Choosing a printer for home use. Choosing a printer: practical advice before purchasing

The market offers a wide range of printing devices. Knowing what types of printers exist and how they differ will help you make the right choice. Each type of device has its pros and cons. Having familiarized yourself with the varieties of printers in detail, you can choose the type that is most suitable for you. home use or to solve problems in the office.

Equipment manufacturers produce various models of peripheral devices for printing, which may vary technical specifications, appearance, size, features of work. Depending on the technology used, the work is based on the following main types of printers:

matrix;
jet;
laser;
LED.

The varieties of printers can also include an MFP - a multifunctional device that performs several options. Each type has its own characteristics and characteristics, and also copes with various tasks. Before heading to the store for a new device, learn more about the types of printers and their characteristics.

These are the first devices for printing, the peak of popularity of which was more than 10 years ago. Now more modern models have taken their place, so the production of matrix devices has practically ceased.

Principle of operation

Dot matrix printers work in much the same way as a typewriter. The operation of the device is based on a matrix, which consists of needles (usually there are 9, 18 or 24 of them). Now only devices with a 24-needle matrix are produced, which allows you to get the highest print quality. Between the paper, which moves on the shaft, and the printing unit (matrix), there is an ink ribbon. When the needles hit it, the dots from them are transferred to the paper. Print codes for characters, letters, and numbers are stored in the machine's memory.

Advantages and disadvantages

These printers offer the following benefits:

low price of the device;
simultaneous printing up to 3 copies (between the paper it is necessary to lay a copy paper);
printing on roll paper;
low cost per sheet.

Dot-matrix printers cannot provide high quality printing, and they are quite noisy. Printers of this type are an excellent option for enterprises where there are no conditions for more modern models or copies of documents are made in large volumes, but there are no high quality requirements. They are not suitable for home use due to poor print quality and noise.

Over the past decade, inkjet printers have made great progress in development. They allow you to get high quality color printing. Black and white models of such devices are no longer available.

Principle of operation

Inkjet printers print by spraying ink through very small nozzles. The image is made up of small dots. For printing, quick-drying inks of four colors are used:

Black (black);
Cyan (blue);
Magenta (magenta);
Yellow (yellow).

Modern inkjet photo printers use 6 colors, which allows you to increase the brightness and saturation of colors. Features of the printing technology of different manufacturers may have slight differences.

Advantages and disadvantages

This type of printer is popular among users because it has the following advantages:

affordable cost of the device;
high quality color printing;
the ability to print photos using special photo paper;
almost silent operation;
economy in terms of energy consumption;
the ability to print on paper, film and other materials.

The advantages also include the versatility of some models, for example, you can print photos from a camera without connecting to a computer.

The disadvantages include:

high cost of printing;
slow print speed (when compared with laser models);
high cost of maintenance (purchase of ink cartridges and special paper).

Inkjet devices are suitable for those who want to print high quality photo and color documents. The low cost of models of this type captivates many users, but keep in mind that the cost of consumables will be high. If the device is rarely used for printing, the ink may dry out and the cartridges may need to be replaced.

Today, printers that use laser technology are the most common, as they provide high print quality and performance. In most cases, printers of this type provide monochrome printing, but there are also color models.

Principle of operation

At the heart of the laser printer is a movable drum, as in a copier. Printing consists of several stages. First, a laser beam applies an image to a sheet of paper that moves on a drum. After that, the toner, a powder of electrically charged particles, falls on the applied image and is fixed by sintering when passing through a heated roller. The technology provides high-quality printing, which is not afraid of water and the sun's rays.

Advantages and disadvantages

Many users opt for laser printers for their advantages:

high performance;
low cost of printing;
high printing speed;
high-quality printing, resistant to water and ultraviolet;
low noise level.

The radiation level is minimal, so the device does not cause harm to human health. Can be used for printing high volume documents.

The main disadvantage of such devices is the high price compared to models based on inkjet technology.

LED printers

The new generation of LED printers is still very expensive, so not everyone can afford such a model.

Principle of operation

LED printing technology is in many ways similar to laser printing. The light source in such devices is not a laser beam, but a strip of LEDs. Application of this modern technology allows for high quality printing.

