subject: Understanding printers before making a purchase [print this page] Some people when they go to purchase a new printer can keep it can be a very complicated business. I guess this is mainly due to the many different types that are now available. If you are going to purchase for a small business or for home there is a large variety of printers now available. It's really just a matter of trying to understand which type is perfect for you. Nowadays there are many available that are mainly intended for specific needs.
Years ago it was so much simpler because all you did was purchase a printer to print. Nowadays there are so many different options available really depends what you need it for. If you wish to print pictures from your digital camera you can purchase a photo printer which will do nothing else but simply print out your photo memories. If you are an architect you can purchase a printer which is specifically designed to print out detailed technical diagrams or if you wish to print out documentation there are ones available which can print, sort and bind everything together for you. The options are endless I suppose and with many different manufacturers offering various options is as good as consumers.
One thing you need to consider before making any type of purchase is the cost of ownership. You need to have a good understanding of how much it costs to print each sheet of paper. When you get into photographs this can be expensive and you need to make sure that you have a good knowledge of how much their paper costs and replacement ink cartridges cost before you decide to purchase a particular model. Cost of ownership is really important so you must not miss this and ensure that you purchase a printer which also offers reasonably priced printing.
Inkjet printers - we mainly see these at home and in very small offices. They offer excellent printing capabilities which can handle most jobs that are required. Primarily they are black-and-white but of course also come in color. If you wish to print out quality high-resolution photographs you can purchase a photo printer. Pricing on these can vary from entry-level to high-end pricing really depends on your needs.
Multifunction printers - these are really fantastic printers because they give other options especially designed for home office or small offices. They offer fax, copying, scanning and of course printing. They do of course have the problem if it breaks down you cannot use any of the functions which for some businesses would be a disaster. However, generally they are very liable and many people would not use these as their main printing machine if they are printing out lots of documentation.
Laser printers - these are used by heavy printing users and are generally only available in black and white. However, we are of course seeing more color options become available at reasonable prices. They have been available for a long time and color but cost of ownership is quite expensive.
Overall there are many options available just ensure that you take your time to shop around to try and get the best value for you. Don't forget how much cost of ownership is and have a really good understanding of this before making a purchase. There are many incentives out there to make sure that you purchase a printer manufacturers offer these reasonable prices check how much paper and replacement ink cartridges cost before jumping into any purchase.
