Purchasing a New Printer

Are you looking at buying a new printer? Do the number of models available seem overwhelming? Choosing the right printer doesn't have to be so difficult. There are seven factors to consider before making that final purchase.

1. Usage

Will you be using your printer every day? If you are going to be printing it on a daily basis, you should avoid purchasing an economy-priced model. As the cartridges for these models tend to be smaller, the ink runs out much more sooner, and you need to replace the cartridges more often. This can cost you a great deal more than replacing the cartridge in a more expensive model.

2. Size of The Printer

Multifunction printers (scanner/copier/fax) are much larger than most of the other models available. Determining how much space you have to work with can help you in deciding which models to consider. If you have very limited room, there will be fewer models for consideration.

3. Printing Speed

What types of documents will you be printing? Will the kids be printing off the occasional book report, or are you going to be spending most of your time printing large business documents? Selecting the right printer should be based on the urgency of those print jobs. If you have hundred-plus-page documents that need to be printed in a quick fashion, a laser printer will be more ideal than an inkjet.

4. Print Quality

For what you gain in speed from a laser printer, you often lose a bit in quality. For graphics designers or photographers who deal mostly with hi-res graphics and photographs, a slower yet more accurate printer is necessary. Compare the quality of printouts among your choices.

5. Other Options

Additional options will increase the final price of a printer. Which options do you really need, and when will you use them? Will you ever need to scan or copy documents? Will you ever need the ability to print double-sided? If these options aren't important, you will save money by purchasing a printer without these options.

6. System Requirements

If you have purchased a brand new PC recently, disregard this. However, if you own a Mac or an older PC, you may want to check to see if the drivers for the printer will even be compatible with your current operating system. No reason to purchase a printer that won't work with your existing hardware.

7. Other Reviews

There are a number of magazines and websites dedicated to providing up to date information on new computer hardware. These reviews can help you with your decisions. What kind of experience have people had with certain makes or models? Which printers are easier to setup or are less error prone? You can make better educated choices based on the experiences of others.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking at replacing an already outdated printer, or simply looking at purchasing one for the first time, you should never rush into purchasing equipment. You should always consider all your options before making that final purchase.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Purchasing-a-New-Printer&id=2367694
Author:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Jinks