Advantages and disadvantages

LED devices, like other types of printers, have their advantages and disadvantages. The main pluses are:

high quality printing;
high speed;
silent operation;
performance.

Due to the high cost, this technique is still inferior in popularity to other types of printers.

A multifunctional device (MFP) is used for printing documents and photos, scanning and copying, receiving or sending faxes, as it combines the options of several peripheral devices at once.

Great for small offices with limited space as well as home use. Combining multiple peripherals in one saves usable space.

Principle of operation

The operation of the MFP can be based on inkjet or laser technology, and models that work on LEDs are also appearing on the market. Features of the operation of the device depend on the technology used.

Advantages and disadvantages

If you are interested in what types of printers are currently available, you have familiarized yourself with the main varieties. According to many consumers, the MFP is a great option for home use and small offices. It has the following advantages:

combines several peripheral devices;
it is much cheaper compared to purchasing each device separately;
allows you to save space;
differs in low cost of the press;
can print on both sides;
has high performance.

Depending on the model, some MFPs can be used to print documents and photos, at the same time, such devices have their drawbacks:

if the MFP fails, the work of the entire office will stop;
when the toner runs out, the scanner may not work;
slower copy speed and higher copy cost.

Knowing all the main types of printers, you will be able to make a rational choice. It is impossible to answer unequivocally the question of how to choose the type of device, since it is necessary to take into account the tasks set (how often and how much you plan to print), the required quality, operating conditions, financial capabilities and other factors. Do not forget to consider the features, disadvantages and advantages of each type.

An inkjet photo printer is a popular type of printer used to create high quality prints from a computer. Printers are affordable and easy to use. Due to availability and low cost, most consumers use inkjet printers for everyday printing.

In photo printers, a memory card slot is often integrated. Thus, you can connect the memory card of a digital machine directly to the printer. On the built-in display, select the desired images and print photos without detours. In addition, there is a Bluetooth interface that allows you to transfer photos from your phone to a printer.

pros

Great for photos and images on complex documents.
Does the job of mixing colors better than laser.
Inkjet printers are cheaper.
Inkjets prints on many types of paper, including photo glossy and even some fabrics.
Almost no warm-up time before printing.
Inkjet cartridges are refillable, reducing costs and saving money.
An inkjet is typically smaller, lighter, and easier to maintain than a laser printer.

Minuses

For inkjet printing, ink is more expensive.
The ink is water-based, so prints are sensitive to water damage and prone to fading.
Inkjet cartridges require frequent cleaning. Although the printer does its own maintenance automatically, it still uses a lot of ink to refill.
The speed of inkjet printers has become faster, but still printing is slow compared to laser Significant volumes of printed products beyond the power of inkjet printers.
Worse UV stability. Pale toners.
Some inkjet printers produce grey, fuzzy text when printed on plain office paper.
Inkjet printers for home use have low capacity paper trays of around 50-100 sheets. There are almost no output trays. This can be a problem if you publish a lot of printed matter.
The ink cartridges and print head may dry out.

Inkjet printers are bought for two reasons:

Advantages

Firstly, the production technology of inkjet printers is quite old and well-known does not allow prices to rise too high. Another reason is that many manufacturers sell printers with very little marking, even at a loss. This is because they make a lot of money selling original cartridges. When you go shopping, be sure to look at running costs, not just the price tag of a new printer. The Lexmark printer, for example, is much cheaper than other brands. However, current costs far exceed other costs.

Inkjet printers are very easy to use and most of them are supported by standard computer programs. Even those that aren't easy to set up come with installation CDs and are supported on many Linux and Mac computers. Inkjet devices are quite small, which means they can be moved from table to table if needed. Small portable printers are available to take along with your laptop.

Flaws

Almost all photo printers require the use of original cartridges. It's quite expensive, and while compatible cartridges are available, they generally don't guarantee full performance. The ink is not completely used up, the cartridges produce waste and the user is forced to throw away what could really be used. Really a good option is to use a continuous system that does not use cartridges. Instead, the ink is drawn from a large reservoir that can be refilled at home.

Ink is another issue. Printing on porous paper, such as carbon paper, will cause the paper to appear damp. You must use special photo paper when printing photos. Laser color does not suffer from this problem because it does not soak into the paper.

