When looking for a printer, just use your common sense. Many questions that you have can probably be answered by a store salesperson or representative at a store like Best Buy or Staples. If you do all of your shopping online, you can still go to a brick and mortar store and get your questions answered. You can also go to a printer review site or do research online.
Since you have found this article, presumably you are in the research phase of buying a printer. So in that case, here are a few questions you can ask yourself before pulling the trigger on that printer you are looking for.
What am I looking for?
Ok, be more specific here. List your needs. Are you just looking for a simple machine that just prints in black ink? Are you looking for something more fancy? Is printing speed a concern? Do you work in an office or is this just for your home use? These, and more, are questions you need to ask yourself.
How often will I use the printer?
If you are in a busy office, then you might need a hardy workhorse. If you just need it in your home and don't print that often, a cheap inkjet might just as well do the trick. It all really depends on your own situation and specifically, what you are looking for.
What will I use the printer for?
What I mean here is: do you need it for faxing? Copying? Scanning? Color Printing? Photo Printing? If you need all of these multi-functions, than you might as well go for an all in one printer. Canon makes a great PIXMA series which include great photo printing. Which leads me to the next point.
Do I have any brand loyalty?
Some people prefer different brands. Some like HP Printers. Some folks like Brother Printers. Some prefer Canon. Dell, Samsung, and Sony all make printers. The list goes on. If you have a favorite brand, or even a dislike for a brand, then this information obviously will help you make a decision. See, I told you this was common sense. But you'd be surprised how many people don't take care when they go and buy a printer.
What is my price range?
Printers can range in price from the cheapy $20 range to several thousand dollars. What's your budget? How much are you looking to spend. Remember the old adage, "you get what you pay for." This is generally the case, but not always.
Beware of the toners
Remember to also see what the cost per printed page is. To calculate the cost per printed page, find the cost of the toner, and how many pages the toner last for. For example, if a 1,000 page toner cost $10, then the cost per printed page would be 1 cent. This is a crude example. But you get the idea. Beware of printers that have low toner life, and that only take expensive toner cartridges. Try to find printers whose cartridges are reliable and cheap. Many consumers overlook this part.
In Closing
When choosing the right printers, you really need to get specific in what needs and concerns you have. There are so many printers out there that I would be shocked if you didn't find one that fits your own specific needs and price range. These questions are common sense, but don't forget to ask them so that you don't end up with buyer's remorse. Sometimes it is indeed better to buy an excellent all in one printer for your office instead of a mediocre printer, fax machine, and copier. Sometimes it's cheaper too. If your office print volume is not that high, then maybe a cheap laser printer is the way to go. Also, don't forget to watch out for those toners.
Ryan Johnson has worked in the printer and technology for years. He is a writer and review of printers. You can see his review of the Brother MFC 9970CDW printer here.
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