Inkjet printers are inexpensive, but you still need to do a little research before you shop. These tips will help you buy the right one.
RESOLUTION
Resolution figures refer to the maximum number of horizontal and vertical dots a printer can lay down within a 1-inch-square space. In theory, a higher-resolution printer should produce more-detailed text and images, but manufacturers inflate these numbers for marketing purposes. That means these specs often have little or no bearing on real-world performance. If at all possible, view actual output from a printer before you decide.
PRINT SPEED
This spec measures how many pages per minute (ppm) a printer spits out. To come up with the fastest-possible speeds, some manufacturers use basic text documents at the lowest quality settings (draft mode) on plain paper. In our tests, using a printer's automatic mode for text and its photographic-paper setting for photos, we typically achieve about half the speed the manufacturer promises.
CONECTIVITY
Most printers connect to your PC via USB 2.0, but in many cases you'll have to buy the USB cable separately. For printing without a PC's help, look for a printer equipped with memory-card slots, as well as ports that allow for direct printing from supported cameras or external storage devices. Many models also support wireless printing over infrared or Bluetooth, or via Wi-Fi access points with built-in print servers.
CONSUMABLES
Before you buy, consider the cost of items such as ink and paper. Replacement ink can quickly exceed a printer's price, running anywhere from $12 to as high as $60 per cartridge. Sometimes, costlier printers are more economical in the long run because they often have higher-capacity ink tanks and separate tanks for each color. As for paper, use what the manufacturer recommends for the best results, especially for photo prints. These papers can cost anywhere from 10 cents to $2 per letter-size sheet.
computershopper
Post a Comment