Printer Options For Busy People

Are you searching for a printer for your home office use? With all the choices available, choosing the most suitable printer can be a challenge. Online claims are hard to decipher.

Sometimes it is a challenge to know where to start. It is amazing how many brands and models and styles and colours and qualities there are that you can choose from.

Lets start at the basics. What sort of printers are there?There are three types of printers that a purchaser can choose from. They are laser, inkjet, and dot matrix. We are going to look at each of these type individually and then share the pros and cons of each type of home office printer with you so that you are clear on whether it fits with your business/home requirements or not.

Dot Matrix

It's the oldest type of printer currently in the market. Similar to a typewriter in function, they print using an inked ribbon that is impressed upon by a printhead to generate the print on the paper. Dot matrix printers were considered pioneers at the time of introduction. The dot matrix technology is pretty much redundant now because new technology that produces a better print quality is now available.

Despite this, many companies still use dot matrix printers. Really? Because dot matrix printers are the only printers capable of producing carbon copies, making it easy for banks and payroll departments of companies to tolerate these noisy beasts!

If you also require a printer for this specific need, dot matrix printer will do the job well. Heres what you need to consider:

Dot Matrix Printer's can easily print on multipart forms (read carbon copy)and are very economical. However they are very noisy and have a very poor quality output.

Inkjet

Inkjet printers have taken the lions share of the market. They work by ejecting thousands of drops of ink onto the paper. There are a range of brands and technologies but the common feature of all the technologies is noiseless, crisp printing at low costs.

The cartridges used in these printers cost a fortune. This enables the printer company to keep the cost of the actual printer down. They keep the cost of the printer low but make the cartridges expensive. And did you know that it is cheaper to fill a pool with vintage champagne than with printer ink?

The resolution or the quality of print offered by inkjet printers is measured in DPI or (dots per inch). The higher the DPI, the better the print quality. You can also choose from colored printers to photorealistic models. If you are require the printer for printing high quality graphic work or want to print family pictures, a photo inkjet printer can be avoided.

An inkjet printer can be yours for around $85 to $200. Dont aim for the really cheap ones because you will be disappointed by the performance. Check some inkjet printers out at many websites such as amazon. As with most things, you get what you pay for.

Inkjet Printers Pros

* very quiet

* High quality print

Inkjet Printers Minuses

* Ink tends to smudge

* Consumables are not cheap

Laser

Laser printers are now in the reach of the average home office. Though quite advanced in printing technology, laser printers give you high quality prints. Each paper that passes through the printer is given a negative charge while the toner is positively charged. These opposite charges attract toner to the paper where it is heated to make it hold onto the paper.

The laser's functionality is limited to "drawing" out which parts of the page should be positive or negative in charge.

A great print quality and excellent, quiet functioning, laser printers are the most expensive of all printer types and the cost of their spares can be jaw dropping! If you want to know the cost of running the printer, simply ask the salesperson for this information for the first 12 months. DON'T buy a laser printer without knowing what the first years cost is going to be.

Laser Printer Plusses

* Fast print job

* Quality print

Laser Printer Cons

* Toner cost

* Expensive to repair if breaks down

So what is the recommended printer for your situation?This really depends on your requirements and your budget. According to common knowledge, a mid-range inkjet printer from HP, Lexmark, Epson, or Canon would serve your SOHO needs well. And remember; stick with printer manufacturers that you recognize. Check out super specials for samsung toner cartridges here. The ever popular Samsung ML1610 can be found for 80% discount at samsung toner cartridge dot net.