How to choose a printer for home use

For many of us, the printer has become an integral part of everyday life. Print a photo or a finished course paper; all this can be done without leaving your home. However, when choosing a model, many buyers are lost. We will tell you in our article how not to get lost in the vast assortment and make a purchase according to your preferences.

How to choose a printer for home use - selection criteria

We all strive to make a successful purchase, choose the best option in terms of functionality and price. And for this you need to approach the choice correctly and prepare for the purchase.

Before going to the store, let’s decide on the parameters we need specifically:

1. For what purpose will the device be purchased?
2. What functions are necessary for everyday use.
3. Suitable type of device.
4. A manufacturer we trust.
5. The price we are willing to pay.

Purpose

Printers perform two main tasks:

• printing text documents,
• printing of photographs.

We can say that any model will cope with these responsibilities. The only question is the quality of the result and the time spent on it.

Functionality, device type

Possible additional functions:

1. Double-sided document feeding, if available, you do not need to turn the paper over each time.
2. Wireless connection allows you to connect the printer to any device (PC, smartphone, etc.).
3. The continuous ink supply system (CISS) significantly reduces ink costs and thereby extends the life of the cartridge.
4. Ability to work with other formats (A3, A5, etc.).

REFERENCE. All printers have a standard A4 paper size.

Types of equipment depending on the operating principle:

• matrix,
• inkjet,
• laser,
• LED

ON A NOTE. Depending on the type of image output, the devices are divided into black and white and color.

Let's look at the characteristics of each type

Matrix devices They are mainly used in trade, banking and other areas; they are not suitable for home use due to the lack of color printing, low speed and low-quality images.

Inkjet models use liquid ink cartridges and have a standard black and white printing speed (up to 10 pages per minute, depending on the model).

Advantages: Get high-quality color photos.

Flaws: high ink consumption, one cartridge is enough for 200 pages on average. Refueling can be expensive. If it is not used for a long time (a week or more), the paint begins to dry out. Color printing takes up to 1 minute.

Laser devices They have powder ink cartridges and print any documentation quickly and in excellent quality.

pros: high printing speed, long operating life of the consumable - up to 2,000 pages. However, replacing a cartridge can reach ¾ of the price of the device.

Minuses: support for color printing is rare; if available, it is characterized by low quality.

LED models their capabilities coincide with laser devices, the difference lies in the use of LEDs instead of a laser light source and a simpler device. For the average consumer, these are not significant details.

A special feature on the list is a multifunctional device (MFP), which is capable of performing several tasks: printing, scanning and photocopying. May include tools such as telephone and fax.

Dimensions

The size of the devices largely depends on the number of functions, as well as the complexity and number of various elements inside the equipment.

The most compact models are LED printers, due to the use of small light sources and a minimum of technical details.

Due to the variety of options available, MFPs are the bulkiest devices and will take up the most desk space.

REFERENCE. The convenience of placement can be affected by the presence of a wireless connection, which will allow even large printers to be installed where it is comfortable for the user.

Manufacturer

There are companies on the market that have established themselves as manufacturers of high-quality devices. The most popular brands that are in high demand are Canon, HP, Epson.

Let's give a few examples.

Canon PIXMA TS304 inkjet printer. Black and white and color printing, speed 7 and 4 pages per minute respectively, for photos 65 seconds. The capacity of 2 cartridges is enough for 400 black and white pages and 180 color pages. There are wired and wireless interfaces.

HP LaserJet Pro M15a laser device. Supports black and white printing, speed up to 18 pages per minute. Printing on A4 sheets, postal envelopes, postcards and stickers. The cartridge is designed for 1000 pages. Wired connection.

Epson L364 inkjet MFP. Scanner, printer and copier, supports both types of printing, speed 9 and 4 pages per minute respectively. Instead of cartridges, containers are installed (you can add ink into them yourself), quantity – 4. Printing on envelopes, glossy, matte, photo paper, cards. There is support for CISS and wired interface.

Price

The cost depends both on the type of product and on the available functionality:

1. In the budget segment there are inkjet printers.
2. The middle level is laser models.
3. MFPs are more expensive than printers due to additional functions. However, the stores have high-quality budget equipment from these manufacturers.
4. LED devices belong to the expensive class.

Summarize.

Inkjet machines are suitable when high-quality color printing is important, the printer will be used regularly, but in moderate operating mode, and there are financial restrictions.

If you need to produce large volumes of printouts and require high speed, then opt for laser models.

Choose an MFP if it is more convenient for you to perform several tasks on one device: scanning, photocopying and printing, and also have additional functions.

LED and matrix devices are a matter of personal taste. But as already mentioned, matrix devices will not provide the desired quality. The advantage of LED equipment is their compact size and simplicity of the operating circuit, but its high cost calls into question the profitability of the purchase.

In our article, we examined in detail the main characteristics of printers and their capabilities. We hope this information helped you make a pleasant and useful purchase.