SHARK BITES – How to Pick The Right Printer
Finding the right printer can be really frustrating. One printer might have WiFi capability, but it’s way out of 
your price range. Another might be less expensive, but the ink replacements aren’t. And what’s the difference between an inkjet and a laser printer? Use these tips to help you pick the printer that’s right for you:
your price range. Another might be less expensive, but the ink replacements aren’t. And what’s the difference between an inkjet and a laser printer? Use these tips to help you pick the printer that’s right for you:1. Use– How will you use the printer? Will it be a nice addition to your office with a scanner, copier and fax? Will you be printing photos from it? Does it need to have wireless printing capability? Figure out what you’ll be using the printer for, then check your options. If you won’t be printing photos, for example, don’t purchase a printer with all the bells and whistles. The printer and ink will both be more expensive and you may get frustrated with all of the extras when completing simple tasks like printing coupons.
2. Quality & Reviews – Knowing a printer works well for one person, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best printer for you and your needs. Check out the rating and reviews of the printer. Previous buyers that review it will be using it for all sorts of reasons. They’ll give us a great indication of the quality and lifespan of a printer. For example, this CANON PIXMA MG6620 Printer has a 4 out of 5 star rating from over 900 reviewers, and over 400 questions about the printer were answered. This information is really useful when you match your needs with the reviews of customers that had similar needs in a printer.
3. Ink Life – You definitely don’t want a printer that’s going to suck up the ink you buy. That stuff is expensive! You want great prints that use the least amount of ink. Go for the bundle packs of printer ink, in XL sizes. These generally give you more ink at a better price. If the ink for your inexpensive printer seems to cost more, you may consider purchasing a more expensive printer with cheaper ink cartridges. You only buy the printer once, but you’ll be buying replacement ink for the life of that printer.
Not sure if you should be purchasing an inkjet or laser printer? Here is a very quick run-down of the pros and cons of each:
INKJET PRINTER – PROS
* Very affordable to purchase
* Great for photos, fine point printing and general printing needs
* No warm up time needed to get started
* Most cartridges can be refilled and reused
* Small and lightweight
* Variety of paper weights is compatible (regular printer paper, stock paper, photo paper, etc.)
INKJET PRINTER – CONS
* You’ll need to replace ink more frequently than a laser printer
* Ink is water-based, which can lead to fading over time
* If your printer requires cleaning constantly, that can waste ink.
LASER PRINTER – PROS
* Very fast printing capability, in high volumes
* Perfect black pitch of color – great for presentations
* Great for producing a lot of cheaper prints like coupons
LASER PRINTER – CONS
* If your toner leaks (common problem), you’re in big trouble
* Not compatible with different paper weights
* Warm up time
* Bigger and Bulkier
So, now that you have a bit of a comparison, you’ll be able to make the right choice in printers for you and your home!
~Sharky
What is “Shark Bites”? Shark Bites is a money-saving tips series here on FreebieShark that aims to help you and your family get the most out of your money. “Shark Bites” posts are both educational and straight to the point. Just another way FreebieShark is helping you save!
