Home topics technology Tech Tech Multifunction Devices Guest Author August 1, 2006 Is your office starting to look like a museum for cumbersome technology ? A multifunction centre might be the answer. Helen Bradley takes a look at the new breed of all-in-one machines , from budget to super feature models. In the world of printing there are machines that just print and types that do much more. Once known as multifunction devices or MFDs , these multi-featured devices are increasingly referred to as multifunction centres (MFCs) , in recognition of their place as a central network resource for copying, printing, faxing and scanning. No longer are MFC machines seen only in small and home offices and chosen only because they’re compact and inexpensive. Nowadays, many MFCs are large robust office machines that offer a range of features to meet just about any business need. When you’re shopping for an MFC, the first step is to define what you want the machine to do. Traditionally, the MFC was an all-singing-all-dancing copier, printer, scanner and fax combined in one machine. These days, MFCs may or may not include a fax option, so it’s important to determine the components you need before you go shopping. The next step is to determine what you need in each component of the machine, as shopping for an MFC is like shopping for four devices at once. For printing, consider if you need laser or inkjet technology. An inkjet printer uses ink in cartridge or block