Over recent years computer printers have simultaneously plummeted in price and gained myriad exciting new features and capabilities. The only major downside to the recent proliferation of new models and types of printer available is the matter of choosing the most suitable for your circumstances. Although there are literally hundreds of different models of printer available from a great number of manufacturers, the different types of printer break down into just a few categories. Here we’ll explore these different types of printer and outline what type of usage they are best suited to.

Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers are by far the most popular form of printer for the home user and also very prevalent in offices. Recent advances and improvements in inkjet technology have not only improved the quality of prints using inkjet printers, but also meant that documents are printed faster and less ink is used and less wasted.

The huge majority of inkjet printers are capable of printing full colour and they lend themselves well to printing images. As an additional benefit, many inkjet printers also incorporate additional hardware such as a scanner or the ability to print direct from a memory card, which greatly adds to their overall usefulness. Due to the relatively high cost of ink compared to laser printers, inkjet printers are more suitable for light use as opposed to heavy duty and offer a low entry cost but a higher cost per print over the life of the printer. In summary, inkjet printers are best for those with only occasional printing needs and who are particularly likely to print high quality images rather than black and white documents.

Monochrome Laser Printers

Monochrome laser printers have historically been the printer of choice for larger offices but have waned slightly in popularity in recent years due to the gradual decline in price of colour laser printers. They are designed to handle high volumes of document printing and obviously not the best choice for photo printing as they are incapable of printing in colour. Monochrome laser printers offer the lowest price per printout and incredibly high speed, as such they are ideal for companies who need to print a large volume of documents.

Colour Laser Printers

Essentially offering the ‘best of both worlds’ when considered alongside inkjet and monochrome laser printers, colour laser printers are capable of printing in colour and at high speed. This speed and form of printing means that it is not as adept at printing high quality photographs as an inkjet printer, but more than capable of handling both text and graphics to a highly competent level. Although the cost of entry is higher than with monochrome or inkjet alternatives, over the life of the printer, the cost per page resides between the other two. If your output volume is high and likely to cover the printing of documents, graphics and photographs (which don’t have to be of impeccable quality) then a colour laser printer is likely to be the best choice.

Having decided which type of printer is best for your circumstances there is simply the task of comparing the individual models available in order to find the best priced printer to fully cater to your needs. At DGOS we offer a great selection of printers and highly competitive prices.

Don’t forget that for all of your requirements for office supplies Liverpool, office supplies Macclesfield, office supplies Oldham, office supplies Salford and office supplies Bolton DGOS offer an unbeatable local service and free next or even same day delivery.

Over the coming weeks we will outline the role and requirements of various positions within the office, starting with 'the face of the company': The Secretary.

The role of secretary is one which is absolutely central to the smooth running of an organisation, particularly an organisation of notable size. It is the responsibility of the secretary to not just ensure that telephone calls are curtly answered and appropriately handled, but also to deal with all other communication and make sure that appointments are made, kept and handled meticulously. Regardless of the industry, a secretary must present themselves as an example of the ethos, mentality and professionalism of an organisation in terms of both their correspondence and on a face to face basis. Organisation is absolutely imperative to first rate secretarial work but by no means the only factor to be taken into consideration.

A secretary should have an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of the company they work for; they should know the structure of the organisation whilst also possessing the ability to make potentially critical decisions; think on their feet and have exceptional communication skills. In the modern office environment, the key attributes of a secretary have grown substantially. A high level of competency with computers, complex telephone systems and both digital and physical filing systems are now likely to be equally as important as good interpersonal skills, initiative and time management. Whilst skills such as touch typing are to all intents and purposes obligatory in the modern business environment.

There is no limit to the tasks a secretary could be expected to undertake and different sized organisations have different needs. In many cases the secretary could be responsible for handling expenses, organising transport arrangements and even be highly involved with payroll and other areas of financial administration. One of the universal requirements however is that a secretary is able to take the initiative to make decisions quickly and to all intents and purposes: correctly.

Within a company, the secretary is the individual most likely to have the highest level of interaction with the office equipment. From the printer, to the photocopier to the filing cabinet they need to be aware of the machinations, requirements and maintenance of all forms of office equipment and highly competent in terms of its use. From the perspective of the employer: it is in their best interests to ensure that the office supplies and equipment they invest in is up to the task and capable of performing day in day out without issue. Even the most experienced and proficient secretary will struggle to keep the office running smoothly if they don’t have access to the most appropriate tools for the job.

To keep your secretary well catered for, take a look at our range of office supplies Liverpool firms, office supplies Manchester firms, and office supplies Bolton firms need to stay at the forefront of business in the North West.

