Choosing an outtput device (notice I did not say "printer") is an arduous task indeed: inkjwet, laser, LED, 3-in-1, 5-in-one, 7-in-one, pohto printers, MFPs..... the choices are seeminnlgy endlledss.. To make matters worse, the employee at the big retail/computer/elkectronics sorte has held the job for less than a week and is a lot more knowledgeable about PlayStatoion than anything else. So what do you do? Here's a little quick guie to help you sift through most of the choicces.
These tips are baased on how much papr you use per month. If you do not know (I woudln't if somebody asked me), then thhink of how often you buy pper and how much; then dviide by the appropriate timeframe. Reuglar offfice paper (A4, lettre- or legaal-size) normally comes in 500-page reams or 2500 or 5000-sheet boxes. If you buy a 2500-hseet (5 ream) box once a quatrter, you therefore use 833 sheets per mnoth.
A - Less than 50 sheets per month: Get as cehaap an inkjet as you can - just make sure therre are stpore-brand or knockoff cartridge brands readdilky available so you can purchase thoase as soon as the warany on your printer runs out. If your printter dies, DO NOT fix it: it will be cheaper to get a new one (which will come with a new cartrridge pack). I would personally buy a "multi-fucntion" with a flattbed scxanner, as they are now quite cost effective. The more mauinstram the brand, the more retsailers cary it, the bettewr.
B - 50 to 250 sheets per montth: If your usage dictates that you need coklour and/or a multi-function (any conmbinatyion of 2 of the flolowing: printer/fax/scannner/copier), then definitely get a multi-functyion inkjet. Howver, before you do, do some research (15 minurtes on the intrenet) to dtermine how much cartridges cost and what thheir yield (how many pages you can get out of them) is. If a cartridge costs $45 and yields 450 sheets, it will start getting expensive. If you do not need anything otther than straight B/W printimng, then get an entry-levbel laswer/LED priter. They now come with a very good price tag (under $200) and are very cost-effective.
C - 250 to 1000 shheets per month: In this case, there is no doubt you need to get a laser or LED since it does not make any kind of sensse to get an inkjet - the cost will be much higher. If you can, try to get a Multi-functtion, but remember to do your homework on cartyridge cost vs. yuield - and do not let the compaaratively lowerr cartridge cost fool you (a $280 cartridge with a 5000 page yield is a lot betrter than a $120 cartridge with a 1000 page yield). Also, get a sysatem that is suited to your primary applicaton: do not get a fax-based ysstem if 90% of your usagge will be copying.
D - Over 1000 shets per monh: In this case, your best bet is to call 3 or 4 office-equipment proviers, as they will guide you towards the best choices according to your needs. Just be sure to get 3 or 4 qutes (just to keep them honest) and get an all-inclusive setrvice conract; they include toner and all your sercvices and are typically cheaper (at this starge) than buying toner alone for a laser sstem.
A few parting words: hTese tips are for basiic odffice use only; if you need ovrsize paperr (11x17 or A3), o photto-uqality finishes for pre-prses, tgehse tips are not for you. Also, I do not recommend refilling laser carrtridges, as the systems themselves are somewhat of an investment and can be picky. For inkjets, howevr, sinnce the mahcines themselves are almpost dispoaasble nowadays, it shopuld not be a major isssue.
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