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Buying a printer

Buying a printer can be quite confusing with all the different technical terms associated with printer. This guide will break down what these terms mean in plain old English to help you get your head around buying a printer.

Firstly there are a few different types of printers, we have Inkjet printers, All-in-One printers, Laser printers and Digital photo printers.

Inkjet Printers – Ideal for day to day printing of documents, fairly small and easy to change ink cartridges.

All-In-One Printers -  Multi use, save space having everything rolled into one device.

Laser Printers – Great for day to day use on document printing, great for high volume printing and ideal for fast printing. Laser toner cartridges usually last a lot longer than inkjet cartridges which means less changing of cartridges.

Digital Photo Printers – Dedicated photo Printers, usually small and portable, less carbon footprint than All in Ones. No need for a PC as cameras now tend to connect straight to them to print.

Here is a quick break down of key words when buying a printer.

Mono

The most pages that can be printed in black and white, per minute (PPM), sometimes measured in images per minute (IPM)

Colour

The most pages that can be printed in colour, per minute (PPM), sometimes measured in images per minute (IPM)

IPM is a relatively new ISO quality standard that allows an accurate, direct comparison of speeds between printers.

Print Resolution

Measured in dots per inch (DPI), the higher the DPI, the clearer the images and photos. Every inkjet printer will be able to produce sharp-looking text documents.

Screen

A photo preview screen allows you to view photos and choose settings before printing. The larger the screen, the easier it is to view and select images.

Card Slots

Allow you to use memory cards straight from digital cameras, so you can print photos without a computer.

Wireless

Allows you to connect the printer to your wireless home network, so you can print from your computer without the need for cables.

Email enabled printers

These printers come with their own email address. Any device with email access, such as mobile phones and laptops, will enable you to send documents, pictures and photos directly to your printer from anywhere in the world.

Scanner

Scanners allow you to capture images and text onto your computer. Great for home use for storing photographs and sending them on to friends and family electronically - or in the home office for storing documents and editing texts.