3D Copiers, Printers, And Scanners... Are They The Way Of The Future?

There are a few things you can expect to be welcomed to when you walk into your office building. The chatter of other employees on the phone. The smell of coffee being made. You can definitely expect to see the ever-so-familiar line at the photocopier as well. Doesn't it all seem a bit monotonous? Wouldn't it be nice to spice things up a little bit? You might not be able to put a Star Bucks in your office, but you might be able to upgrade that old copier that you have in the office. This isn't to say that there is anything necessarily wrong with the normal copiers, but there is always room to upgrade your office technology.

When you think of your normal copier or scanner, you probably don't have 3D copiers, scanners, or printers come to mind. Emerging technology, however, suggests that you should probably start now.

3D Everything
When I say "3D", there could be a couple of different ideas that pop into your head. You might be thinking 3D glasses or even 3D graphics. Well you are on the right track... sort of. These new 3D printers, scanners, and copiers are all more in the business of copying, scanning, and printing, actual objects instead of just paper. These devices are able to scan and create on more than just the typical flat plane. Instead, they are able to access the z-axis instead of just the x-axis and y-axis. Basically they are able to scan and print objects in real space, in case I lost you in the all the math talk. The scanners will scan the objects, create a 3D-rendered image on the software, and then the 3D printer can print of the object in real space, not on a piece of paper.


Application?
If you take a second to think about it, these new devices could become huge assets in the business office. Being able to scan and print off certain supplies that you might need in the office could become a huge money saver. Is your office cater to more graphic design work? Maybe you work for an architectural company? 3D scanners could become your best friend in the office. Why is that you may think? Well the fact that these scanners can gather full imaging of whatever object that you're scanning and then save that data to later be uploaded on the software is a big deal. Instead of just starting from complete scratch, you now have something to work with and edit to your liking. You can then "print" out your images and models to get an idea of what you want when you finally make the real thing.

Is It Really The Future?
Even though these new devices sound promise, can they still take over the photocopier? Are these new products able outshine your normal Xerox machine? They just might be able to. How you may ask? Well think if these products allow for both 2D and 3D scanning, printing, and copying. You then have something that could basically be a 6-in-one machine that can be used in the office. Some of these new 3D devices are portable as well. There are 3D scanners that you can even put on your iPad's camera lens in order to capture 3D rendered imagining such as that. We have home scanners and home printers. That's all well and good but what about the possibility of having these objects scanned, the 3D image information sent over to your 3D printer wirelessly, and printing out for you? Now we are getting more towards the future.

There are still times when all you really needs is a paper document copied and printed off. That being said, many companies are starting to go paperless and just send their memos via email. College classrooms are sending syllabuses via email now as well. When we need something on paper we still have that possibility, but we may be on the verge of seeing a technological shift from regular 2D paper copying, to 3D image scanning, rendering, and printing.

Copiers: Not Just For The Office Anymore

Do you ever feel like your work day may already be piling up on top of you? I'm not just talking about the typical 9 to 5 office cubicle work day either. I'm talking about event coordinators and planners, or the people that have to deal with the people in office buildings. Some days are tougher than others. The only way to make things easier is through convenience. This is why we use the technology and devices that we use in the office or workplace setting. It's all about communicationing and sharing information with people that need to be informed. Why do you think every office has a copier machine? There's clearly a reason for that. Every time you see a stack of documents or important memos being passed out to a crowd or in the main conference room, where do you think they came from? The office copier. The beauty of it is that copiers can be used outside of the office as well.

The Convention
Whenever you go to a convention (if you have been before), there were surely many fliers and pamphlets passed out. While the pamphlets might not be photocopied by a normal copier, you'd better believe that all of the fliers you look at were printed by a copier. Most conventions have thousands and thousands of people attending. There has to be some type of scheduling for these people and they need to have something tangible to look at to ensure that they've are informed. The copier can handle that load and then some. There are more than just schedules that go into a convention. All of the documents that need to be taken care of will be handled by a simple photocopier.

Back To School The schools today are getting more and more advanced with their technology. Who knows how long it'll be until textbooks are replaced with laptops and learning programs. Even so, there is still a big use for copiers in the school. Think about your times in the school library. You more than likely needed something copied or scanned so that you could finish your school project. Imagine how many times that copier was used just in that one day. Not to mention the school's office. Any type of document that needs to be printed out for record purposes is handled by the school's copier. If a teacher needs to hand out a study guide, guess where they go. You know the answer to that already.

