With all the types of printers now available to us, the possibilities seem to definitely be endless. How do you choose from multifunction, office printers, high-volume, low-volume, photo printers, single-function, and everything in between? There are definitely some factors that should be considered so you can choose the right one for you. Continue reading here and see some of the factors you should have in mind as you make your decision on a new printer.

Your Needs

First things first, you have to know exactly what it is that you need from the printer you will choose. With all the choices mentioned earlier, we understand how it can seem like a daunting task, but it’s simpler than you may think. Once you know whether you need your printer to print, copy, scan, fax, duplex, print photos etc., you’ll be well on your way. Take some time now to think on your needs and make a list of what you will need your printer to handle for you.

Multifunction or single-function

After coming up with your list of needs, it should be much easier to decide whether you need single-function or a multifunction printer. If your printing needs involve more than simple printing of black and white documents, your needs more than likely will require a multifunction printer for best results. For example, the Epson Expression Photo XP-950 Small-in-One, for example, allows more than just printing of photos. You can also print disc and other label prints as well.

Laser-class or inkjet

There was once a time when distinguishing between a laser or inkjet printing job was very easy. Now, both types of printers have products on the market that can produce some very impressive quality on paper. For example, the Epson WorkForce WF-7620 All-in-One Printer and the HP Officejet Pro X576dw Multifunction Printer are just two inkjet printers that seem to be really out-performing a lot of laser jets out there. Choosing between a laser or inkjet printer, will usually come down to the level of quality printing will suffice for your needs.

Office printer or photo printer

This is an area where you can begin to consider whether you need quantity or quality. This is regards to whether you need a printer that can handle large printing tasks or whether you need it to print something of more quality such as photos or brochures. Office are generally going to be built to give you the speed and accuracy. Photo printers are mainly going to give you quality photo printing by may take a bit longer to process than an office printer.

High-volume or low-volume

Don’t get this area confused with the quality or quantity of the office versus photo printers. This is the point where you take the time to consider the frequency at which you will need to use your printer. Will you need it to print hundreds of documents each day, or only a few here and there? Purchasing a heavy duty printer can be nice, but unnecessary if you are barely going to use it for all its worth.

Cost per page (CPP)

This is actually one of the most important factors you’ll need to consider when choosing a printer. The cost per page is what helps you determine your actual costs of using it so you can compare with the amount of pages you expect to need a printer for. What goes into this factor is how much printing ink costs versus how often you will need to purchase more ink for the tasks you will need the printer for. Carefully consider the costs of ink cartridges as well as the availability of those cartridges in various stores before making a decision.

Ease of use and connectivity

It’s so easy to get caught up in all the hype behind certain printers because of how fancy they appear (and very well may be). Be careful that you don’t allow a salesperson to talk you into buying a printer you get home and have no clue how to even power on. Having a printer you can easily understand and operate goes a long way in regards to keeping your time using it productive.

Hopefully these factors will help you in making the critical decision of choosing the best printer. Everyone and every business has different needs. Remembering your specific needs and making sure to include them in your decision will help you to save lots of money and avoid unnecessary troubles later on.