Printers are one of those technical pieces of equipment that almost every computer owner must-have. At some point there will come a time when a document will need to be printed, photos will need to be copied or something will be needed from a website and it is the printer that will help put these items down on paper.

The problem is that with so many printers on the market, how do you know which one is right for you and your printing needs? To help solve that problem, here’s a quick guide that will help you understand the many features available on printers and which type is best for you.

General Categories of Printers

Printers are broken up into three general categories including general or special purpose, home or office, and technology. Determining which category meets your printing needs will help you decide which printer is right for you.

General-purpose printers are printers that can be used for almost any printing needs. These printers can print plain text, photos and even extensive graphics. Special-purpose printers can perform the same functions as a general-purpose printer but generally specializes in one aspect such as photo printing.

General and special-purpose printers can be broken up into two categories of printers: the home printer and office printer. Home printers specialize in printing out graphics and photos, while an office printer will specialize in printing text only. In recent years, many general and special-purpose printers have started to become multifunctional or MFPs, which means they can perform either as an office printer or a home printer.

Technology based printers have two categories: the laser and the inkjet. Depending upon what you will be printing it will determine whether or not you need a laser printer or an inkjet printer. Laser printers will print out text in a higher quality than an inkjet printer. While the inkjet printer will print out higher quality photos and graphics.

The Need for Color Printing

Some printers on the market will offer you the option to only have a machine that prints in black. This leads to the question of whether or not color printing is necessary.

Color printing is necessary if you plan on using your printer to print out a lot of graphics, coupons, or photos. Typically, this defines a home printer. However, if you are only using the printer to print out text documents or other black and white objects, a printer that only prints in black might serve your printing needs.

Printer Connections

Printers are designed to connect to the main computer in a number of ways. The most common way to connect to the computer is via a cable or Ethernet cord. This means the printer directly connects to the computer and will have to be located in the general vicinity of the computer.

Another connection option is getting a printer that has Wi-Fi capabilities. In order to connect the printer via a wireless connection you will need to have Wi-Fi access to your computer and create a home network. Wirelessly connecting your printer to the computer means the printer does not have to be in the same room as the computer and is great for home offices that contain multiple computers but only want to print on one printer.

Just remember the type of connection, either cable or wireless, will not affect the quality or speed of printing.

The Need for Speed – Fast or Slow Printers

To help you determine if you will need a printer that can print out multiple pages within a minute, you will need to decide how many pages you will be printing. If you are only printing out one or two pages of documents, a slower printer speed will not affect your printing. However, if you are printing multiple documents or huge text documents you may want to consider a faster printer.

Determining the Total Cost of a Printer

The cost of a printer doesn’t stop when the printer is purchased and installed. There are several factors that will affect how much it costs to own and maintain a certain printer. Factors such as inkjet or ink cartridge refills or replacements, paper, printing speed, and cleaning can all raise the initial cost of a printer.

Most printers will list how much per page a printer will cost you to own. This cost takes into account how much ink is used, how much the paper costs and the time involved. Take this price and determine roughly how much you will be printing on an average year, and use it to determine the overall price. Don’t forget to add in the extra cost of purchasing ink if you plan on printing out large amounts of documents in either black or colored ink.

There are hundreds of printers out there on the market and it can be tough to choose which one will serve your printing needs. Decide how you plan on using your printer, how often you will print, what you will print and how you plan on connecting to the computer. All of these factors will help you be able to choose which printer is right for you.