Purchasing a printer can be a daunting and sometimes
confusing task. Below is additional information that will help in your
purchasing decisions.
Technology
The first and foremost important consideration to
consider when purchasing a printer is the technology the printer
utilizes to print. Today, ink jet and laser printers are the two most
popular printer technologies.
Ink Jet - Inkjet printers are an affordable and effective solution for home users and home businesses.
Laser - Laser printers are a recommended solution for businesses or networks that require speed and efficiency, and high quality resolution.
- Inkjet vs. laser printer.
Resolution
Resolution on a printer is measured by the amount
of dots per inch a printer is capable of printing. When looking at
purchasing a printer, it is important to look at the DPI the printer is
capable of printing.
It is also important to know
that some printer manufacturers may generate their own methods through
software for increasing their resolution.
Speed
Speed is another important consideration when
looking at computer printers. The speed of a printer is rated in PPM, or
pages per minute, and rate anywhere between 4 and 10+ PPM, depending on
several factors such as if it is Black and White or Color, text only or
full page. You should expect a faster PPM from a laser printer printing
text than an Inkjet printer.
Ink and Toner
Ink or Toner is an important factor when
purchasing a printer. Look at the below characteristics of the Ink and
Toner used with the printer.
Price - By far the
most important factor is price; if the printer becomes a frequently
used device you may find that the price of the ink can far surpass the
price of the printer. Look how much the ink will cost when it needs to
be replaced.
Availability - From where can the
ink or toner be purchased? Some printer manufacturers may require that
you purchase the ink directly from them; and if purchased from a
third-party, cause your printer warranty to become void. Verify that the
ink can be purchased from a third-party and if so, from whom.
Type
- See what ink or toner used with your printer, and for users
considering an Ink Jet printer, see if the printer accepts separate
color cartridges. Some manufacturers may include all the cartridges as
one cartridge, causing you to have to purchase all the available colors
for one color that may be out. In addition, see if the cartridges are
just ink or ink and nozzles. Cartridges with ink and nozzles will cost
more than those that have just ink.
Cost per page
Cost Per Page - The measurement of the
ongoing price of the printer after its initial purchase. It is important
to look at the cost per page and see how much you may be paying for the
amount of printing you expect to do. You can expect to pay less for a
laser printer than an ink printer when looking at Cost Per Page.
Other considerations
Paper handling - The method of how the
printer handles and distributes the paper can be an important
consideration when looking at printers. Many Ink Jet printers well feed
paper through a slot on the top of the printer, while laser printers
will use a tray method of feeding the paper to the printer. Depending
upon the amount of printing you expect to have and the paper you plan on
using, such as a paper envelope, will help make your decision when
purchasing a printer.
Options - When
purchasing a printer, look to see if the printer requires additional
add-ons that may be required; this can also factor into the overall cost
of the printer. These add-ons can include but are not limited to such
things as cables, trays, ink, software, etc
Price range
Price range - The price range can vary
depending upon the quality of the printer and brand of the printer.
Below is a price range of what to expect when purchasing a printer.
Ink Jet Printer: $100 to $400
Laser Printer: $300 to $2,000
Laser Printer: $300 to $2,000
Ready to buy
Once you have reviewed the appropriate
information and believe that you are ready to make a purchase of a
printer, ensure that the source that you plan on purchasing the printer
from is a reputable source and you have reviewed our section on what to
look out for when purchasing over the Internet.
Computer
Hope is ready to setup and help you with issues you may encounter
during the purchase or installation of your printer, regardless if you
purchase through us or another vendor.
To help
support Computer Hope you can purchase directly through our well-known
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