The ink needs to dry on paper to form an image. Drying out can occur in the tubes if the printer unit has not been used for some time. Dried ink causes the print mechanism to block, requiring removal and refilling. Cleaning of residues and washing of cartridges is carried out by specialists for a fee. All this ink waste also fills up the sponge inside the printer. This part is not user serviceable, which means that when it overflows with ink, the printer needs to be replaced. All of this shows that inkjet printers are designed to have a limited lifespan.

Summary

Among the advantages inkjet printers Firstly - relatively low purchase price. In addition, the devices are easy to use and are used almost everywhere - from home and office to industry. Ink printers are capable of achieving good color representation, even when printing photographs, and also allow high resolution(up to 1440 dpi or more).

The speed of an inkjet printer depends on the quality of the print, the number of nozzles and the frequency of the nozzle. The nozzle frequency in the Jetdruckern bubble is about 2000 Hertz, with piezo printers 20000-30000 Hertz. At piezo speeds up to 600 cP, the bubble jet reaches up to 200 cP.

The disadvantages of inkjet printers are the high maintenance costs of expensive cartridges on most models.

The principle of operation of a dot matrix printer dates back to typewriters, which worked by striking mirror-imaged metal letter shapes smeared with ink. And since the mechanism of the printing press was too inconvenient to use, they came up with the new kind– matrix. A mechanism of this kind works by decomposing font images into component elements - dots.

The quality of such an image and the printing speed directly depend on the number of those same dots. Dots are printed by striking the paper with a needle through a special tape that is coated with dyes. The speed of such a printer is measured in the number of characters per second. It is not difficult to guess that black and white printing using this method will be much faster. This fact is used by marketers when they indicate the black and white printing speed values in the printer characteristics. Eventually you take the model, try to reproduce a color image, and notice that the speed is not as specified.

Advantages and disadvantages

Although the technology is considered outdated, many people still use it. And it’s not easy, because a dot matrix printer has a great advantage over others in a specific environment of use. Let's take a closer look at all the pros and cons, based on the printing principle of a dot matrix printer.

Advantages:

The very first and main advantage of a dot matrix printer is price. This figure is 10 times lower than that of laser or inkjet models.
Special paper. You can print not only on it - it goes as a plus to the list of other types. This is a cheap and economical option that cannot be used on inkjet and laser printers.
The operating time of a dot matrix printer is 2-3 times longer than that of its analogues. Since the ink tape cannot dry quickly, you can always see in advance that the image quality is starting to fade a little. Other types of printers can simply finish their work at the most inopportune moment, when there is no time to buy new ink or a cartridge.
Copying ability. A dot matrix printer can provide carbon copy printing, which makes it possible to quickly reproduce documents of the same type.
Resistance of printed images to dust and moisture.

Despite the abundance of distinctive qualities of such a device, it also has disadvantages that make it unsuitable in specific cases.

Flaws:

The printer is very noisy. Since a large number of parts work mechanically, the printer creates a very high level of noise. To get rid of this untidy parameter, you will have to purchase a casing specially made for such purposes or place the printer in another cabinet.
Quite low performance. When compared with other models, a dot matrix printer will produce 2-3 times fewer finished pages. Of course, if you use it, copying the same forms, then the speed will be even higher than laser and inkjet. There is also a special mode that increases printing speed. But in this case, you will suffer losses in the quality of the resulting image.
This printer will not be able to print photos. It would be more accurate to say that he will not be able to print well high-quality picture, but the results of such work leave much to be desired. Therefore, a dot matrix printer is completely unsuitable for such purposes.

On this distinctive features devices are running out. I hope the article was useful to you and you can decide whether such a purchase would be profitable.

Surely many people have had this problem. And really, how to choose the right printer this year? What should it be like? How should a laser printer for the home differ from a printer for the office?

Today, supermarkets offer a huge selection of laser printers of different makes, models and sizes. But you can easily choose the right one. All you need to do is decide for what purpose you will use it. After reading this article, you will easily make the right decision. How to choose a good laser printer this year?

