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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