Glossary Printers--all-in-one

 

Automatic document feeder
Lets you automatically load multiple-page documents into an all-in-one printer for scanning or copying.

Bluetooth
Wireless connection for printing from similar equipped cell phones.

Borderless photo sizes
The paper sizes on which a printer can make borderless photos.

Borderless photos
This feature lets you print photos that go edge-to-edge without a white border.

Brand name
The commercial make of the printer, not necessarily its manufacturer.

Built-in fax
For an all-in-one printer, a built-in fax modem that lets you fax what you've scanned without the need for assistance from the computer's own communication hardware.

Can run on battery power
Indicates whether a snapshot printer can run without the need for AC power. The necessary battery may or may not be included with the printer.

Color
This tells you whether the printer can print in color. Inkjet and dye-sub printers do.

Compatible operating system
An operating system is the underlying program that manages a computer's applications. Most computers use a version of the Windows or Macintosh operating system. The type of computer a printer can serve also depends on its interfaces, or ports. All printers have a universal serial bus (USB) port, which makes them compatible with newer Windows or Macintosh computers. Most have USB 2, a higher-speed port found on the latest computers. A few have an IEEE 1284-compliant parallel port, which lets them work with older Windows machines. (IEEE 1284 refers to the timing specifications of the electronics and the design properties of the cable used.) All the printers tested lack a serial port, which means they won't work with older Macs.

Depth
Measured from front to back in inches, the depth of the printer when it is open and ready to print with paper loaded.

Depth (in.)
Overall depth in inches.

Dual-sided printing
This capability is also known as double-sided or two-sided printing. Some models can print on both sides of a page automatically, typically more slowly than when printing on one side of a page. With most others, you can print the odd-numbered pages first, then manually flip the document over to print the even-numbered pages.

Envelope input
This can be an input tray or slot that holds a small stack of envelopes, though it doesn't have to be dedicated to envelopes. It can also be a manual, single-feed envelope slot.

Envelope-input details
This can be an input tray or slot that holds a small stack of envelopes, though it doesn't have to be dedicated to envelopes. It can also be a manual, single-feed envelope slot.

Flatbed design for scanning and copying
Most all-in-one printers have a glass scanning bed with a lid you can fully raise in order to scan books and other thick media as well as flat originals. Items scanned can also be faxed.

Height
Measured from top to bottom in inches, the height of the printer when it is open and ready to print with paper loaded.

Height (in.)
Overall height in inches.

Individual color tanks
Some inkjet printers use a separate tank for each color. Others have tri-color cartridges with three colors in one. Individual tanks let you replace only the color that runs out rather than tossing a tri-color cartridge that may have some ink left.

LCD viewer
Printer has a built-in LCD screen for viewing and editing images from a memory card. The screen is small, usually only 1 to 3.5 inches, and editing capability is very limited.

Memory-card reader
Indicates whether the printer has a built-in memory-card reader. If so, this feature lets you print image files from a digital camera's memory card without using a computer. You can also transfer the files to a computer.

Network-ready
Some printers can be used in a local-area network (LAN), a link of computers within a building; a home network is one example. You may have to follow special instructions to install drivers on each computer in the network.

Networking
The ability to connect to a home network for printing from a computer either via an Ethernet or a WiFi connection. Ethernet is the common wired network and WiFi is the wireless format commonly found in laptop computers.

Parallel port
Computers with Windows 95 and older Windows versions have an IEEE 1284-compliant parallel connection. They cannot be used with a printer that is USB only. Check which connections your computer permits before purchasing a printer.

Photo-paper capacity (sheets)
For a snapshot printer, the number of sheets of pre-cut (usually 4x6) photo paper the printer can hold in its input tray.

PictBridge
This feature allows direct printing (without the use of a computer) from any brand of digital camera to any brand of printer.

Platform
Which operating system(s) will support a given printer. Most printers can work with both Windows and the Macintosh, although models differ on which versions they require.

Price
An approximate retail price.

Printing method
Indicates which technology a printer uses to create an image onto paper or other media. Most printers use inkjet technology, though many snapshot printers use dye-sublimation. Printers intended primarily for text use laser technology.

Prints from camera
This feature lets the printer receive images directly from a digital camera. This can be accomplished either with a built-in memory-card reader, over a provided cable, or via wireless technology.

Rechargeable battery included
For a snapshot printer that can run on a battery, indicates whether or not the battery comes bundled with the printer.

Series
Companies put printers with similar features into a series. The series name often indicates a characteristic that a manufacturer wants to emphasize, such as the ability to print photos.

Standard-sheet capacity
How many sheets of standard-thickness (20-lb.) paper can be stored in the printer's input tray. For 4x6 photo printers, this refers to the number of 4x6-inch sheets of photo paper the input tray can accommodate.

Swap black for photo ink
The photo ink for some printers comes in an extra cartridge. To use these photo inks, you must remove the black-ink cartridge and replace it with the photo-ink cartridge. To go back to printing text or graphics, you must do the reverse. This can get tedious. Models that hold all the inks simultaneously minimize the hassle.

Text speed
The speed at which images are printed is measured in pages per minute (ppm). The maximum black-and-white print speed claimed by manufacturers varies widely. With inkjets, the actual black-and-white print speed, determined by coverage, print mode, system configuration, application program, and complexity of what is being printed, is typically 3 to 10 ppm.

USB
Typically a universal serial bus (USB) port is found on Windows 98 and newer computers and most Macintosh computers. Check which connections your computer permits before purchasing a printer.

USB2
Most Windows and Macintosh computers purchased since the Fall of 2002 have universal serial bus 2.0 ports (USB2). They can be used with printers that have either USB2 or USB connections. Check which connections your computer permits before purchasing a printer.

Water-resistant photos
When you're printing on glossy photo paper, water-resistant ink will not run or smear if it gets wet.

Width
Measured in inches, the width of the printer when it is open and ready to print with paper loaded.

Width (in.)
Overall width in inches.