Choosing the most suitable printer may be a very hectic and time consuming thing since there are many printer brands competing in the market.
This PRINTER BUYING GUIDE is designed to make it easier for you to make the right decision about what you should look for before you make a purchase.
You should consider the following factors before purchasing the printer.
Determine The Printing Needs
The first things which have to be determined in the process of purchasing the printer are the precise needs. Consider the primary purpose of the printer
- Home use: If one plans to use the printer sparingly, to occasionally print letters, pictures etc, they can opt for an inkjet printer.They are a bit slow in speed but affordable in price.
- Office use: However, for occasional use and especially when it comes to B&W text documents a laser printer is normally more cost effective.
- Student: An often portable and cheap inkjet all-in-one printer that can scan and copy is rather suitable for students.
- Photo printing: The DPI or dot per inch of a photo printer should be high to achieve a better quality of the copied image.
- Printer Type: While bisphenol A and benzyl butyl phthalate were confirmed to leach from thermal paper, exposure to microwave or UV light from an LED lamp caused inkjet and laser inks to release toxic chemicals.
Printer Type: Inkjet vs. Laser
It is therefore important that one is able to distinguish between the two types of printers which are the inkjet and laser printers.
Inkjet printers
They are good for the home or student use, although for cheaper price and better photo quality it is better to check for the updates.
However, there are some negatives to ink cartridges, such as the ink cartridge being slightly expensive in the long run.
Laser printers:
They are fast, efficient, and suitable for producing a large number of documents or other types of media.
They are useful for offices and business places. They are costly initially, but their cost per page is lower since toner cartridges used in them are generally more long-lasting.
Key Features to Consider
- Print quality: DPI stands for dots per inch and the higher the DPI indicated in the image quality, the better the quality will be.
- Print speed: Expressed in PPM (pages per minute) it shows the speed at which this printer will be able to print documents.
- Paper handling: If planning to use different paper sizes, then you will need to consider which ones fit the intended capacity.
- Connectivity options: The other features which make work very convenient include wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity for the necessary sharing and most importantly the printing.
- Additional features: Most of them are multi-functional which may include scanning, copying, and faxing.
- Ink or toner cost: To establish long-term expenses use the cost per page in the calculation.
- Energy efficiency: Seek for conservation features for decreasing the utility bills and lower your impact on the environment.
- Noise level: If you are using the printer in a quiet environment, then consideration should be given to the disk noises produced.
- Warranty: It allows a homebuyer to be confident after signing on the dotted line.
Budget Considerations
Remember to only set a certain amount of money aside as the cost of a printer. The cost to obtain the printer, the recurring cost of the cartridges that contain ink or toner and any other cost such as papers among others should be considered.
Brand Reputation and Reviews
Search the Internet for the quality of the printers produced by those companies and read through their customers’ comments on the quality of the printers produced by such companies.
However, taking the above factors into consideration, and doing research, you can easily find the suitable printer for yourself or for your office.
Recommended Printer: EcoTank ET-2810
If one is in the market for an affordable multipurpose printer that also comes with an environmentally friendly feature, then the Epson EcoTank ET-2810. As much as possible, this model does not involve much interference on the part of the user, thus, suitable for those who want low maintenance devices.
Key Features:
- Ultra-low-cost printing: The EcoTank system provides for the replacement of original ink cartridges by the additional tanks which are filled with ink thus drastically decreasing the cost of the printing process.
- Compact design: It is compact in size thus can easily be placed in areas with limited space.
- Versatile functionality: The model also is an all in one and provides for printing, scanning and copying services.
- Easy to use: This particular machine employs easy to understand controls and displays for ease of use to the user.
- Environmentally friendly: The fact that it saves on waste from ink cartridges can be seen as the EcoTank has a smaller impact on the ecology.
Conclusion
The process of choosing the right printer takes into account some of the following aspects. It must be noted that based on your exact printing requirement, the different types of printer available.Of course, one should also take into consideration not only costs of the device but also costs which are incurred in the course of, for example, using toners. Thus, deciding on print quality, speed, connectivity, and extra features will guide Towards the identification of a printer that will fit your needs. Purchasing is all about research and comparisons to get what will make you happy and satisfy your needs.
FAQs
Q: Printers that can be recommended for home use?
A: Based on these, the home printer that meets your needs best is the best. The more common cases such as the need to print a document or a photo once in a while are well served by an inkjet all-in-one. However, if you have high demands for the quality of prints which can be seen with frequent printing or photo printing, then certainly a photo printer or laser printer would suit you better.
Q: When should one replace the ink cartridges?
A: Toners similarly, their replacement largely depends on the usage and the kind of toner being used. For most offices, it can be said that Inkjet printers are more prone to consumables replacements than the LaserJet printers. Newer models are developed with high-yield cartridges or the refillable ink tank to minimize the required replacement.
Q: Is it possible for me to print from my smartphone?
A: A lot of the new printers have a Wi-Fi capable feature which means that you can print through your smartphone or tablet through individual applications or tasks. It is recommended that you go for printers that possess wireless connection such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Q:What’s the difference between a toner printer and an ink printer?
A: Toner printer, also known as a laser printer, uses dry powder (toner) to create images on paper. Ink printers, on the other hand, use liquid ink. Laser printers are generally faster, produce higher quality text, and are more cost-effective for high-volume printing. Inkjet printers are better for photos and often have lower upfront costs.
Q: Difference between inkjet and laser?
A:As mentioned above, inkjet printers use liquid ink, while laser printers use toner. Inkjet printers are typically quieter, better for photos, and have lower initial costs. Laser printers are faster, produce sharper text, and are more economical for high-volume printing.
