Printer Usage

Some printers are good for general printing, while others are better at specialized tasks or combine several functions into one machine.

o Photo: If you take lots of pictures, consider getting a photo printer.  Photo printers can be in the form of photo inkjets -- which can print both photos and text; snapshot photo printers -- for outputting small 4x6-inch prints; or professional photo printers -- for large, tabloid-size photos and often including network connections to enable printer sharing.  Most consumer and professional photo printers use inkjet technology, while most snapshot photo printers that print 4x6-inch prints rely on dye-sublimation technology.  Regardless of the type or technology that is used, the most important thing to look for in a photo printer is photo realistic quality.  Everything else is secondary.

o General Purpose: As the name implies, general purpose printers can be used for printing almost anything, including text and photos.  Choose a general printer with a laser format if you print more text than photos; and choose an inkjet format if you print more photos than text.

o Multi-function: Multi-function printers (MFPs) combine in one device several functions such as printing, scanning, faxing, and copying. MFPs cost less than buying separate stand-alone devices and cut down on the hassle of setting up individual machines.  If you are strapped for budget or space, consider these all-in-one devices.  Take note, however, that a malfunction with one component takes down the whole device, and individual components may not be upgradeable.  MFPs are available with either laser printers to emphasize speedy text printing and the occasional graphics output; or they are available with inkjet printers for vibrant photo printing.

Environment and Applications

When deciding on a printer, think about where and how you plan to use it.  The home user will have different printing needs from that of the office worker, photographer, or traveler.

o General/Basic home use: Versatile, affordable printers are the best choices here, and inkjets usually satisfy the printing needs of most home users looking to output photos from their digital camera or for other light printing needs.  Ink cartridges can be expensive, so look for inkjets with separate cartridges for each color.  This way, you need not throw out entire cartridges -- simply because one color has been used up ahead of the others -- but replace only the ones that run out.

o Home office: An MFP may be a great device to have in your home office, especially if it comes with an automatic document feeder that can process multi page documents unattended.  Extra onboard memory increases efficiency and allows for processing of larger graphics and documents with ease.  If scanning and photocopying are important to you, get an MFP with a higher resolution.

o Photography: Photo printers are the obvious choice if printing photos is your main thing.  Choose either the smaller, snapshot photo printer that produces 4x6-inch prints; or choose larger-sized, professional photo printers that are capable of delivering tabloid-size 11x17-inch prints -- even up to full-bleed 13x19-inch prints that include a border to allow room for registration marks.

o Text printing: If printing large amounts of text is what you'll be doing most, monochrome standard laser printers are your best bet -- as they can turn out page after page of crisp text fairly rapidly.  These printers are ideal for printing black-and-white text and simple graphics, so you may need to get a separate inkjet or photo printer in order to print color photos - unless you wish to invest in the more expensive color lasers that can print both black-and-white and color documents.

o Small network: A workgroup laser printer can be what you need if your home office or small office is built around a network.  Workgroup lasers pack faster print speeds and have more memory to handle multiple print jobs.  They also offer more advanced handling capabilities such as larger trays, and may offer duplex (double-sided) printing, sorting, and stapling.  More expensive than standard laser printers, the majority of workgroup lasers are monochrome -- designed for printing text and simple graphics.

o Traveler: For the businessperson on the go and looking to print, portable printers provide the solution with their compact size (small enough to fit into a briefcase), light weight (less than 5 lbs.), and handy power (operates on batteries or with a car charger).  Newer models can print wirelessly -- making it a non-issue if you forget your USB cable at home.  Some portables offer great extras such as a sheet feeder for automatic page feeding, are able to handle transparencies and envelopes, and even support an optional scanner cartridge that replaces the ink cartridge and turns the printer into a scanner. Portable printers are more expensive and print more slowly than standard printers, but convenience is what you're paying for.

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