DGOS are proud to announce our new league position which we are all very excited about. Please see a few words from our Managing Director below:

"Firstly I would like to thank all at Dealer Support for capping off a great sales year for DGOS by awarding us 2nd place in the IDS League. This superb accolade is testament to how hard all of the DGOS team have worked throughout 2009/10, a year that has seen every previous DGOS record broken and by some margin.

What a great year this has been for us. Firstly in April DGOS reached it’s 10th anniversary and to cap off our 10th year nicely we have shown an improvement in sales revenue of over £1million year on year, elevating DGOS’s turnover to well over £3.2m and improving every month. An area of improvement I must put down to the excellent committed team DGOS has in place. We also completed our 5th acquisition in January with the takeover of WBM in Warrington and now (June 2010) have just opened the doors to our new waterfront offices in Manchester. So all in all -exciting times for everyone involved at DGOS.

On the future, we aim to bolster DGOS’s growth model with our highly successful and consistent organic sales programme and more acquisitions as they become available. We have two in the pipeline at present which are both looking extremely positive to be part of DGOS in the next 6 months or so. So with a fair wind behind us we aim to hit the £5m mark some time in the not so distant future, then who knows we may then move in to the IDS top spot? "

When establishing a new office it is vitally important that all of the equipment essential to the smooth running of the business is in place. In order to operate efficiently, office furniture to facilitate the easy undertaking of day to day tasks needs to be sourced and fitted in the manner most befitting the office space. Desks, chairs and filing cabinets are not however the be all and end all of creating an office environment conducive to productivity and ultimately success. The work environment requires certain flourishes, touches and accessories in order to fulfil its maximum potential: the workforce will be considerably more efficient and motivated if the office is a genuinely pleasant place to be. Creating the right ambience and look in an office need only require a small level of investment in both time and capital. The following aspects and additions are worth considering when looking to improve the office environment:

Lighting

Natural light is a great boost to any office. Although efficient, fluorescent lighting can make an office unappealing unless supplemented by natural light. As such, windows are a great asset when it comes to creating a positive workspace, in those spaces which lack natural light, supplementary lamps or uplighters can make a world of difference.

Climate Control

Many purpose built offices are installed with modern air conditioning and heating systems in order to ensure that the temperature in the office falls within specific parameters so as to be a comfortable environment in which to work. In those instances where the climate control equipment is inefficient or absent it is vital that investment is made in alternatives. Portable heaters in colder climes and air conditioners are an effective means of keeping the ambient temperature at the premium level and although sometimes costly: the benefit they have on employee comfort and productivity more than justifies the expenditure.

Aesthetic Touches

Although the office is first and foremost a place of work, that does not mean it should be devoid of any object which doesn’t directly benefit the profitability of the company. Small touches such as plants , pictures and posters can make the work environment more personable and attractive which goes some way to improving the experience of spending long periods of time in the office. Although distractions from work should be avoided, artificial plants and motivational images for instance are particularly appropriate as they improve the aesthetics of the office, break up the harsh lines of desks and make the office more appealing to staff and visitors alike.

Personalisation

The majority of office workers spend between 30 and 40 hours a week at their desk, as such it becomes something of a ‘home away from home’, although it would be inappropriate for them to populate their workspace with myriad ornaments and creature comforts, it certainly a good idea to allow some personalisation. The addition to a desk of a framed picture or personal touch can go a long way to motivating employees and making their working area a little more appealing.

Cleanliness and Tidiness

A large sum can be spent on creating the ideal work environment, but all this counts for nothing if it is not adequately maintained, furniture can quickly look tatty and the office can easily become an unpleasant place to be unless cleaned and tidied regularly. Aside from the health aspects of working in a clean environment, there is also a benefit to efficiency when work is carried out in an ordered and tidy office.

At DGOS, as well as excelling in office supplies Liverpool, office supplies Salford and office supplies Manchester, we offer a range of office furniture and products to improve the office environment.

Out with the old and in with the new! It's time to give your office and store-cupboard a serious clear-out. Over the course of the year clutter accumulates: although the cleaners get rid of all the rubbish and visible mess, hidden in desk drawers and storage cupboards you're sure to find all manner of useless items, obsolete objects and bits and pieces you'd thought had been lost.

Why not start with your office supplies cupboard? A good thorough clear-out of your stationery storage will not only allow you to make space for all the paper and clutter which is spread indiscriminately around the office, but also no doubt reveal an abundance of office supplies you didn't realise you had and in doing so save you a few pounds on your next stationery and consumables order.

We'd love to receive some pictures from businesses across the UK of your freshly spruced up office space!

Office supplies Bolton, Office supplies Liverpool.