Access to the materials may be limited to one or two companies, or
become unavailable in time. May not make a gray greyscale image.
Limited to standard paper sizes.

Inkjet: This uses black or black and colored ink cartridges which is
printed on standard bond or other paper surfaces

Advantages: usually relatively inexpensive to purchase. Somewhat
slower. Can usually double as a photo printer and copier in color.

Disadvantages: Costly to run, due to cost of consumables, potential for
head clogs. Tend to like to be exercised, to prevent printing quality
problems. Usually uses sheet paper and limited to standard sizes.

Black and white laser: Incorporates a laser printer which transfers
powered toner to standard bond paper and thermally melts it to the paper

Advantages: Quite fast, uses standard bond paper, makes reasonable image
copies, image permanent. Cost per print usually low. Cartridges usually
have good yield and remain functional for a long time

Disadvantages: Unit tends to be more costly, and have a larger footprint
and heavier. Cartridges may be costly when replacement is required. Can
be noisy.

Color Laser: Uses multiple powdered toner colors and heat to fix to
standard bond paper.

Advantages: can produce fairly permanent color images at reasonable
speed. Makes near photographic output. Fast, although slower than black
and white version.

Disadvantages: Most complex machine, cost per color print may be high.
Limited sources for toner cartridges with high cost when requiring
replacement


Art
 
Personally, I don't like the film ribbon fax machine/copiers for a few
reasons:

1. The image quality doesn't seem to be as good as laser output, as least
on the machines I've seen.
2. The ribbon feeds constantly as the paper feeds, so if you copy one
letter-sized page or receive one fax with a single dot on it, you still use
11" of film ribbon.
3. After you've used the entire ribbon, you have to somehow get rid of a
ribbon spool that has a readable image of every fax you've received and
everything you've copied. If privacy is an issue, this is a hassle.
 
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