Printer Buying Guide
For the best results, get
the best printer for the job.
Overview
Print Technology
Resolution
Speed
Ink and Toner Configuration
Cost Per Page
Paper Handling
Connection Interface
Driver Software
Application Software
Control Panel
Construction
Print Media
Options
Pricing
 A
printer is one of the key peripherals for your computer. You're not
using your PC to its full potential if you can't print. Significant
technological advances have produced very affordable ink-jet printers
that deliver top-quality colour and photo-quality prints and a new breed
of personal laser models priced right for small office/home office (SOHO)
users. Now high-quality printing is within reach of most computer users.
This guide will help you understand what you need to consider before you
buy.
Overview
The printer performs a critical role in the computer setup--it lets you
translate electronic ideas into tangible records. A good printer
supports multiple applications, from simple text to complex colour
graphics. Today's laser printers let you quickly print reams of
documentation, while colour ink jets let you make brilliant prints of
photos and graphics.
Print Technology
The biggest decision you're likely to face when choosing a printer is
which print technology to go with--laser or ink jet. While mainstream
laser printers use a toner cartridge/drum assembly, ink jets accept ink
tank cartridges. Your pick should reflect the way you work and the jobs
you plan to send to your new printer. Lasers are generally better for
high-volume printing and they produce better-quality black text than
most ink jets, though some ink-jet models rival low-end lasers.
Lasers still hold the high ground in terms of speed, while ink jets
offer the important advantage of affordable colour printing. For home
use, you'll probably want to print out digital photos or graphics, which
makes colour a must. The traditional differentiation between lasers and
ink jets has been office versus home use; however, colour offers obvious
presentation advantages for business use as well. Fortunately, prices
for both categories of printers have come down enough to make it
practical to purchase both a laser and an ink jet if you absolutely need
both colour and high-quality text.
Resolution
A printer's resolution predominantly determines its print quality.
Resolution refers to the number of dots per inch (dpi) that appear on
the page--usually represented as a horizontal and vertical measurement (eg:
600 x 300 dpi). Today, most printers support a basic 600 x 600 dpi
resolution that produces adequate quality in most instances. Many ink
jets, however, offer a higher vertical resolution than horizontal, so
resolutions such as 4800 x 1200 dpi are common.
Bear in mind that resolution ratings do not tell the whole story.
Most printer manufacturers implement their own techniques for smoothing
curves and enhancing resolutions through software algorithms.
Consequently, some output from lower dpi printers looks just as
top-notch as that from a higher dpi unit. Bear in mind that although
some printers have very high resolutions, you're not likely to notice
any difference in quality with common print jobs once you go above 600 x
600 dpi resolution.
Speed
Performance is a crucial consideration when choosing a printer. Printers
rarely deliver the manufacturer's rated performance specification, but
ratings can be used to gauge relative performance between models. When
it comes to printing typical black text documents, personal laser
printers still hold an advantage over ink jets. SOHO lasers are
typically rated between 6 and 10 pages per minute (ppm), while ink jets
usually carry black text ratings of 4 ppm and above.
Ink and Toner
Configuration
With lasers, you usually have to replace a toner/drum cartridge when the
printer runs out of ink. With ink jets, you replace ink tanks when
they're depleted. Both of these types of cartridges vary quite a bit
both in rated pages and price so be sure to include cartridge details in
your pre-purchase research. Some of these replaceable modules contain
both ink and the print head nozzles--some just the ink. Separate ink
tanks are usually cheaper to replace than those combined with print
heads. Ink jets also vary in their cartridge configurations--some use a
single four-colour cartridge that includes black, some use a tricolour
cartridge and a separate black one, and still others use totally
separate tanks for each colour. If you plan to print a lot of black and
white documents on your ink jet, you should look for a printer that
offers a separate black ink tank; some vendors even offer a
high-capacity black cartridge for day-to-day printing.
Cost Per Page
The purchase price is just the beginning of the overall cost of your
printer. Ongoing cost is measured in cost per page--an often-nebulous
figure measured in pence. If you print even a fair amount, this per-page
cost adds up quickly. Lasers offer the lowest cost per page--usually
only a couple of pence per page. Ink jets, on the other hand, can cost
four or five times as much depending on what you're printing. Ink-jet
printing cost depends on how much ink you use (determined by the percent
of page coverage you're printing) and the cost of the paper. Unlike
laser printers, which usually use normal-weight, uncoated paper, with an
ink-jet printer you likely will opt for more expensive, coated and
glossy paper for higher quality colour output.
Ink-jet tank configuration is part of the cost evaluation as well. If
your ink cartridge combines black ink with coloured ink and you've
printed lots of text recently, you may find yourself throwing out a
cartridge with plenty of ink in it just to replace your black. To avoid
such waste, consider getting an ink jet with separate black and colour
cartridges.
Paper Handling
How your printer moves your paper and envelopes can make all the
difference in the world. Each manufacturer tends to use its own approach
to paper paths and models vary in their input and output page capacity,
as well as their compatibility with special media such as envelopes and
card stock. Take a look at a printer's multipurpose input tray--usually
a fold-down or stationary slot that can accept odd-sized media. Does it
adjust to stock of any width? Does it have sliding paper guides? Can you
leave five or 10 envelopes in the slot for occasional mailings?
