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Printer Buying Guide
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by: James.King
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Word Count: 543
With
the staggering amount of options and models available, buying a
printer can be a intimidating job. From simple travel printers to
larger multi-functional printers, there are printers for every
application. With the many options and specifications available in
printers, consumers can often be mislead about what they actually
need. How fast does your printer need to be, and what resolution will
work for the purposes you seek? Here is a look at some common
applications and suggestions for the printer that is best suited for
your needs.
Buying
a printer can be particularly confusing for a home user who seeks
versatile options but doesn’t want to pay a fortune. Which options
are most important? First, as a rule of thumb, laser printers excel
at printing black and white text at quick rates while inkjet printers
are better for graphic heavy applications. Not only do the printers
themselves cost less than a laser printer, their supplies are also
less expensive. Inkjet printers excel at a wide range of applications
and can print quality photos up to 8.5 x 11 inches as well as
greeting cards, banners, and business cards.
Next,
it is important to decide just how versatile you need your printer to
be. Many printers offer all-in-one fax, copy and scan options. These
can be useful, yet as with other multi-function devices, if one
function breaks, the entire unit will need to be replaced or
repaired.
With
the needs of a home user encompassing both printing digital
photography and text, it is probably best to choose a inkjet printer.
A laser printer that could adequately cover both applications would
likely be out of the budget of most pedestrian home users, whereas a
inkjet printer that could fit the bill will run between $50 and $150.
The only downside being print speed, however, if you are willing to
shell out more money, printer speeds increase.
For
a digital photographer, the choice isn’t as simple as it may seem.
Sure, the dynamic range of photographs demands the color and ink set
that an inkjet can provide, but considerations must be made as to
whether the printer will be a dedicated photo printer, or if it needs
to have multiple functions. If the solution is a dedicated printer,
then there are a number of important features to consider including
ink set, color-management tools, and supported papers. Another
solution for some digital cameras are snapshot printers which can
print directly from a supported digital camera.
If
your main concern is printing high quality text and a quick rate,
perhaps a student or writer, a laser printer is an ideal choice. The
speed and quality of laser a printer can be had for around $200 and
is the ideal complement for these specialized needs. For the frequent
traveler, a high quality, portable printer is necessary. There are an
amazing amount of inkjet printers that weigh between two and three
pounds and are easily transported by the business traveler. A
printer of this type often runs on a battery or has a car charger
that can keep it at full power.
About the Author
Brian Reed. printer - With a singular focus on shopping, Shopping.com offers shoppers easy-to-use search tools, engaging content and time saving navigation, along with millions of unbiased product and merchant reviews from the Epinions community, all in one place.
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