Business Training Events
This isn't to be confused with the conventions, but basically serve the same purpose. Training classes happen all the time for businesses. Each person attending the class needs to be kept up with what the class is going to entail and any kind of help they can receive after the class is done. Any type of memo? Photocopied. Any reading information? Photocopied. Any type of help sheet or "things to look out for" sheet? Yup! Photocopied. Yes, email can work just as well, and is usually a big part of the training classes, but if someone is handed a document, there's no way the person can say "I never received my information regarding that." That photocopier will come in handier than you think.

It's obvious that the photocopier might not seem to be the biggest concern when setting up a convention or some type of business event or even in an office or school setting. Just renting your copier will save you so much money that you can use towards other things. Think about it. Would you rather spend all your money at Kinkos, or would you rather rent your copier for whatever you would need it for and save money for any other expenses? I think we both know what answer you're going to choose.

Need To Rent A Copier? Contact Rentacomputer.com At 800-736-8772

Just A Few Things You May Need To Know Before Choose A Copier

It should come as a surprise to no one that copiers can be expensive. In basically any type of office setting, they can have one or two people waiting to copy or print something, or a line of people waiting angrily for the "paper jam" to get fixed for the 7th time that day. Maybe you think that it's time to invest in a new copier? Perhaps you have some that you have in mind already? The worst part about buying new technology, especially office technology, is that many employers will go in blind on the subject and not have any background information at the products they're looking at. This can cause a problem. You don't want to jump at the first thing you see. There are some things that you need to consider. Questions you may need to ask yourself before you decide to say, "This copier will be a good long term investment."

Let's say that you are a business that uses a copier only once in a while. Should you go for a copier that is coupled with printing and scanning features, you can usually get them for a low price. They may even come bundled with a PC. There is a downside to these however. Depending on your dependency on these types of copiers, you could be spending more money than you had anticipated. These types of copiers use inkjet cartridges. These little guys can get very, very expensive. Because of the pricey nature of these cartridges, many copiers use toner cartridges now. The refills can be around $40, but they're way less expensive in the long run.

Speaking of ink, many people think that they're going to need a full color printer. These people clearly don't get just how much ink and toner cartridges can cost. You could easily be spending three times as much as you would if you were to just stick with basic black. Color documents are always a bit more enticing to look at, but is it really worth the extra cash out of the company's budget? I didn't think so either. After all, these copiers can be expensive enough already.

Perhaps you want a copier that can double as a scanner. You're in luck. Many of the new copiers these days come with a myriad of features, and among those features is a scanning feature. Since technology has come as far as it has, many new copiers will come with network cards. This basically means that you can connect the copiers to your computer network and have then use the scanning feature to have the image linked to your office computer. Definitely a plus, and a money saver.

Since we're on the subject of money saving, why don't we talk about owning the printer outright. Again, these products can be EXPENSIVE. You would be much better off leasing or renting from a company. Obviously each has their own pros and cons, but think of all the good that could be done if renting was your option. Anytime there was some maintenance that needed to be performed on the machine, or if there was an actual malfunction happening, the company renting the device to you is responsible, not you. A fixed monthly or annual rate can be discussed, and soon your office could be working with a brand new, up to date copier!

When you deal with these types of upgrade decisions, always make sure you research the product before you jump into the deep end with them. Business is all about spending as little as you can to make as much as you can, and rentals can definitely help with that!

Are You Interested In A Copier Rental? Contact www.Rentacomputer.com At 800-736-8772

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Xerox Aims To Fix Services Problems

The operating margin of Xerox Corporation has been sliding as of late and, according to Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, reversing that backslide is the number one priority of the company. In a recent statement at the company's annual shareholders meeting, Burns said, "The focus of my management team is to buck and change that trend."

The meeting, which was held at the Norwalk, Connecticut corporate headquarters of Xerox, had Burns answering multiple questions from the shareholders on topics that ranged from Burns 2013 paycheck to how the closing of stores like Staples and Office Depot are affecting the company.

According to Burns Xerox's services-related businesses, which handles everything from insurance claim to bill payment processing to staffing call centers, is expected to be the driving force behind increasing growth at the company. In total, services account for $0.57 of every $1 that the company takes in. By 2017, that number is expected to increase to $0.66.

