Faxes | Photocopiers | Printers | Toner | Software | Visitor Management

Original Toner, Parallel Toner or Refilled Toner Cartridges

kerry@aplusnz.co.nz — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:38:24 GMT

Original Toner, Parallel Toner or Refilled Toner Cartridges

When asked the question whether one should use original toner, parallel import or refilled toner cartridges I really do not think there is a right or wrong answer.
There are many contributing factors that influence the decision and the biggest one is price. When businesses trade close to the bottom line it is a necessary to protect what meagre profits there are by cutting costs where possible.

In the case of Warranty I believe that a Company should protect the warranty period by using the OEM product. There are a couple of tell tale signs with toner mismatch that could void warranty if something goes wrong with the machine itself.

The difference between parallel import toner and refilled toner cartridges is an easier question to answer.
Again, this is down to individual preference but when you can buy a brand new cartridge (not oem) for roughly the same price as wandering off to get one refilled, you would have to ask the question ‘why did I bother’. Same product, same price and all new components should make this one a little easier to answer.
In summary, the choice of whether to use Original Toner, Parallel Toner or refills is up t the individual but warranty periods and product price should be considered.

More ...

Photocopier Copy Contracts and Costs Involved

kerry@aplusnz.co.nz — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:41:45 GMT

Photocopiers and Copy Cost Contracts

There is a trend in the industry that doesn't appear to be in the customers interest.

I am talking about the immergence of the trend to finance copy cost on your New Photocopier installation.

Would you knowingly consent to paying a tax on a tax. If not then why do firms finance Copy Block?

I have been asked several times what my views are on financing copy block. My answer is simple. In my view I believe it is not a sound business decision. However, I also believe that people who sign these contracts have no reason to complain. They should be well aware of any not so transparent costs involved.

What is 'financing copy block? It is the act of including the cost per copy, from your New Photocopier installation, in your finance package.

Now on the surface this seems clean and seemless. BUT! LOOK DEEPER!

The reason for most companies to accept a new deal on a Photocopier, be it Colour or Black and White, is their projected ongoing costs. In this case we are talking about what it costs every time someone makes a copy (cost per click).

Example:

Supply Company A quoted at 1.1 cents per A4 click

Supply Company B quoted at 1.2 cents per A4 click.

Supply Company A helped you make it clean and seemless by adding your Copy Block (projected copies per month/quarter) into your finance package so you know what is going out each month.

Supply Company B left the contract as status quo whereby you either pay your minimum monthly charge or actual charge if you do volume copies.

Now, on the surface the deal from Supply Company A looks pretty darn good BUT WAIT! You have financed your 1.1 cents per copy. All of a sudden your 1.1cents per copy is a bit dearer than you expected.

It is not rocket science and not for me to be judgemental but would you think it wise to borrow money to buy petrol for your fleet of vehicles.

For a much cleaner and fairer way on Rental Copiers or Leasing a Copier in the Wellington Region - Contact Us.

If you want to purchase a Used Photocopier from our range of quality machines with extended warranties then - Contact Us

More ...

How Does A Photocopier Work (xerography)

kerry@aplusnz.co.nz — Mon, 23 May 2011 22:52:19 GMT

How Does A Photocopier Produce An Image

Keep in mind that, since approximately the turn of the millenium, the Digital photocopier has made the original analogue copier almost obselete.

The image is no longer projected directly to the drum surface via mirrors.

Refer to the schematic as you read the steps.

1.Charging

The cylindrical drum is charged electrostatically with a high voltage from a charge wire also called a corona wire or a charge roller.

The drum surface has a photoconductive coating . A photoconductor is a semiconductor that becomes conductive when exposed to light.[2]

2.Exposure

The original document is illuminated from one end to the other by a bright exposure lamp as it travels beneath the glass.

The image is transformed into an electrostatic image (charged particles) This image is a reverse from the image on the original and is invisible to the naked eye at this stage.

