Before you plunk down your hard earned cash on a new printer, there are a few things you need to carefully consider. How will your family be using this printer? Do you need to print in color? Do you have a shutterbug in your family that loves to print digital photos? Will you need to scan and backup important documents to your computer? After you have examined all of the possible uses only then can you begin to match the correct printer to your needs. You should also consider the cost of the consumable printer cartridges. What seems like a bargain initially may turn into your worst nightmare. You will also need to think about which technology best fits your budget.
The two most common types of printer technologies are inkjet and laser. However you will find several different variations of printers within each technology, including all-in-one, photo printers and small portable or mobile printers. This guide will offer you a little more information to help you select the right printer for the job.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are the most versatile printers. They are capable of producing crisp text documents or rich photographs. Inkjet printers work by forcing droplets of ink onto your paper. The process is often slower than a laser printer. Inkjet printers are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased for less than $100 up to $1000 depending on the print quality and features of the printer. Despite the initial low cost of the printer, you will often find the cost of replacing the ink cartridges nearly equals the initial purchase price of the machine itself.
Laser Printers
Laser printers have been around since the mid 1980's. They are extremely popular for business users because of they print quickly, have excellent output and cost very little when you calculate the cost per page printed. Laser printers work like copiers using toner and a heated roller to fuse toner onto the paper. Most laser printers print only in black and work best for documents and gray scale images. Color lasers used to be incredibly expensive for the home user but have come down in price dramatically with several models available for less than $500. These lower cost color lasers are a real alternative to color inkjet printers.
Multifunction or All-In-One Printers
All-In-One printers are a smart choice for the small business owner or even a home user because they offer so many features. Your all-in-one can print, copy, scan or even fax documents. They come in both inkjet and laser models and start at around $100 but can increase in price quickly depending on the printer technology and the included features. However, no matter the cost, multifunction printers are incredibly capable and you can save money by rolling 4 machines into one. It saves space on your desk too!
Dedicated Photo Printers
If you print a lot of pictures, you may want to purchase a printer specifically for that purpose. Most photo printers transfer color dye in a continuous tone from a ribbon onto paper, followed by a protective clear coating. The photo quality is equivalent to professional developing. There are also inkjet photo printers available. These printers can accept memory cards and other storage cards or take pictures directly from your digital camera. A snapshot printer is a small printer; it cannot take full size sheets of paper and prints to 4x6 or smaller. They usually cost at least $200 and the ink and photo paper can be expensive but they are a good investment if you print a lot of photographs.
Mobile Printers
If you need to print while on the go, there are a few mobile or portable printers available. These printers allow you to easily print in cars, client's offices or even airports. They often have optional Bluetooth and WiFi adapters. You can print to them from a variety of mobile devices including your laptop, personal digital assistant, your digital camera or even your phone. They may not be the best choice for a home user, but if you need a printing solution that takes you away from your office, these mobile printers should fit the bill.
Learn more about inkjet and toner cartridges by visiting http://www.inkcarts.com Lyn Askin is the owner if Inkcarts.com
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