Types of printer
From mobile printing to dealing with the occasional ream of school, college or university work, inkjet printers are ideal for everyday home use.
Typically, inkjet printers deliver better photographs than laser printers, with a number of high quality inkjets making the most of everything from smartphone snaps to high quality DSLR photography. Generally, a full set of replacement ink cartridges are cheaper than laser toner too, making them perfect for home and photographic use.
Laser printers are designed for more frequent use and are suitable for offices or homes that regularly print in large amounts. Perfect for black and white documents and high speed batch printing, laser printers are built for demanding use.
While toner cartridges cost more than their inkjet counterparts, their page yield is higher (typically over 1400 pages). So while the initial purchase and toner price may seem high, the cost-per-page can work out cheaper over time.
Combining a scanner, copier and printer, all-in-one printers provide everything you need for comprehensive home printing. They are available in both inkjet and laser varieties, letting you benefit from home scanning and copying whatever your ink preference.
Some even feature an integrated fax machine, which makes them the ideal printing solution for busy homes and small offices.
Many all-in-ones with fax machines also feature dual and large capacity paper trays, making it easy to switch between high quality photo paper and everyday A4 and A3.
Want to print on both sides of the page? That’s duplex printing! Most new printers will offer you this option and it’s a must-have for essays, reports and generally saves you money while cutting down on wasted paper.
Things to consider when buying a printer
Ink
Choose the perfect printer for...
Make your home office work for you with a printer that’s up to the job. If you use your phone or tablet a lot, then grab a printer you can connect to wirelessly. It saves you the hassle of having to fire up your laptop every time you want to get that invoice printed.
And if you’re off to host a presentation and need a pile of handouts in a flash, a printer that can do 30 pages per minute is a lifesaver. And to keep costs down, go for a printer that’s compatible with XL cartridges – which can give you 600 pages per cartridge.
There are a wide range of business printers for both Inkjet and Laser to choose from. A key thing to look out for when you’re choosing an office printer is that the print speed is fast enough.
Automatic document feeders (ADF) are an invaluable feature for busy offices as they allow you to scan and copy several documents at once, so you’re not wasting time standing feeding individual pieces of paper into the scanner.
If you plan on printing regularly, check the monthly duty cycle, as this shows you the maximum number of prints that the manufacturer suggests are suitable.
Writing a thesis on the evolution of the market economy in the southern colonies? You'll need a printer that can quickly crank out page after page of text - a monochrome laser printer fits the bill.
However, if you want the flexibility of scanning and copying as well, then an inkjet printer will allow you to print in colour and display all of your photo memories.