The white areas of the original document reflect the light the most onto the surface of the photoconductive drum. The areas of the drum that are exposed to light become conductive and therefore discharge to ground. The area of the drum not exposed to light (those areas that correspond to black portions of the original document) remain negatively charged. The result is a latent electrical image on the surface of the drum.

3.Developing

The toner is positively charged. When it is applied to the drum to develop the image, it is attracted and sticks to the areas that are negatively charged (black areas), just as paper sticks to a toy balloon with a static charge.

4.Transfer

The resulting toner image on the surface of the drum is transferred from the drum onto a piece of paper with a higher negative charge than the drum.

The paper is then charged withan AC charge to nullify the D/c charge that is still holding the paper and image at the drum surface. (Prior to the Separation charge wire a separation tape was used at one edge of the paper to peel the paper and image away).

5.Fusing

The toner is melted and bonded to the paper by heat and pressure rollers.

This example is of a negatively charged drum and paper, and positively charged toner as is common in today's digital copiers. Some copiers, mostly older analog copiers, employ a positively charged drum and paper, and negatively charged toner.

More ...

Visitor Management System

kerry@aplusnz.co.nz — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:04:16 GMT

Brother VM100 Visitor Management System

The Visitor Management Software is designed to function exclusively with any of the Brother QL range of label printers, allowing you the flexibility to select the printer that best satisfies your requirements and budget.

But it's much more than merely visitor registration.

In combination with printing the visitor badges, this extremely versatile QL printer may also be used to produce temporary signs and banners (for seminars, special group meetings, solution launches etc). The VM100 can also print address labels (so you're able to easily mail information to the visitors prior to attending any conference or meeting).

This extremely versitile product provides numerous functions and makes your company a lot more professional in adapting to the ever changing compliance environment.

The Brother VM100Kit is easy to use and quick to install.

The software program is simple to set up and configure, and you will be up-and-running within minutes. VM100 may be left operating in the background on the receptionists Computer, available for use the moment any visitor arrives.

As all information is entered and displayed on screen, entering your site visitors details, taking their photograph (if neccessary) and printing a visitor badge usually takes just moments.

This will give your receptionist more time to spend on growing your business rather than signing in every visitor manually.

More ...

Antivirus Software and Registry Cleaners

kerry@aplusnz.co.nz — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:03:29 GMT

Faxes, Toner, Paper, Software, Printers, Photocopiers and more!

Keep your computer as well protected as you can and running like a V10

When it comes to Antivirus Software there are dozens of programmes to choose from.

For the average computer user, any free programme is a good place to start. However, if you have taken the time to check out the levels of safety provided in a free programme you will have discovered that the paid version includes some very important features that help protect you at a much higher level.

Have you also noticed that a new antivirus tool arrives on the market at regular intervals? For this software to compete it is more often than not offered as a free version until the market share rises enough to either withdraw the free version or simply make the free bare bones version only just cope with the continual threat.

I habitually used free versions for many years believing that they were good enough to protect me when one day even the version supplied complimentary by my service provider let me down in a big way.

Don't get me wrong, for I know no matter how up to date software is, it is are always susceptible to the latest threat unleashed on the market. Unfortunately it appears that the trojan that weaved its way into my machine was quite dated and that worried me.

From that time on I have used Anti-Virus Plus with no problems to date 'touch wood'.

Another type of Software that is very necessary to any computer user is a Registry Cleaner. Whenever you install and uninstall software you add and sometimes remove entries in the computers registry. The simple act of removing software using the windows uninstaller in the control panel or using the software's uninstall more often than not leaves behind redundant entries that slow down your computer. Consider the use of Registry Cleaners as the tune up on your car being done by a trustworthy mechanic. With a proven Registry Cleaner your computer can keep running at its optimum with little fuss or bother. Just a couple of clicks and you are racing 'so to speak'.

For my mechanic I both use and recommend Regcure.

It is simple to use and fast in comparison to the programmes I tried in the past.

