How To Buy A Printer
If you're looking to buy a printer, there are just a few things you need to consider before purchasing one. This blog post will help you make the right decision when it comes to selecting the perfect printer for your needs.
There are literally hundreds of printers available on the market, with different features and at varying prices. There's no way we could possibly test, compare and rate them all! Instead, we've picked out the best printers based on certain criteria – read on to find out which printer is best for you.
REVIEWED BY:
Richard Bench - Buyer
Richard has been a freelance writer since 2007. He's written for several publications and websites, including The Next Web, ZDNet, High-Tech Bridge and Six Revisions. In his free time you'll find him trying to build websites or working on his latest personal projects. He loves to travel (and write about it) and can often be found in airports or on airplanes watching videos of monkeys at the zoo.
Things You Should Know Before Buying A Printer
The most important thing to know before you buy a printer is what you want to print. Many of the cartridges on the market are too large for all tasks, even though the printer may claim it can handle the output. For example, some printers will mark a cartridge as being able to print up to 255 pages. On average, this has been found to be between 20 and 50 pages (although some work up to 70 or more). Determine how many pages you need in advance so you don't end up disappointed when your shiny new printer does not produce enough copies of your report or flyer for your needs.
How To Buy A Printer
Check the Rated Output Capacity
If you're not sure which printer is right for you, check the rated output capacity on the box it comes in. The rated output capacity should be approximately equal to how many pages the printer can print in a single session. It is important to note however that this number will be dependant on how much toner is included in your cartridge. The more toner you use, the lower this number may be. This is why a printer's rated output capacity can vary even from one cartridge type to another.
Look For Ink Levels
Ink levels are an important consideration when purchasing a printer. A printer will take their toner cartridge out of their ink supply and replace it with a new cartridge when the tank is empty. If a cartridge has less than 50% ink left at its end, the printer will show this on the user interface. This is an important factor to consider as you may need to print high quantities of pages quickly so you don't have to wait around for your printer to change cartridges altogether.
Estimated versus Actual Pages per Minute
Pages per minute is determined by several factors, including the type of paper being used, print resolution and quality settings. Some printers list their estimated and actual speeds on their sales box or website. If they don't, you can still get a good idea of how fast the printer will print by looking at the display in the user interface.
The types of paper you use for your prints can also have an impact on speed and quality, with thicker pages requiring more time to process. Print resolutions also affect printer speed, and although most printers support print resolutions up to 2400 x 1200 dpi there is no need to check this unless you are printing very large images or high-resolution documents.
Flexible Input/Output Options
Check that the printer you buy has flexible input/output options. It is important that the printer has an option for a USB port so you can connect it to your computer easily. Many printers will have an internal memory, allowing you to store documents on the printer for printing in future. A memory card slot will allow you to print from a memory card (with varying capacities), which is useful if you do not have access to your computer. If you're purchasing a wireless printer, remember that it will still need to be connected to your network via a LAN port or Wi-Fi connection.
Look For Extra Features
Some printers come with extra features, such as duplex printing or automatic document feeders. These can be handy if you have to print a lot of letters or flyers and don't want to stand around waiting for the paper to fill. If you're looking for a printer that can do more than just print documents, check out the other features available.
Printers For Less
Printers are not cheap! Quality machines cost a bundle, but they have been designed to last a long time and produce high-quality output at affordable prices. The average cost of one of these machines is usually close to $100 in the U.S. and over £100 in the UK. However, if you're on a budget, it is possible to pick up a good quality printer for less.
When buying a cheap printer, it is important that any savings are made in the right places. Some printers may cut corners with their USB cable or charger and will not offer support for add-ons like memory cards. Although these machines may cost less than $50, you could end up spending over $100 again once you start to purchase replacement accessories!
There are many printers that cost less than $100 and still produce high-quality prints – it all depends on how much the manufacturer has had to cut costs where it matters.
What Makes A Cheap Printer Cheap?
One of the best ways to find a cheap printer is to look at the manufacturer and model number. If a printer costs less than $100 and it has a complicated name, it is likely to be an inferior product. Manufacturers will bundle print heads with their printers, so when you buy an inexpensive machine, you may find yourself replacing the print head several times in the year. This not only takes up space in your house, but also costs money.
Cheap printers are rarely compatible with printing from memory cards or USB devices such as memory sticks or flash drives. They only offer support for printing directly from your computer's internal memory or hard drive.
Conclusion
Before you purchase a new printer, make sure to compare the capabilities of your existing printers to the features of the printer you are interested in and see which would be a better choice. There are hundreds of different models available, with more being released every day, so you will have no trouble finding a cheap printer that meets your needs.
For some people, it is important to know that there are affordable printers that can deliver high-quality output at low costs. There is no reason why anyone should have to spend a fortune on their printouts just because they're trying to save money! If you want your documents printed on time, look for printers with flexible input/output options and large memory cards.
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How To Buy A Printer