If you´re tired of relying on someone else for your print-outs, be it college, university, library or any other shared resource, you may have already considered investing in your own. Printer prices are continually falling whilst the quality continues to improve, so there could be no better time to invest in your own. Even if you have your own printer then perhaps the time is right to consider an upgrade.

   • Inkjet printers (including Photo Printers)
   • Laser printers
   • Multifunction printers
   • Additional features to consider


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Inkjet printers (including Photo Printers) [Top]

Inkjet printers create images by shooting ink through nozzle jets which are configured in a moveable print head. This takes the print head on a journey back and forth across the page. As the print head finishes each trip to and fro, the paper moves forward so the print head can continue its work across the next few lines.

Pros & Cons

• Generally cheaper to buy than laser printers
• Some models offer the convenience of printing your own photo quality images
• Take up less space than laser printers
• Unfortunately cartridges may need to be changed with greater frequency, which increases running costs

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Laser printers [Top]

Laser Printers operate by employing a laser beam to create an image on a drum. The light of the laser changes the electrical charge in the drum wherever it gets hit. Then the drum is rolled onto a reservoir of toner, which is picked up by the altered portions of the drum. As a result, the toner transfers to the paper via an amalgamation of heat and pressure. This follows the same print principle as that of a photocopier.
Pros & Cons

• Generally better for high-volume printing - quicker and more cost-effective
• Produces better-quality black text than most ink jets
• As Laser printers follow a different print method they do not require constant cartridge replacement and as a result can work out cheaper in the long-run.
• Laser printers are generally more expensive to buy in comparison to InkJet printers.

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Multifunction printers [Top]

All-in-one, or multifunction printers (MFP’s) combine a printer with a scanner and/or fax. With an all-in-one printer you can scan documents and either store them in your PC or print them out immediately, so your machine works as a copier. You can also scan documents, and either send them to your PC for faxing, or fax them directly.

Pros & Cons

• Save space by having more than one function contained in one unit
• Save money compared to buying the devices separately
• If only one part breaks down, you will be without the whole unit whilst it is being repaired

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Additional features to consider [Top]

Once you have decided which of the above printers suits your needs best, there are still some further factors to take into consideration.

Resolution

Resolution refers to the number of dots per inch (dpi) that appear on the page-usually represented by the horizontal and vertical measurements eg: 600 x 300 dpi. This is crucial to determining the quality of image a printer can produce, the greater the number of dpi the greater thequality. 600 dpi is considered a perfectly adequate level for most home applications.

Speed

This is measured in pages per minute (ppm). Mono laser printing produces the fastest ppm speeds.

Duty Cycle

The duty cycle is the maximum usage level per month for a printer. You should choose a printer with a duty cycle that exceeds your current production needs to ensure a longer life for your printer.

Start-up Speed

This is the time it takes for the printer to print out the first page from the moment it is switched on.

Connection Interface

Most printers connect via USB to your PC, in some cases however it may be via a parallel printer cable. Ethernet is also used in some printers as this allows you to easily connect the printer to a network.

Card slot

Some photo printers feature a memory card slots which allow you to print directly from your digital camera´s memory card.

Footprint

The desk space taken up by a printer, often referred to as its footprint, this is definitely worth considering if you are likely to be working in a small space such as a Hall’s bedroom.

Running costs

When weighing up the cost of a new printer you should not only consider the price of the printer itself, but also look at the ongoing costs to avoid having any initial savings being eaten up in cartridge costs. It´s worthwhile checking the cost of replacement cartridges or, in the case of laser printers, how much replacement toner cartridges cost. Also consider the cost of the drum in a laser printer, which will be replaced infrequently but is nonetheless part of the total running cost.