Four Things To Look Out For When Buying A Discount Printer

2010-05-05

Selecting a printer can be a daunting task. Their price range is anywhere from sixty to well over a thousand dollars. You might be confused on what features and capabilities to look for in a discount printer. Below are a couple of tips and suggestions for your printer search.

The first thing to look out for in selecting a printer is the type of printer. The two main types are ink jets and laser jets. Ink jets propel the printer ink directly onto the paper, while laser jets use a laser that causes the printer ink to adhere to the paper. The biggest differences in the two are their cost, speed, and efficiency. Since laser jets do not propel the ink directly on the paper, they run more efficiently, printing jobs faster, and using less ink. The con is that they are also significantly more expensive.

Another issue to consider is how the printer will be used. The two biggest factors in printer use are the quantity of print jobs and the quality of print jobs. Will the printer be used for the occasional small, simple document printing? Or will it be used for daily printing of extensive reports with a large number of pages? Cheaper, basic printers will not be able to carry out larger tasks with the efficiency of printers designed specifically for business purposes. They may also be more prone to errors.

In regards to the quality of the print jobs, you need to examine what types of documents you will be printing. Print quality is measured in DPI, or dots per inch. In other words, the higher the DPI capabilities of the printer, the higher potential for the quality of the print job. When printing basic word processing documents, it may not make much of a difference. But for printing photographs off a digital camera, graphic-intensive layouts, brochures, and posters, it makes a huge difference. With higher dpi printers, especially ones designed for photo printing, graphics print clearly and with clarity.

When looking for a discount printer, compatibility is another consideration. Off-brand and lesser known printers may have non-standard printer ink cartridges, or simply cartridges that are harder to find. There are plenty of online stores that sell printer ink cartridges, but there is the convenience factor of being able to purchase a cartridge at any local office supply store.

You should now have a general idea of what to look for when shopping for a printer. Consider these tips and guidelines to help you purchase the best printer for your needs. Shopping online for discount printers can also save you time and money.