Choosing a printer that is right for your computer can be quite difficult and confusing. With so many different features available for printers, you may find yourself overwhelmed. But not to worry! Here are a few things to consider when choosing a printer for your computer.
Finding out what your operating system will support.
The first step is to determine what kind of printer will support your operating system. Not all printers available support all operating systems. For instance, Lexmark printers do not support Linux. If your computer is run on a Windows OS, then go to the Windows site to find out which printer models are compatible with your OS. If you are using a Mac OS computer, you can visit the Apple website to check the compatibility there.
How much money should you spend on your printer for your computer?
When budgeting for your printer, you need to select a realistic price range, and stick to it. You may not have a lot money to budget for a printer, but an important thing to remember is that buying cheap is not always the best option. If you are someone that will be printing regularly, the costliest thing you can do is buy the cheapest printer. Most of the time, the least expensive printer will have high priced cartridges with smaller amounts of ink. So, you will find yourself paying more for your printer choice than if you would have spent a little more for a printer in the beginning.
Deciding what you are going to be using the printer for.
What are you going to be using your printer for? If you are just going to be printing out basic papers every now and then, you may want to go with an inkjet printer. However, if you are going to be printing a large number of pages quite often, a laser printer is the way you want to go. If you know you are going to also be needing a scanner and copier along with your printer, a good idea would be to get an all-in-one printer.
A few factors you should consider when deciding which printer to buy.
Before you buy a printer, you need to consider these factors and your needs:
- Resolution – If you are going to be printing papers for presentations or other high-quality graphics such as photos, resolution is key.
- Operating cost – Make sure when you purchase your printer, you are aware of the cost of ink and paper. The cost of ink and paper can end up being more than the cost of the printer itself within a year.
- Size of the printout – It’s important to know if the printer you’re purchasing is capable of printing different size documents should your needs require it.
Will you need a printer that is wireless or wired?
This can be answered once you determine the following: will you be using more than one computer for your printer or just the one in your office? If you are going to keep the printer in your office next to your computer, then you can go with a wired printer which will help save you money. If you are going to have more than one computer hooked up to your printer, then you are going to need to get a wireless printer with a secure network connection.
Figure out how much room you will have for your printer.
If you are going to be limited on space, you will need a smaller printer. Also, this will go with which type of printer you choose. With a smaller space and more features needed, you can get a smaller, all-in-one printer. This will save you room on having to get more than one machine. You should be able to find a smaller printer that will fit your needs for the space you have available.
Comparison shopping is key.
Once you have decided which type of printer you need, it is time to comparison shop. One of the important things to look at when comparison shopping are the review sites. Some of these sites include:
- CNET
- PC Magazine
- PC World
- Consumer Reports
Doing this will give you an idea of what printers are currently available in your price range. Finally, look at customer reviews. Reading these will give you an idea on how well these printers work for customers across the country.
Don’t get discouraged or stressed out.
Buying a printer for your computer can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. If you stick to a budget and know what you need, you will be able to find the printer that is right for your computer. Don’t let the fancy features entice you into buying something you don’t need. There’s no need to pay more for something you won’t use. As a fall back, it’s also important to know you can contact a professional if you are not sure about a certain feature on a printer before purchasing it.