Unfortunately for Xerox, that services business has faltered in recent months. It did grow by 3% in 2013 but was still a few percentage points shy of Xerox's projected expectations. In addition to that, the company also decided to decrease its projections for profits in 2014. The excuse for this, according to Xerox, is said to be more-than-expected spending on new Medicaid and health insurance exchange platforms.

The weaker operating margin is also due, in part, to services according to Burns. The operating margin of Xerox, which is a common measure of profitability and operating efficiency, was 8.9% in 2013, a continual decrease from 9.5% in 2012 and 10% in 2011. To fix the problems Xerox is looking into options like acquisitions and "sharing infrastructure and talent over to services to make sure we can run services better," Burns added.

In addition to these woes, services has also seen a the management ranks go through some changes over the past couple of months. The reason for this, according to Burns, is to tackle operational problems. This meeting for Xerox came as shareholders have seen success in 2014. Xerox's stock has averaged around $11.30 per share for the past three months, which is up from the 2013 average of $9.46 and the 2012 average of $7.50. Xerox also managed to increase its quarterly dividend by 8.7% in January to 6.25 cents per share.

Does Your Business Need A Short Term Copier Rental? Contact www.Rentacomptuer.com Today At 800-736-8772

If You Own Or Work With A Digital Copier, Your Information May Be At High Risk

In the world we live in today, we have to take precaution so we don't have our PIN numbers stolen, or so we aren't duped into giving someone our banking information online. Thankfully we are all able to remain financially and physically safe for the most part. But there are ways to steal a persons identity or financial information that many are unaware of. One tiny mistake can lead to a huge disaster. You may not think so, but things like identity theft are very real. The scariest part is that it can happen from almost anywhere. It can even happen from places that you may not even expect. Do you use a copier at work? Have you ever had your ID or social security card scanned at a hospital? Perhaps at the DMV? If so, your information could be at a higher level of risk than you ever thought.

How is this possible you may ask? Here is some scary information.

Almost every digital copier has a hard drive installed that keeps a copy of every image that it's ever scanned.

It is a scary thought in itself to know that someone could take all of your information via the ATM or lost credit cards. It's even more terrifying to know that some copying machine out there could have all of your information stored on its hard drive. The unfortunate thing is that most people don't know that digital copiers contain hard drives, usually they go completely unnoticed. Some 60% of Americans today have no clue that their digital copiers have hard drives. Every computer has a hard drive where it stores its data digitally. It's the same case for copiers.

When you decide to clean up a computer and dump files, it seems almost like second nature, but that's not necessarily the case when dealing with a copier. You're more than likely not going to think about it because, to you, it's just doing its job. That being said, used copiers often go for sale without having their hard drives wiped. This is mainly due to the fact that the people using them were completely unaware. Most of these used copiers are sold for cheap, obviously in an attempt to move the products quickly. Should someone with the right know-how for identity theft get a hold of one of them, these copiers could become a literal gold mine for them. Everything from stealing your identity to accessing your bank accounts and wiping them clean could be in their plans.

These copiers can become a huge risk on your privacy and personal information. When the purchase of a used copiers is made, you may not know where it came from. It could have come from a hospital, a police prescient, or a high school library. You never know. The point is to become aware of the danger and do something about it. If you know you're going to get rid of a copier that you've been using, do yourself a favor and wipe the hard drive clean or just get a new one entirely.

Does Your Business Need A Short Term Copier Rental? Contact www.Rentacomputer.com Today At 800-736-8772

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Xerox Says Don't Say 'xerox'

Much to the consternation of the Xerox Corporation, 'xerox' still means 'to copy' or 'to photocopy'. It's even listed as a verb in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Although less used today, if someone asked you to Xerox a report you most certainly would understand what they wanted you to do. That's a bad thing.

According to the company, when people use 'xerox' as a verb there is a possibility it could be considered a 'generic word' and no longer a protected trademark. A trademark is said to become genericised when it began as a distinctive product identifier but has changed in meaning to become generic.  

 If 'xerox' becomes genericized, it may open that word up useage by competitors. 

In response, Xerox Corporation has run  campaigns in places like Editor and Publisher promoting to not use 'xerox' as a verb. This is according to Rebeca Tushnet an expert on trademark law at Georgetown University in a 2009 New York Times article titled, "The Bower of the Brand as Verb" by Noam Cohen.

