The MFD or Multi Function Display Device is a small, handheld device used for printing, copying and displaying images. This is specifically aimed at reducing the printing cost of large volumes of paper, thereby helping to improve profitability for small businesses. MFDs are generally found in business offices, computer rooms, technical support, warehouses, shipping and transportation departments, manufacturing plants, hospitals etc. There are generally three types of devices available in the market.
The first one is the MFD printer itself. These printers are generally used for one thing only, printing. You can easily connect it to a PC with a USB cable to convert images into text. These printers are also referred to as direct output devices which have no connection to the computer and are used only for printing.
The second one is the MFD copier and is generally used by people who want to transfer data directly from their computer to copiers. Copying and scanning are also done by these printers but at a much slower speed. These are generally used by departmental personnel and other departments for official work. To operate these printers, they need to have extensive knowledge about computers.
The third type of MFD is the Portable Document Format or PDF. This is mainly used for publishing documents like brochures, manuals, newsletters etc. This is also used for printing newsletters of different companies. It is easy to use and can be stored in Compact Flash cards or digital memory cards.
There is a wide range of accessories available with this kind of printer. For example, there is software available to convert a document into PDF, and you need to use the converter software for that. You can also buy printers that come with an additional drive bay for holding a lot more paper. Some printers even have CD burners attached with them so that you can also make CD’s.
When you are looking for an MFD printer, there are several things you need to keep in mind. This is mainly because it has become quite popular these days and many manufacturers manufacture this kind of printer. Therefore, there is no need to worry about maintenance as these are easy to maintain and tend to last for a long time. You also need to ensure that it is compatible with the operating system that you are using.