Choosing a new printer can be overwhelming. With so many different printers to choose from, featuring an endless array of functionalities and technology, and ranging in price from very affordable to very expensive, it can be difficult to know where to start. With so much to consider, it’s important that you take the time to choose the right printer to meet your specific needs.
Choosing the right printer begins with understanding how you intend in using it. Will you exclusively be printing black and white documents? Perhaps you will be printing a lot of family photos? Or maybe you need a printer that can do a bit of everything? You will also need to consider if you want your new printer to serve as just a printer or if you want an all-in-one printer that also provides additional functionality such as scanning, photocopying and fax. Knowing how you are going to use your printer will help you to make the right choice when you buy your next unit.
Let’s take a look at a few things you need to consider when you’re buying your next printer to ensure you choose the right printer for your needs.
Inkjet vs Laser
One of the first things you will need to consider is whether to choose an inkjet or a laser printer. Laser printers use toner such as Fuji Xerox toner cartridges, while inkjet printers use cartridges of ink. Inkjet printers are versatile, fast and are popular in the home printing market. Laser printers, on the other hand, are more commonly used in offices as they are fast, offer a lower cost per page and provide excellent print quality at high speed.
Multifunction Printers
Multifunction printers (MFPs) are printers that provide printing functionality, as well as scanning, photocopying and fax. MFP’s are available in both laser and inkjet options and are sometimes referred to as “all in ones”. These printers are very affordable and make a great addition to any home office or small business workplace.
Connectivity
Printers offer a variety of different connectivity options. It’s important to understand how you will be using your printer so that you choose a printer that will fit seamlessly with your current home or office setup. Wireless and cloud-printing are becoming increasingly common features in printers, making printing more convenient, especially if the printer is being shared by multiple people. Having the ability to connect a USB directly to the printer can be useful in some situations while to connect to a home or office network, an Ethernet connection will be necessary. Taking the time to consider how you will interact with your printer and how your printer will integrate with your existing setup will help you to choose the right printer.
ISO-Approved Specs
Almost all printer manufacturers adhere to the standards set out and tested by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to ensure that the reported specs are monitored and in line with their strict test protocols. There are three primary specs that you need to be aware of when choosing a printer. PPM (Pages per Minute) tells you how quickly the printer will print pages. DPI (Dote Per Inch) refers to how many dots of ink the printer can cover per square inch, indicating the level of detail the printer can achieve. Finally, Duty Cycle is the number of pages the printer is capable of printing per month without incurring wear and tear. Paying attention to these numbers will help to guide you towards the best printer for your needs.
Choose A Printer That Will Continue To Meet Your Needs Moving Forward
When you are buying a new printer, it’s important to not only consider your immediate needs but your future needs too. Investing in a printer that will continue to meet your needs moving forward will ensure that you have a printing setup that you can rely on for many years to come.