Connection
Interface
Most printers now use a USB connection to your PC. However, other
interfaces are also available. Some ink-jet printers include both USB
and the older parallel connectors. More advanced interfaces offer more
flexible printing solutions. Some printers now come with infrared I/O
ports that allow wireless printing from notebooks or other devices with
infrared ports. If your printer accepts an Ethernet option or comes with
an Ethernet interface standard, you can quickly attach it to your
network to share among several users.
While there are many interface possibilities, a printer seldom comes
with the hardware for all of them. Make sure to note which interfaces
are standard on a printer and which require optional hardware.
Driver Software
The printer driver is no longer just a file that makes a printer work
with your computer. Along with its companion programs, it now acts as
the software interface to your printer. Most drivers pack in a lot of
functionality. In addition to basic settings such as copies, page size,
and orientation, drivers also provide control for resolution, text
smoothing and media types. A useful driver also lets you configure
paper-tray usage, apply watermarks, and create your own custom-setting
profiles for quick selection.
Graphical status indicators are all the rage in drivers these days.
Ink-jet drivers frequently offer graphical indications of remaining ink
levels for each colour, and any good driver should show you where paper
jams occur and where your current print job stands. Your printer's
driver software is likely to determine how much of your printer's
capabilities you actually take advantage of. If it offers a quick and
productive interface, you'll be sure to learn all the bells and whistles
of your printer.
Application
Software
Software is often an overlooked part of a printer purchase--keep this in
mind when you're choosing a printer. In a cramped low-end price bracket,
ink-jet printer manufacturers use bundled software as a way to
distinguish themselves. For the buyer, this can mean a significant bonus
in value-added software. Some companies offer their own integrated
bundle of applications, while others include separate programs. Typical
bundled applications include greeting card, poster, and banner creators.
Other common programs let you edit and apply effects to photographic
images.
Many ink jets targeted at home users include software for kids that
provide a user-friendly way to create word processing and graphics
documents.
Control Panel
Onboard controls vary widely between printers. On laser printers, it's
reasonable to expect an LCD panel with text messages, scrollable
configuration menus and indicator lights. Such control panels allow you
to change setup options directly at the printer without using the driver
software. Ink jets typically offer less control. Some ink jets offer
only a power button and power indicator light, delegating all real
control to utility software in order to reduce hardware
complication--and cost. Although software control panels usually work
quite well, some ink jets offer more hands-on functionality for flexible
use. An ideal ink jet will at least let you change quality modes with a
single touch at the unit and offer a light to indicate low ink levels.
Construction
Though a slick-looking case may gain style points for a printer, your
real concerns should be more practical. A truly well-designed unit will
provide you access to all points in the paper path to clear paper jams
quickly. Ink jets usually have only one cover to open, but lasers can
have multiple access doors. Removable paper trays and their rails should
be sturdy enough to handle quick ins and outs, and flip-down input trays
and paper guides shouldn't be so delicate that they break after a few
uses. These latter concerns mostly apply to ink-jet models--look for
cases with few hinged appendages and minimal complications.
Footprint (the space taken up by the printer) is also worth
considering--will the printer fit comfortably in your workspace? If your
printer accepts optional paper feeders, do they stack below the base
unit or do they require more clearance around the printer?
Also look for additional functions which come with some models. For
example, many models now have built-in memory card readers for quick and
easy printing of your photos or documents. Some models have the ability
to print directly onto CDs or DVDs while others can achieve borderless
printing. Think about what you will be using the printer for and make
sure you choose a model which has all the functionality you are likely
to use.
Print Media
When choosing a printer, consider what types of printing you might need
to do. In addition to standard A4 paper, you'll probably want to print
envelopes from time to time. Make sure the printer you choose can handle
envelopes and feed them efficiently. Printers that feed envelopes
through manual feeders differ in the number they can handle at one
time--check the capacity. Also investigate whether the printer can
handle transparencies, card stock and special glossy photo paper. Some
ink jets are even versatile enough to print on fabric.
Options
While basic printer configurations may be fine for your immediate needs,
take a look at the options available for each unit before you buy. Laser
printers often accept memory upgrades, optional paper feeders and
network cards. Some ink jets also accept optional interfaces, but many
are limited to the built-in connectors. Ink jets often accept optional
photo ink cartridges for snappier-looking photographs, however, and some
even accept scan heads to turn the printer into a personal scanner. When
you check the optional devices available, make sure you note their
prices.
Pricing
Whatever your budget, there's a printer out there for you. Amazingly,
good quality photo printers are now available for as little as £30. On
the high end, you can almost spend as much as you want for a faster,
more flexible print system. Ink jets are the most affordable, and
investment in many models will get you fine colour quality, easy setup
and a home-oriented software bundle. Personal laser printers overlap the
prices of ink jets at their low end. You won't always get what you pay
for, so be sceptical of the low prices and critical of the high ones. A
comparison of similarly equipped models among three or four vendors will
tell the real story.
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