If you are serious about the protection of your information on your computer you should invest in quality software designed specifically for that purpose.

More ...

New Photocopiers or Used Photocopiers? That is the Question!

kerry@aplusnz.co.nz — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:41:07 GMT

Whether for Business or personal use, a photocopier is a very handy piece of equipment to have at your disposal.

Peoples needs vary from small office Multi Function Centres through to high speed new machines including COLOUR!

Used photocopiers have a definite place in the market providing an affordable alternative to the financial outlay required to purchase or lease a New Machine, and that includes Photocopier Rentals

There is a growing need for business's, small or large, to cut the overall printing costs that are traditionally done on small dedicated printers. Recognizing the immense savings to be had over the course of a financial year, many astute purchasing officers are opting for a networked photocopier. Some even incorporate faxing ability in the process.

Let's face it, with the quantum leaps in technology we can now accept that the once humble photocopier has now become an extremely intelligent beast indeed. Sometimes, I think possibly too intelligent.

When it comes to Colour Copiers, their evolution has been remarkable. Full Colour Photocopiers are now so sophisticated that they have taken over many of the tasks done by the traditional printers Heidelberg.

Although the running costs are considerably higher than the standard Black and White machines, Colour machines have certainly stamped their mark on the business world.

More ...

New Toner or Parallel Brand Toner

kerry@aplusnz.co.nz — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:35:00 GMT

When it comes to Toner are we Green or Mean?

This brief expose gives a little insight into the toner industry and the purchasing habits of the consumer. There are differing views on the topic regarding the use of Oem toner versus remanufactured toner in photocopiers, printers and faxes in today's world.
With the proliferation of what is considered alternate supplier toner in the market place it is easy to assume that the decision is one of expense. After all are we not, at large, a cost conscious race? I tend to believe this to be more factual than subscribing to the ideal that the purchaser is becoming more environmentally aloof and makes the decision to use the lesser priced product in order to support recycling and indeed the planet per se.
In years gone by the top quality of supply was rather variable at best. However, with many properly setup manufacturing plants supplying the market place these days it is not so difficult to find quality products.
Producers of Oem toner would obviously like to protect their place in the industry and to date have tried many varied methods to curb the exponential use of foreign products in their machines. This raises still another point and that is the issue of the individuals rights. My thoughts - The normal warranty is usually twelve months so wait it out if you wish the security and peace of mind that a warranty provides. Beyond warranty this is no longer an issue but perhaps is the biggest reason behind the obvious built in redundancy of machines. This appears most transparent by the regular occurence of new model marketing.
At the bottom end of the marketplace the Printers, Faxes and MFC's are generally so affordable that replacement is no longer an arm and a leg financially yet the average business owner will do the obvious and attempt to get yet more time from their tired machine prior to finally accepting the obvious.
Which ever way you put it Pirate Consumable, Laser Toner, Toner Cartridges etc part of today's world.
The failure of a alternate supplied toner may have the consumer reverting back to Original manufacturer product for a period of time but the far cheaper alternate commodity is certain to lure the purchaser again.
Indeed, to be perfectly blunt, the Original manufacturer could advance their position in the market place by reducing their toner prices. Yeah right!
Currently, reputable remanufacturers go so far as to guarantee product performance of their commodity and this as well as a generously reduced price all makes for a good deal.
There are pitfalls in the industry with regards to excellence of product so asking pertinent questions of the supplier i.e. Does the company test the product before marketing? - and most important - DO YOU GUARANTEE THIS Product?
A 100% GUARANTEE on quality and yield should be the minimum normal requirement of all who purchase parallel supply copier, printer and fax consumables.
So! if we aren't buying Oem are we Conservation conscious or just astute buyers after the better deal?
In conclusion I would say, apart from the uncommon consumer and possible lack of awareness of supply or contractual arrangement, toner is purchased according to price. I am yet to be convinced that we have advanced enough as a race to extend more than lip service to the 'Green Planet' concept when it comes down to the bottom line.

More ...