A Look At Which Printers Last The Longest

2010-03-24

Printer technology has come a long way in the last decade. What started with dot matrix line printers that took several minutes to print just a few pages, has evolved into speedy laser printers that can turn out reams of paper in just a few seconds. But the problem with all printers is that use equals wear and tear, and it's not uncommon for printers to die out in just a few months. But there are certain printers that are made to print large jobs without breaking quickly.

Big notable companies like HP and Epson make printers that utilize the latest technology in printer parts. USB inputs, accessible cleaning trays and backup batteries ensure that the printer is optimized for long periods of use. Digital screens keep track of how the printer is performing, so you can catch a potential fix-it issue before it happens. Like all technology, the faster you find and solve a problem, as opposed to letting it go on, the more you ensure a properly working machine. Today's printers also make ribbon cleaning a fairly easy task, compared to what it used to be in the old days, by making most parts easily removable. By using refillable printer ink cartridges, or remanufactured printer ink cartridges, you also cut back on the need to continually update your printer to meet ink standards.

Of the printers that sit at the top of the market today, HP and Epson still maintain the top slots. The Epson Stylus NX 515 is found at the top of the list for many reviews, and has one of the fastest print times on the home printer market. HP and Epson actually hold four of the top five slots when it comes to consumer reviews. They are reliable and can print never-ending reams of paper before they need to be checked for any issues. Other companies are making a splash though, such as Lexmark, which is not exactly new to the market, but new in terms of making reliable home printers. Their biggest seller for the home is the Lexmark Pro 905, which includes Smart Solutions widgets to add virtual customization to the control panel, much like a PC.

When looking for one of these new top printers, make sure you do some research on the types of ink it uses. Printer ink cartridges can be expensive if you don't know what you're looking for, but a good printer ink cartridge can be a life saver, especially for today's graphic designers and photographers. Make sure you find one optimized for your exact printer, and you should not have any problems at all. Doing a bit of research goes a long way for your printing needs.