Xerox Corporation has stated "you cannot 'xerox' a document, but you can copy it on a Xerox Brand copying machine".

Please hand Xerox Corporation a Kleenex. Blow your nose and go with the flow. Even if your product name is genericized, its not a bad idea to have your product name mentioned often, even your competition. 

Now I'm off to 'google' some more information on genericized tradenames.

Could 3D Scanners Make Their Way To Your Office?

Upgrades are nice. There is no denying that. Everyone loves to have the biggest, best, and newest products. When choosing to upgrade though, there are so many factors to take into account. One being price. The price tag on a particular machine can really trigger some of those "Oh my..." faces if it is through the roof. Then comes the price of consumables to help the machine function as needed. All of it adds up quickly. The next thing that should come to mind is practicality and usage. What are you going to need this machine for? What are going to be its main uses? All of these factors come into play at some point. What machine could I even be talking about, you may wonder? A copier, of course. Mind you, not just a regular copier, but one of the newer 3D copiers.

Are you unsure of what a 3D copier is? Well it works a lot like its 2D counterpart. Unlike a regular photocopier that scans a document or some piece of paper, the 3D copier is used to copy actual physical objects. The 3D printer has been out for a little bit now, and works in tandem with a 3D copier. Particularly one from MakerBot. The copier went up for sale last October, and as stated, works together with the 3D printer from MakerBot. How the copier works is through a small turntable. By placing whatever object you are trying to scan upon the turntable, the turntable will then spin. This will allow the laser scan the object properly, and then upload a 3D rendered image onto the products software. All that's left to do is print the object.

Does Your Business Need A Short Term Copier Rental? Contact www.Rentacomptuer.com Today At 800-736-8772

All in all it's a good product and one that could be practical in some situations, but not all. That, paired with a nice $1,400 price tag can really stifle any buyer at that price. This is where a review of what you and your company may need comes into play. If all you are looking for is to photocopy documents and reports, then obviously you don't need a 3D copier, a 3D printer, and its software. However, should you see yourself in something that requires a bit more artistic focus, this may not be a bad investment. Also, there in lies the other factors of using a 3D copier. You will need to companion printer and the software to make everything work properly should you need it. The positive is that in the rendering process, you can edit the scanned object to add and take away from it. The only real case where the copier could be used by itself is with some type of graphic design or digital animation. Other than that, there may be no real use for it.

3D copiers are very fun to use and even more fun to watch operate. The bottom line is though, is that it may not be the most practical thing for a typical office space. However, if you are still interested, it never hurts to rent and try before you buy!

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The Average Photocopier For Dummies

Okay, so it's your first day on the job. New office. New coworkers. New position. You're pretty excited to get to work, but you may not be as technically adept as your fellow workers. You need to make a copy of a document. You never did like copiers or printers cause you could never work them, but there is hope for you yet. They say that knowing your enemy is half the battle, but the copier doesn't have to be your enemy. Just by learning what makes them tick, and what goes on when you copy something, working the copier won't be nearly as difficult.

So what exactly is going on when you decide to hit "start" on the copy machine? Well, oddly enough, it has a lot to do with static electricity. It may seem nearly impossible for that to be the case but think about this. When you photocopy something, you are typically using toner. Well toner isn't ink. It is actually an extremely fine black powder that can be charged with static electricity. There is a drum inside of every copier that allows the toner to gain charge and stick to the drum. Now, obviously, not every picture is going to be completely black, so there has to be a way to keeps of the paper white. This is where the drums ability to use selective charge really comes in handy. The drum selectively charge certain sections of itself in order to attract toner on the specific parts that have charge. It's selective charge is all thanks to the power of light! See how the name "PHOTOcopier" works now? When the paper finally comes through, it is statically charged so the toner becomes attracted to the paper. The toner is then fused to the paper through the use of heat, since the toner particles themselves are very sensitive to heat.

For A Rental Quote On Your Next Short Term Copier Need Call
www.Rentacomputer.com At 800-736-8772

Another thing to remember; Toner is NOT ink! It can be referred to as dry ink, but again, it's not ink at all. The toner itself is actually stuck to slightly larger beads that have a positive charge inside the toner cartridge. Once the toner beads are rolled over by the drum, the particles of the toner are more attracted to the positively charged areas on the drum. This cause them to stick to the drum (again with the static electricity). Once the statically charged paper rolls on through, the particles jump to the paper, but since the toner particles still contain charge, they could still fly off the paper. In order to make sure the particles stay, the toner particles are made with plastic in them that become melted to the paper once the toner is heat. Static problem solved.

