Printers come in many shapes and sizes across popular brands. Today, printers are more than just devices that can take B/W and color printouts. You can scan, copy, and even fax documents with some of the high-end variants of printers. Laser devices are designed to churn out quality text documents with affordable ink cartridges, while inkjet printers can print high-quality images on photo paper for your picture album.
The increasing number of features available at an affordable price make the task of choosing a printer difficult for individuals and small businesses alike. There are a few pointers to help you find a printing device that serves your purpose:
- The need for a printer
Do you want a printer for your office or simply want one for your home? Assess the need for a printer to swiftly narrow down your choices between inkjet and laser printers. Inkjets are costly and need frequent replacing of the cartridge. Laser-enabled devices, on the other hand, can print in bulk with low-cost cartridges, making them a budget-friendly option. Quality is the main difference in both variants, with inkjets emerging as the clear winner. - Print resolution
As you know, an image is made up of millions of pixels combined together; the higher the number of pixels, the better will be the image quality. These pixels are converted into dots per inch to duplicate the digital image on paper. It defines and confines the resolution of the printer, with devices offering 600 dpi, 1200 dpi, and more, depending on the type of output. - Demo printout
Most stores allow you to take a demo printout for both black and white and color images before you purchase a printer. It is always a good idea to assess the quality of the output before you go ahead and invest $500 odd dollars in a high-end device. - Quality of graphics
The quality of a printout is defined by the total number of dots per inch, and a rich image will require a maximum dpi resolution enabled device. Inkjet and photo printers offer a better resolution in comparison to laser printers when it comes to graphics. You can ask the vendor to provide samples of graphics for a particular model or brand. Check the quality of geometric shapes and shading on the test printout, and assess the quality of color transition from dark colors to light colors. - Costs to consider
Ink, paper, and periodic maintenance costs must also be considered before you purchase a printer. An average $20 ink cartridge can last up to 800 pages. Alternatively, color cartridges used for photo printing last no more than a few hundred pages. The type of printout and the quality of the output will determine your average spending on ink cartridges. The quality of the paper will also affect the cost of using and maintaining a high-end printer. You can get a bundle of 500 regular printing sheets for less than $10 on popular websites like office depot, while 50 sheets of premium glossy photo printing paper can cost twice as much. High-end printers also require regular maintenance and cleaning to extend their shelf life.
