There are many decisions to be made before purchasing a printer and they're not made easier by the volume of printers available to choose from. One of the first decisions revolves around the differences between laser and inkjet, but now there is a further choice of standard printer or multi-purpose model.
The final decision will be made easier if the end result required is taken into consideration at the outset. It's important to know if the main use will be for reproducing images, text or a combination. A need to produce a lot of print-outs, quickly and cost-effectively, requires a different train of thought than if the top priority is quality of image and the ability to use a range of stock.
If image quality is top priority, inkjet printers are considered the best option, as they offer a photographic quality print that isn't achievable with laser. Another benefit to inkjet is that it's possible to print onto a larger range of stock than with laser.
Lasers print faster than inkjets and are better for longer runs. So if multiple copies are required they're hard to beat. Laser models are bigger, partly because they have to carry more paper, but they are more cost-effective to operate.
Recently there has been an addition to the range of lasers and inkjets on the market in the form of a multi-functional piece of equipment that is not only capable of printing but has an additional surface for making copies and scans. Multi-functional models are bigger than their standard equivalents, which makes the laser version too large for most homes and better suited to offices.
It's common to find printers at very low prices but this can be quite deceiving. The're sold cheaply because the makers are not looking to make money from the printers themselves but the consumables that are necessary to run them. It's often the case that the cheaper the printer the more expensive the inks, toners and stock are to buy. When checking out the life-expectancy of cartridges, the amount of prints per cartridge stated on the pack is usually unhelpful.
Once a decision has been made about whether the inkjet or laser is the most suitable, it's possible to look more closely at individual brands to see what is available and compare prices. All lasers are not created equal and neither are inkjets. The biggest brands aren't necessarily the best choice and each manufacturer will produce several similar models, with a variety of modifications, in an attempt to suit most users.
Someone focusing on quality of image may not be too concerned about print speed. Their interest may lean towards the sizes, different weights and textures of stock. If that's the case, they will be attracted to inkjet solutions but will still need to examine the various models more closely. Similarly, if the priority is to print out numerous documents on a regular basis then they will want to look at laser options in more detail to see which model within that category is the best fit.
Considering the computer that the printer will be connected to is important in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly at output stage. Some printers aren't compatible with Macs and some older PC operating systems. A check should be done to find out if appropriate drivers can be downloaded from the manufacturer's site should they be required.
Author Resource:
I have more reviews and information about color printers at my Web site .
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")