May 1, 2009

Our discussion this month is going to focus on printers and what to look for if you are contemplating purchasing a new printer.

There are so many printers out there, so how do you decide which one to purchase?  That's a good question, and you will find that the answer depends on who you ask.

First, you should consider what you want to print and what quality you are looking for.  Inkjet printers are supposedly better for printing photos.  The drawback to inkjet printers is that the ink is rather expensive.  Another aspect is how much of the ink in the cartridge the printer will actually use.  If you read reviews and articles in the computer magazines, you will find that no printer will use all the ink, and in fact, some will barely use over 50% if the ink before it tells you to change the cartridge.  Another drawback to inkjet printers is that usually if the page gets wet at all, the ink may run.

LaserJet printers have the best text quality and the color laserjets do an impressive job printing pictures also.  I personally feel that the price per page is lower with a laserjet and considering the quality, it is a good choice.

Next choice is do you just want a regular printer (if there is such a thing), a photo printer, or an all-in-one.  Choose a printer which will meet all your needs.  A photo printer is not the only printer which will print pictures.  Most photo printers today have slots for camera memory cards and are able to print directly from the cards, rather than printing from a graphics program from the computer.  Also remember, printers are like stereo systems, etc., the more stuff you cram into one box, the greater chance that one of those items will quit working before the others.  This can result in the printer not working, yet the fax, scanner, etc., still work, so now you have to either get another all-in-one or purchase a separate replacement printer.

Of course, price is usually the first consideration, so narrow down the type and features by what you can afford.

Since there are so many different manufacturers with a myriad of models available, spend a little time reading reviews and go to the computer store and compare the different printers.  Many times the reviews will touch on the subject of real world cartridge utilization and cost per page information.

I have found that if you go to a store and have them do some test prints, you will find that the most expensive printer doesn't necessarily produce prints of sufficient quality to justify the increase in price.  Also you may find that even though the reviews you've checked out don't necessarily relate to what you see with your own eyes.

Many times today, you will find the same to be true with printers that holds true with computer systems, you don't have to spend a fortune to purchase an item that will do what your situation requires.