In a world that has well and truly shifted to a digital landscape to undertake many daily tasks, printers have continued to stand the test of time. For those who want to capture physical copies of their documents, spreadsheets, and photos, investing in a printer for your home or work office is well worth it. It’s also a great addition to the home office for those who work from home throughout the week. Our buying guide should help navigate through the process of choosing a printer that will match your needs.
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Ink or Laser?
There are generally two different types of printers on the market, and they work in different ways. It’s important to understand the differences so you can make the most informed choice about the printer you ultimately want.
Inkjet: The most common type of printer and the one that has the most range of features. These printers use liquid ink to recreate an image or text onto paper. Generally cheaper to buy on average, they are great for scanning, copying and even photo printing. As typically smaller devices, inkjet printers are ideal for home and home office spaces. You’ll also need high-quality paper to ensure the best quality print from the inkjet. However, if you need a printer that will reproduce fine lines for images and diagrams, the ink printer might not be best suited for you.
Laser: Lesser chosen, but a mighty machine that uses the power of laser beams to transfer your pictures and texts from screen to paper. Laser printers produce sharp shades of blank and white text, even if the paper is cheaper. They are a great choice for mono printing. However, these printers don’t typically print colour and they rarely offer scanning and copying functionality. While laser printers might cost more than other types upfront, these printers outshine inkjet printers in their pinpoint accuracy. They are capable of producing fine lines and precision, perfect for printing charts and diagrams. Laser printers also deliver a faster turnaround time.
Multifunction Printers
All-in-one printers are another style of printer you may want to consider, depending on your needs. They may come with a higher initial price, but they will be worth their weight in gold for those who wish to use their printers for multiple tasks and are great for home offices. Multifunction printer features include:
- Scanning
- Copying
- Faxing (although no longer as common)
Other Factors to Consider
Connectivity: Do you want a printer that connects to your laptop or computer via Wifi? USB? Bluetooth? Some will also connect to the router or PC via an ethernet cable.
Colour or mono: It’s important to note that inkjet printers can print colour. However, most laser printers can only print black and white.
Tray size: Consider how much paper you want to be able to print at once. And consider the size. Do you just want to print standard A4 paper? Or do you want to be able to print larger paper such as A3 or even A2 for your photography or works of art?
Ongoing ink costs: Printers require the ongoing cost of ink. This can be a costly endeavour! Note that ink printers use liquid ink, which can often be wasted when it dries on the printhead in between use. Meanwhile, laser printers use dry ink.
Resolution: The resolution of your print is measured in dots per inch (DPI). The quality of the print can be limited by having a low resolution printer. So it is important to consider this when searching for your printer.
Size: Consider the space you have. Can you fit a larger machine? Or would you prefer a smaller, compact printer that takes up little space in your home office?
Ease of Use: Do you want a printer that is simple and straightforward? Or are you wanting a device that has lots of functions? Consider how easy it will be to use.
Speed of Print: Are you going to be printing large documents and need them printed quickly? Or are you just going to print the odd smaller document here and there? Consider how fast you need the printing to be.
Investing in a printer can transform your office experience. Capture those precious family photos, and print your spreadsheets and documents at home, with ease. Enhance your home office today!
