Guest:

Neil Murphy has over 25 years experience in the office equipment industry. As a field service engineer with KELCOM Digital Document Division, he specializes in connected product support including printers, copiers, MFPs and network scanners.

Host:

Dan Farber is vice president of editorial at CNET Networks and editor-in-chief of ZDNet. Dan has more than 20 years of experience as an editor and journalist covering technology.

Sponsored Resource

Five-point checklist for multifunction printers

What we'll cover:

• Benefits of MFPs
• Evaluate MFP functions
• What are the operating costs?
• Is a duty cycle a reliable metric?
• Five-point checklist for purchasing an MFP

How to buy a printer for your business

Don't be seduced into buying a printer simply because it comes with a low price tag. Ink or toner is likely to cost you far more over the unit's lifetime than the printer itself, and a cheap but noisy printer can unnecessarily aggravate an already stressful work environment. Features such as built-in Ethernet, duplexing for double-sided pages, and fast output performance can quickly help you recoup the expenses of a more expensive printer through added productivity.

CNET Editors' Printer Buying Guide

Choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. There are several different types of printing technology to choose from, each suited for different needs. Printers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny travel companions to workgroup workhorses; some are geared toward photographers, others are for multitaskers. And the many specifications for resolution and speed can be misleading.

How to buy networking equipment for your business

An office with multiple computers but no network is like a club with members who never speak to each other. Connecting the computers, printers, and other digital equipment in your office lets you do more with the same resources, enabling file, printer, and Internet connection sharing and keeping valuable resources at everyone's fingertips. A network can also help structure workflow in your office and automate chores such as backing up your data. But networks can be complicated to assemble and maintain, and there are a few things you should ask yourself before purchasing equipment.