If you're pondering a printer purchase, but are befuddled by the bevy of options, then you need our comprehensive guide to printer types, technologies and costings.What kind of printer is best for me?
Choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. There are several different types of printing technology to choose from, each suited for different needs. Printers come in all shapes and sizes from tiny travel companions to workgroup workhorses. And the many specifications for resolution and speed can be misleading. Here's a cheat sheet to the perfect printer to match your personality.
Home user
The home user demands a lot from a printer. The device must tackle everything from a book report to a newsletter to the occasional snapshot--all without breaking the budget. This is why for most home users the best choice is a versatile and affordable printer, such as a general-purpose colour inkjet. These printers cost anywhere from AU$120 to AU$300 and are designed to do a little of everything, albeit slowly.
The alternative: Get a personal laser printer for fast, quality text and graphics (starting at around AU$500) and a second printer--either a colour inkjet optimized for photos or a snapshot printer--for digital photography.
Budding novelist
Planning on writing the Great Aussie Novel? You'll need a printer that can crank out page after page of text in double time. A personal laser printer should fit the bill. It can deliver epic amounts of crisp, legible text faster than Grisham finishes a new thriller. Personal laser printers start at around AU$500 or so, but they cost less to operate than inkjets do, so you can save up money for the book tour.
The alternative: A general-purpose inkjet can also get the job done, and it gives you the added flexibility to print in colour when necessary. But spend a little extra--more than AU$200--for a decent model that will be a little faster and won't chew through expensive ink and paper quite as quickly.
Digital photographer
Any inkjet can print photos in colour, but if you want results that approach professional photofinishing, you'll need a printer that is designed to reproduce all of the details and colours in snapshots. If you plan to purchase only one printer, a photo inkjet is your best bet, since it can also handle standard letter- and legal-size paper. Photo inkjets use special inks and papers that deliver better quality, and are fade resistant and more durable. Many photo printers also let you print directly from storage cards. Expect to pay about AU$400 or more for a photo printer.
The alternative: A dedicated snapshot printer is limited to 4x6 or smaller prints--think of it as a desktop photo lab--and is really only viable as a second printer. Most use dye-sublimation, which has some advantages over inkjets. Snapshot printers can print directly from compatible digital cameras.
Entrepreneur
If you work from a home office frequently or run a small business, a multifunction printer (MFP) is an excellent choice. Also known as all-in-ones (AIOs), these multitalented devices combine an inkjet or a laser printer with a copier, a scanner, and a fax machine. They save both space and money and cut down on the different ink and paper supplies that you'll need to keep on hand. Though inkjet models start as low as AU$300, we recommend spending slightly more for a model that includes standalone faxing and has an auto document feeder (ADF) for easily faxing and copying multipage documents.
The alternative: If you already have a standalone fax or scanner, a personal laser printer should meet your needs, and there are several colour laser printers available at reasonable prices.
Corporate cog
If you need a workhorse that can keep up with your small business or team within a larger organization, a workgroup laser printer is an obvious choice. Designed to juggle multiple print jobs, these systems have faster processors, more memory, and print engines that are capable of churning out more than 20 pages per minute. But these AU$1,000-and-up printers are more than souped-up personal lasers; they offer workgroup features, such as network printing, high-capacity toner cartridges, and larger paper input and output trays.
The alternative: A business-class inkjet may be sufficient if your team has modest printing needs, and some models support network printing.
Jet-setter
If you really need to take the whole office in your notebook bag, there's a printer out there for you. Portable printers shrink inkjet printing down into a convenient travel size. They're generally quite weight-conscious and include a battery (either standard or as an option) for printing on the go. The drawback is that you pay a premium for this portability, even though these printers can't match full-size models for either performance or image quality. You can check out our review of portable printers here.
The alternative: For most businesses travellers, the best alternative is no printer at all. If you have a wired or wireless network connection, you can usually find a printer in most offices. And if you really get in a jam, you can always use a hotel business centre or an airport kiosk.
| What
are my options? What's the difference between each printer type? |
| How
do I sort out the specs? If DPI means as much to you as PPM, check out our guide to demystifying printer specifications. |
| How
do I judge print quality? Text, image and photo printing quality explained. |
| What
will it really cost me? Buying a printer isn't a one-time purchase; we examine the real story behind printing costs. |
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Great site....I've learnt heaps, still not sure whcih printer to go with but am far more informed thaks to you. Well done & thankyou