How to Buy a Printer
Finding the Right Technology for Your Needs
Printers have come a long way in the last few years: there are a large variety of prices, specialized models, combos, different technologies, and features to choose from – so how do you go about choosing?
Many make the mistake of opting for the cheapest model they can find without researching their options, which ultimately results in a printer that doesn't fulfill your needs or that costs too much to operate.
In this article, we will identify the different types of printers and technologies available to you, their job-specific functions, as well as a glossary of the terms and features you will come across in your research.
Your Choices:
Inkjet and laser printers are the most commonly used on the market today. In general, the laser printer performs better for text based documents and simple graphics, and although the inkjet printer does a little bit of everything, it is more widely used for printing photos. You will also however come across dye sublimation printers, all-in-one devices, workgroup lasers, and photo-dedicated printers on your search for the perfect unit.
Here is a little more about each technology:
Laser Printers
Laser printers use a toner cartridge in combination with a drum which transfers data to paper.. You can choose between monotone (black and white) or color options, but colour laser printers rely on four different toner cartridges.
Laser printers are usually cost a little more upfront, but are less expensive to operate in the long run. A higher priced model usually yields better copies, and produces more copies per cartridge.
The laser printer is better suited to business-type documents and are usually the most effective choice for offices. They are fast, don't cost much to operateand still produce good quality color images for graphs etc.
Workgroup lasers are geared specifically towards offices because they have high input, good speed and can be set up in a network. They offer features like stapling, sorting and double sided printing. They are designed to handle text and simple graphics quickly and efficiently.
Pros: low operation cost (usually around 0.15$/page), and good speed.
Cons: not suited for printing pictures, toner can be messy to work with and is more expensive to buy than ink (although you will get a lot more copies out of it). Lasers are usually bulkier than inkjets.
The Final Word: if you need to print high volumes of text-based documents fast and long-run operations costs are important to you, the laser printer is your best bet.
The Inkjet Printer
Inkjet printers are very affordable - many can be purchased for under $100 these days. The inkjet printer works by spreading little drops of colored ink onto the paper, which is why the copy needs to dry a little before you can touch it.
Inkjet printers can either be standard or dedicated to photo printing. You can print photos with either, but you will achieve better image quality with a photo-dedicated model. Photo dedicated printers can be quite slow to print, so make sure you consider this factor if you are considering one as your primary printer.
Inkjet cartridges usually last for a few hundred pages and even less if you print a lot of pictures. Choosing a model with separate cartridges for each color may be a good idea in order to fully utilize unused ink should you run out of a single color at a time.
Pros: ink is cleaner to work with, the printer delivers high quality pictures, is affordable to buy, and very versatile.
Cons: price per copy is higher and printing takes longer than on a laser printer. Also, the ink on copies takes time to dry.
The final word: tends to be more popular with home users as it prints high quality photos, but also performs well with text documents. Be careful however to research the price of ink cartridges before you buy, because some can cost almost as much as the printer itself. If you print a lot of text-based documents, investing in both a laser and a photo printer might be something to.
| Ink Jet Printers (view all) |
| | | $69.99 
$129.99 at The Source |
Dye Sublimation Printer
Dye sublimation printers use a special ribbon, paper, and print head. It works by depositing the color on the paper as a gas instead of a liquid, giving a professional photo lab quality to your images.
Large dye sublimation printers are very expensive, but you can find portable or snapshot sizes of them for a decent price. A dye sublimation printer is a good option for printing photos on a larger scale, and as long as you are not relying on it for your text-based printing.
| Sublimation Printers (view all) |
| | | $49.99 at QuantumhyperX™ Computer |
Multifunction or All-In-One Printers
The multifunction or all-in-one printers are excellent options for the home user. They usually include a printer, scanner, copier, and/or a fax machine. They are available in either laser or inkjet models, depending on what your needs are. For a typical home office for example, laser might be preferable for its low operating cost.
Pros: space saving, cheaper than buying multiple office electronics.
Cons: you will have to purchase a new unit should one component stop working.
Glossary of Terms and Functions:
Resolution
Just like pixels for a digital camera, resolution refers to the amount of printed dots per square inch. The higher the resolution, the better the quality of the print.
Print Quality
You have two options to help you make your choice: go to a store that lets you print test pages or go online and check user reviews. The latter is more time consuming, but you will benefit from user experience and also get a lot more information than just their level of satisfaction with print quality.
Print Speed
Print speed or PPM (pages per minute) is an important consideration if you use your printer a lot.
Connectivity
Most printers accept a USB connection, but it is worth it to double check. More and more models that offer wireless connections, which is really useful for laptop users.
Paper Handling
Most printers will accept envelopes and standard paper sizes but not all can handle heavier stock or specialty sizes. If you do a lot of printing, check how much paper your printer's output tray accepts, or whether you have the option to upgrade to a bigger tray.
Removable Media
A lot of printers now offer SD card slots or direct connections for a digital camera. This is a useful feature if you don't to log in to a computer when you are printing photos.
Tips and Warnings
Total Cost of Ownership
When you buy a printer, the cost of each print, paper, and replacement ink or toner, should all be considered. Some replacement cartridges cost more than the printer itself and will really add to your bottom line.
Extras
Take good look at what is included with your printer. For example, some manufacturers will not include printer cable which can add an extra $10 to $30 dollars to the final cost of your machine.
Paper
One thing that a lot of review sites mention is the effect paper on print quality. Often, the manufacturer's recommended paper is the one that will give drastically better results, especially when it comes to photo printing. Make sure you consider those costs as well.
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