Choosing a printer does not have to be such a hard task. Your choice basically comes down to lasers or ink jets. HP, Epson and Canon are popular brands which readily come to mind when you think of anything having to do with printers.If you have clearly in mind the purpose for which you will use it, this will help you to zoom in on a specific set of printers. After that how much you are willing to spend on your purchase is the other major deciding factor. First let’s look at the differences between laser and ink jet printers.
Laser Printers
These printers are typically for high volume printing especially in office settings. They are not so well suited for the home or small office, because they tend to be on the expensive side and are also quite bulky. While they are able to print photos, they churn out black and white documents at impressive speeds and are very cost effective where bulk printing is concerned. They use powder toner cartridges instead of ink cartridges which produce smudge proof prints. The black and white toner cartridges start off a little pricey and the colour cartridges more so. If you are looking for several features in a laser printer, they also come in multi-functional units, offering copying, fax and scanning capabilities.
Ink Jet Printers
Ink jet printers are well known for the superior colour and photo print quality they produce. They operate by spraying jets of ink onto whichever paper is loaded into them and deposit final vibrant colours. They take a little time to dry and so are not smudge proof immediately after printing as with laser prints. The ink cartridges, whether black and white or colour are more affordable than laser toner cartridges to begin with.
While the standard cartridges may not give as many prints as toner cartridges, some higher capacity ink cartridges are now being produced which even triple the normal output of standard ink cartridges. If you do not have a high print demand, these printers are ideal for use in the home, for maybe a college student or even a small home office setting. They are generally a lot less costly to begin with than laser printers and come in with three or four functionalities, based on your needs.
With these printers you are sure to find something to suit your budget. An excellent choice of a high quality and affordable ink jet printer is the Canon PIXMA MG5650 All in one.
If you are looking for more specialized printers, then a photo printer or a3D printer may be what you are in the market for.
Photo Printers
These printers have been specially designed to produce high quality photo prints and have additional features to facilitate the printing process. They allow you to eliminate the need for using a photo print service at a cost which is comparable and offer the convenience of printing on demand. You can print directly from your camera or photo device or use an external memory card to print from. Many of them allow you to perform some editing functions right there on the printer before you finalize your job.
3D Printers
Depending on the industry you are in, you may need to have the capability to produce three dimensional models or actual products. This is where three dimensional printers come in. They make use of resins, powders and even plastic to produce the final three dimensional print.
Regardless of the type of printer you end up choosing, here are some key features and factors you will want to consider.
Method of Connectivity
Most modern printers today have standard USB connectivity which allows you to use a cable connected to your device and printer to transfer the data for printing. Now, WiFi connectivity which is much more convenient allows you to send information to your printer without actually being beside it. Other printers allow you to use a cloud for remote or off site printing. These are practical featuresyou want to look out for based on your needs.
Speed of Printing
If you are printing high volumes of documents, then fast speeds become important. Laser printers are well known for fast printing however ink jets are now upping their game to rival the speed of laser printers.
Double Sided Printing Capability
To conserve on funds and paper use, printers which have the capability to print in duplex format are a good investment. They allow for printing to be done on both sides and the machine is able to do this automatically.
Cost of Printer and Associated Supplies
Some printers like laser printers have costly replacement cartridges and also maintenance kits which are required. The ink jet printer cartridges are less costly but may require more frequent replenishing. These are things to consider as ongoing costs before deciding on your purchase. You will also want to factor in paper consumption, replacement parts and servicing.
Memory Card Accommodation
For alternate methods of data transfer you will want to consider the forms of memory cards your potential printer is able to accommodate.
Author Bio – This guest post is a work of Jessica Jones in support of Ink Factory, a family based business selling ink online since 1999. If you own a Canon MG5650 printer and are looking out for Canon MG5650 ink, do visit InkFactory.com today to get the best deal.