Simply by knowing whats going on inside that photocopier can greatly help when trying to figure out what is wrong with it. Not every copier is going to have problems so don't let that fool you. Maybe you aren't really looking for a full time purchase. Maybe you are just looking to rent to get the feel of a new photocopier. If you are business just starting up, you need as much info on all of the office equipment you are going to get. Also remember that renting can help make things a lot easier for you. Instead of your company having to spend money on repairs, let the rental company take care of that "toner cartridge probelm", or nasty "paper jam".

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Would It Be Better To Rent Or Buy Your Copier?

Every morning, there is always some sort of conundrum in the office. Jim is late to work again. Tammy ate the last doughnut. You forgot to file those TPS reports. The worst part of it all? The fact that your companies copier, for reasons unbeknownst to you, is refusing to work in any way, shape, or form. Now this begs the question of whether you should pull an "Office Space" and take the copier out for a good ol' fashioned beat down, or just get a new copier all together. That also leads to the next question however. Would it be best for you and your company to buy or rent your next copier. Remember that there are pros and cons for each, so research is a good idea from the start. But, here are a few things to think about when it comes time to decide on leasing vs. owning.

Owning
No matter what the case may be, you first need to decide what your needs for your company are. This will help you determine what type of copier you will need to cater to your company's specific needs. If you can see your company using the copier for quite an extended period of time, it may be better to just go ahead and buy one. This however leads to looking into the budget. Should you have enough within the budget to justify a new copier, pull the trigger on it. Just make sure that you look into the warranty for the copier. Also make yourself fully aware of what could void the warranty. In the event that you have voided your warranty, you have just pretty much bought your company a brand new and extremely heavy paperweight. Again, it all comes down to assessing what you need and how long you need it.


Renting
When you decide to rent your copier, you give yourself quite a bit more wiggle room. Think about the idea of your copier becoming obsolete. We live in a world today that has a new smartphone or laptop coming out every week. That leaves the one you just walked out of the store with yesterday, already obsolete. This is the same with copiers. These machines can depreciate in value very quickly, as their lifespans are not very long at all. By going with the lease option, you can give your company and budget less stress. Much like that of a car lease, renting your copier offers a much lower expenditure rate versus buying your copier outright. Since these machines are advancing so rapidly, and should you decide to renew your lease after the current one is up, you gain access to the top quality copiers out on the market to date.

When it comes down to it, the decisions need to be made before you choose to go with either option. What type of copier do we need? What are we going to be using it for? How ofter are we going to use it? How much ink will we be going through weekly? How long are we going to need this copier? After answering these questions, you should then be able to decide very easily which option is best for you. Just remember, renting is usually always easier and a lot less hassle to begin with. It is aslo less responsibility, normally, on your part should it break or malfunction.

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8 Reasons to Rent A Copier for Corporate Events

Renting a copier makes perfect sense in many circumstances. For example when you need a copier for a corporate event. Most company events are for a few days or a just week. Having a copier at your event is something you will need that you can't always get from the home office. 

Here are 8 other reasons to rent a copier: (Source: Rentacomputer.com)

1. If you need a big copier the logistics of getting it to the event may be worth renting a copier.
2. Buying a copier for a three day event or even a month long event generally does not make sense. 
3. A copier rental charge is generally tax deductible for most businesses. 
4. The copier rental company will install and service the copier during the event. 
5. If you need extra capacity during the event you can order additional copier capacity.
6. Networking copier to computers is a service that is generally available.
7. Copier rental fees can be charged to American Express, Visa, Master Charge, Paypal for easy transactions.
8. More options on the variety of equipment such as 11x17 format, color, collate, staple etc.

Other reasons to rent a copier include: company marketing projects, year-end financial reports, temporary offices, convention services, and special projects! 

Copier Rentals are available to rent for a day, a week, a month or even longer.

*Sources that offer all 8 reasons for copier rentals:
http://www.hire-intelligence.com.au/index.php/photocopiers - Austrailia 
http://www.copylogic.co.uk -UK
http://www.techtravelagent.com/copier-rentals.asp - United States
http://www.procarecopier.com New York, New York
http://www.rentacomputer.com/rentals/office-equipment/copiers -Worldwide