Main types

Printers come in laser, inkjet and matrix types. Any of them copes well with a specific task, and based on this, they should be used only for their intended purpose. There is no need to expect a matrix printer to print photos in high quality, or an inkjet printer to print an incredibly record number of pages in one minute. In addition, it is necessary to note the fact that the price of a device may not always indicate its quality. Everything will depend only on the properties of the printer itself: print volume and speed, size, noise level, etc. If you intend to buy a laser printer for home use, then choose one that is quiet and compact. But when a printer is needed for printing a large number documents, photos, sending faxes and scanning papers, you don't need to rely on small sizes.

Let's take a look at all the types of printers and their pros and cons.

Matrix printer

Probably everyone is familiar with the “crackling” sound of a typewriter in a bank, cash register, or store. Its occurrence occurs due to the contact of the metal heads with letters with the ink ribbon, leaving a mark on the paper. A dot matrix laser printer works similar to an old typewriter. However, the only difference is that the device does this automatically. Despite the fact that this technology is very outdated, the dot matrix printer does not lose its popularity today. And the success here is due to the fact that its operation does not require excessive costs. One page of text printed on a dot matrix printer is much cheaper than using other printers. True, this printer clearly lacks speed.

The biggest disadvantage of a dot matrix laser printer is the lack of color printing and poor quality of black and white printing.

Advantages of a dot matrix printer:

Low cost of printed documents

Disadvantages of a dot matrix printer:

Working too slow
Inability to print photos
Printing noise

Most likely, you realized that such a printer can only be used at cash registers. It will not be able to print you a lot of text and pictures.

Jet printer

Today, inkjet printers are the most common. It is fast, compact, capable of making copies of documents and photos in high quality. Plus, it boasts affordable prices. The operation of an inkjet printer is based on a cartridge that is filled with ink. For printing, the method of pushing ink through the nozzles of the print head using gases (thermal technology "Bubble Jet") or diaphragms (piezoelectric technology "Ink Jet") is used. The most popular is the first method, as it allows you to print text in high quality.

Sometimes when printing a photo, there may be a problem with clarity: the printed photo looks a little blurry. Through "Ink Jet" technology, the inkjet machine can print text and photos in high quality.

True, the cost of an inkjet printer with similar technology is much higher. We should not forget that with frequent use, the cartridges wear out very quickly, and if the inkjet is not used for a long time, the ink begins to dry out, due to which the cartridge will soon become unusable. When choosing an inkjet printer, it is advisable to ask about the presence of a color cartridge in it and the number of printed pages when using one cartridge.

Pros of an inkjet printer:

Relatively high print speed
Possibility of printing color photos
Good quality text and pictures
Compact dimensions
Virtually silent operation
Availability of prices

Cons of an inkjet printer:

Expensive consumables
Short life of cartridge print heads
Difficulty replacing ink

It is an inkjet printer that is the leader among cheap models and is perfect for home use.

This year's laser printer has the highest print quality, of course, and the price for it is the highest.

A laser printer works on the same principle as a copier. There is only one difference - images are printed using a laser. Photos and documents printed laser printer, are of high quality and resistant to fading and moisture. For printing, a so-called toner (special powder) is used.

Unlike ink, toner does not dry out in the cartridge. However, the laser printer requires a lot of power to print, so it must be connected to a high power UPS. It is worth noting that such a printer emits ozone when printing, which is harmful to humans. That is why the laser printer must be installed in well-ventilated areas.

Advantages of a laser printer:

Excellent quality of printed text and photos
High speed printing
Availability of the price of one copy
Virtually silent operation

Cons of a laser printer:

High power consumption
High cost of the printer
Ozone release

A laser printer is capable of printing text and images in large volumes. In addition, it perfectly prints color photos at a professional level.

Types of laser printers

A laser printer prints text on paper using a high-speed laser beam. Before the toner is applied to the paper, the laser leaves an electronic imprint. It is very useful to know about the types of laser printers. Based on this, you will understand how to choose the right printer, the best and inexpensive one. Types of laser printers..

Printer for printing on an endless form

A printer for printing on an endless form, as a rule, is needed when it comes to large quantities high quality printed products. With belt feeding of paper, the process is fast and efficient, and thus there is virtually no paper jamming.

