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Buying Guide for Printers |
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Choosing & buying a printer online can be a real daunting task. There are different kinds of printers available, each suiting different needs.
from: Printers Buying Guide
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Choosing & buying a printer online can be a real daunting task.
There are different kinds of printers available, each suiting different needs.
They are available in all shapes and sizes, some of which are intended for photographers others are for people who multitask.
Lots of specifications on resolution and speed can be confusing.
In specific, if inkjet printers are necessary for long-lasting photos then laser printers are great when creating text documents.
Look for an all-in-one printer that will produce passable print, copy, scan and fax the results. Given below are few hints for ordering the right one!
Points that I should remember while buying a printer
As stated above, several types of printers in the market makes the choice real confusing. Hence, we have categorized the users outlining the type of printer that will suit them.
Home level user
Home user needs a device that will tackle everything ranging from a newsletter to an occasional snapshot.
For them, a versatile and affordable printer like small-office or home-office colour inkjet is the best choice.
Basic requirements like printing, scanning and copying can be done with a machine featuring flatbed scanner. With it, you can print documents, scan images and photocopy documents.
Mid level user
For an entrepreneur, a multifunction printer featuring inkjet/laser with a copier, scanner and fax technology is a great choice. Such printer saves both money and space.
You can also consider a device featuring optical character recognition (OCR) that can scan documents into your computer for editing later.
For all this, an all-in-one laser printer is suggested that offers clean text outputs.
High end user
A digital photographer Inkjet printers can print photos in colour but professional photo finish requires a printer producing dynamic range of photographs.
For producing such high-quality images, an all-in-one printer can be chosen.
Printing photographic images onto high quality paper is made possible with such printers.
Look for an all-in-one inkjet printer that allows direct input of images from digital cameras using PictBridge technology and output of the same to paper, CD and DVD. Snapshot printers can print directly from compatible digital cameras.
What choices do I have?
Given below are the types of printers available in the market. Choose and order a printer based on your needs.
Personal Laser Printers
A laser printer is still popular because it features fast print, sharp output and low cost per page. Though toner cartridges of laser printer are costly, they last longer. Usually these printers are monochrome (black & white) but offer clear and sharp text reproduction.
They are best for printing text and simple graphics. Also, they are great for handling envelopes, cards, non-standard paper sizes and printing flyers, spreadsheets & brochures.
Inkjet Printers
Latest versatile inkjets can produce both crisp text and rich photo prints.
An image is printed through regulated stream of ink droplets from cartridges to a variety of paper types.
The image quality depends on the size of droplets and their application on the paper.
An inkjet printer is the right choice for an all-round use.
Multifunction printer (MFPs) or all-in-ones (AIOs)
These printers include copier, scanner and printer.
Some models also feature fax in one unit.
These features make them perfect for home/office or small business use. Multifunction printer combines either with laser printer for quick text & occasional graphics or with inkjet printers for delivering lively photos. Example of such model is a ‘flatbed scanner’.
On what basis do I evaluate a good printer?
Evaluate printers based on the specifications given below:
Resolution
It is the most common specification for evaluating a printer. Resolution refers to the maximum number of dots per inch (DPI) that can be printed both horizontally and vertically.
For example, a 600x600dpi laser printer lays down a one-inch square composed of 600 dots across by 600 dots down. Generally, only a high-resolution printer can produce more detailed text and images.
Print Speeds
It refers to the number of pages or photos printed by a printer per minute.
Connectivity
Most of the printers use USB (Universal Serial Bus) connections. Usually they have either a USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port. USB 1.1 is quick for printing. Advanced models support wireless printing, using infrared, bluetooth and Wi-Fi access points with built-in print servers.
Process & memory
Laser printers contain information on the processor and memory that is measured in megabytes (MB).
The all-in-ones need printer memory to store and process information while printing. Higher the memory, faster the device prints.
Paper Handling
Paper-handling specification on a printer includes everything like the size/thickness of paper to the standard/optional input and output tray capacity.
Usually, all inkjet and laser printers print on standard paper, accept envelopes and feature input/output-trays that hold 100 sheets (snapshot & portable printers are exceptions). Advanced features like tabloid-size printing and auto document feeders for faxing/copying are available only with higher-end models.
A careful co-relation of the points above with what you are looking for in your printer will help you make the right pick at Getprice! |
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