How to select the printer

It is a daunting task to choose a printer without deciding what type you really require. You have to choose between an ink jet and a laser printer. After that you have to decide on the printer size essential for the tasks you require it to accomplish. You have to consider factors such as printer type, size, running costs and price and service availability.

There are mainly two types of printers in the market. The laser printers and inkjet printers are the only two choices available in the market. In the laser printer a laser beam is used to print the picture on the drum which is then transferred on to the paper. In the inkjet printer, however, ink is sprayed through tiny jets on to the page forming the image on the page. The difference between the two types of printers is the basic difference in the technology involved in them.

Inkjet printers are generally fairly versatile being able to print anything from spreadsheets to brochures to word documents to photos. Inkjet printers are particularly good at printing professional but inexpensive documents on a small quantity. Inkjets are designed to cope with only small print volumes, but they are also far more affordable than laser printers.

Another advantage of ink jet printers is that they are usually small and lightweight. Some also come with carry cases for easy portability. Hence they would be optimum for laptops and PDAs and such devices that require printing facilities. Their maintenance is also very easy with its spares readily available.

But, in case your requirement is for more advanced print jobs then you should think of buying a laser printer. Laser printers are made to take voluminous workloads and print at a much faster speed. And the quality of the print is far superior to that of the inkjet printer. That is why not only the laser printers cost more but even the consumables of the laser printer are more expensive. Laser printers are portable and can be carried from one place to another.
Sometimes they come with their own hard cover carry cases for convenience in shifting them around.

The two most popular and readily available printers are the ink jet printers and laser printers. The laser printer uses a laser beam to mark an image on a drum, which then fuses this image to the printer. On the other hand, the ink jet printer sprays ink through tiny jets on to the page without any laser imaging.