Printers

Print crisp text and quality photos

When furnishing an office with a home computer, the focus can often be on the features of the computer itself. Peripherals, such the printer, often get tossed into the deal cheaply and without consideration. However, printers today offer several options to suit various needs, accommodating photographers, writers, families, businesses and more.

A laser printer is fast and ideal for printing large quantities of text without heavy graphics, though a laser printer can produce very precise, crisp line art. Even grayscale photos can be printed clearly and quickly with a black-ink laser printer. For documents with color, such as colored text, graphs and charts, a color laser printer is ideal. Though initially more expensive than inkjet printers, laser printers save on printer ink costs because each print uses less ink than an inkjet printer.

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Inkjet printers are slower and consume more ink but are better for color image printing than laser printers. However, even an ordinary inkjet printer won’t produce photograph-quality printouts. For users looking to do a lot of photo printing, an inkjet printer specialized for photo printing is the best choice.

For a small business (or even for a home printer that needs to cater to a variety of demands), an all-in-one printer is a good option. These come in both laser and inkjet varieties and perform copying, scanning and faxing functions on top of printing.

There is yet another decision to make when buying a printer: do you need a personal printer or one for a workgroup? For home office or individual use, a personal printer is sufficient. For a small business, a workgroup printer is usually necessary, and several are used within larger companies. If even personal printers are too cumbersome for your needs, portable printers weigh only 2 to 5 pounds.

Another option that not many people consider is wireless printers. Using a wireless printer allows you to reduce clutter because wireless printers don't require as many cables as conventional printers (they will still need to be plugged into a power source, but they don't need to be connected to your computer). This allows you to put your wireless printer somewhere inconspicuous (such as in a closet) and send documents to it from anywhere within wireless range (which is great if you like to sit on the couch with a laptop).

A printer is certainly not a peripheral to quickly tack on to your home or business office without significant consideration. It is important to choose the right printer for your needs and budget.

Must-Have Features

The highest resolution you can afford will yield the best quality image.
Ensure the printer can handle the type and size of paper you need to print on.
The smallest text on a printer’s text demonstration page should be crisp and the largest should be dark or black, not brownish or bluish.
Ensure that the manual that comes with the printer is easy to understand. Something always seems to go wrong with printers and you will end up using printer manuals more than you would think (and probably more than you would like).

Major Considerations

Do I want an inkjet or a laser printer?
Do I need a personal, workgroup or portable printer?
What will my consumption (ink, paper) costs be?
Would an all-in-one printer be beneficial to my home or business office?
Should I consider buying a wireless printer?

Top Manufacturers

HP
Epson
Lexmark
Canon
Brother

Common Accessories or Add-Ons

Printer ink
Printer cable (usually USB 2.0)
Printer paper
Photo paper

Price Range

Depending on the type, quality and features, the price of a printer varies. Inkjets are the cheapest; a personal inkjet printer can be found for less than $100, though they can go as high as $800 for extra features and excellent image quality. Laser printers are a bit more expensive, but have become more reasonably priced in recent years. They start at around $200 for a personal model. Color lasers have dropped below $500, and even workgroup laser printers start around the $400 mark. All-in-one printers can also be found at affordable prices, with inkjet all-in-ones available for under $100. Portable printers go for around $300 and upwards.

However, the initial price of a printer is certainly not the only cost that should be considered when deciding what type of printer you can afford. An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer can last 100 to 200 pages and ranges in cost from $12 to $60. Laser printer toner cartridges cover a much wider price range, from $10 to $300. However, these cartridges can go 2,500 to 10,000 pages without being replaced.

Summary

A printer is an integral component of any home or business office, and choosing the best one is vital to getting the results you want. From inkjet to laser or workgroup to portable, there is a printer to suit every user’s needs and budget.