This laser printer also uses a powerful stacking device. This makes this printer very effective for printing large volumes of sheets in a short time. This is the best option for business.

Disadvantages of this type of printer

The main problem that owners of laser printers of this type may encounter is their dimensions. Many of these printers are about the size of a medium-sized copier. And first of all, they are produced for the purpose of performing a large volume of automatic work. Therefore, they are unlikely to be suitable for those who want to have a small and convenient printer at home.

black and white

A black and white laser printer is often used for home use, complete with personal computer. When using friction feeder paper feeding, this type of laser printer works best with various types printed items such as photographs, letterhead, envelopes, and transparencies. This is most convenient for non-commercial purposes.

Disadvantages of a black and white laser printer

The problems with such a printer are completely opposite to the problems that can arise with a printer on endless forms. For commercial consumers this species the printer will seem too small and unproductive. If it is not possible to continuously print a lot of pages, while folding the finished printed ones, then this printer will simply not be in demand by users.

What is the best printer

If you are planning to buy the best printer for personal purposes, for example, to print your photos or something else, then a monochrome printer will come in handy. But if you need a printer to print notices, flyers, etc., and also have a clear need to print large volumes with high quality, you are better off purchasing a printer that can print on an infinite form.

After reading this article, you will be able to decide how to choose the right printer this year, and the one you need.

Inkjet printer technology is constantly evolving and improving. Leading manufacturers regularly release new models that are suitable for office use. Innovative technologies together with advanced inks, they allow you to get excellent print quality, which makes inkjet optimal solution for offices.

In general, inkjet printers have many advantages:

Excellent value for money.
The modest dimensions of the device.
Possibility of refilling cartridges by the user.
Possibility to install a continuous ink supply system.
Excellent print quality.
Wide range of print media.

However, it is worth mentioning some of the disadvantages of such devices - not very high printing speed, with a long simple drying of paints and a small resource Supplies.

Low cost printer

Modern printers can perform a huge number of tasks, but inkjet models that can print in color give you much more flexibility in their operation. The low cost of the device itself makes it affordable for many offices, including small ones. At a low cost, this tool allows you to get high quality printing, both text and pictures and photographs. In terms of color reproduction, this device simply has no equal.

You can buy an inkjet printer without leaving your office, in online stores, where a separate catalog with a variety and detailed description models.

Printing color images

Inkjet printers have long delighted users with excellent color images, but there are some nuances that affect print quality. And first of all, it is worth mentioning the volume of the droplet emitted by the nozzles of the print head. The smaller the volume of such a droplet, the clearer the contours of the image are obtained.

The quality of printing color images directly depends on the quality of the ink used, because they must provide bright and vibrant colors. The ink must have a certain fluidity. Equally important for high-quality color printing is the number of colors of ink used.

In a word, printing color images on an inkjet printer depends on several components - ink, paper, and the mechanism of the device. And if we consider modern devices, then here one of decisive factors considered the interaction of paper and ink. Images taken on the same printing device using different brands of ink and paper may differ significantly.

Low noise

Unlike needle printers with a shock-mechanical device, inkjet printers work very quietly. A slight hum comes only from the motor driven by the print head. In general, the noise level during operation of the printer is only 40 dB.

Frequent cartridge replacement

The big minus of inkjet printers is a small resource of consumables, in particular, we are talking about the need to change cartridges often. And the thing is that a new cartridge costs almost as much as half of the entire device. If you use the printer intensively, you will have to change cartridges even more often, which makes printing more expensive.

To this end, manufacturers have provided models equipped with a special continuous ink supply system. Such a system ensures constant pressure in the print head, increases the productivity of the device itself, reduces the cost of printing, allows you to print large volumes without the risk of running out of ink, and easily and simply replenish ink supplies as needed.

Typical breakdowns of inkjet printers

For most inkjet printers, contamination of surfaces and components that come into direct contact with the ink is considered a common problem. The most common problem is the print head or cartridges. As a rule, such defects occur when there is a long downtime in operation or when using poor quality ink. Also, such a breakdown occurs when trying to unskilled self-filling cartridges or cleaning them. That is why the repair preventive actions associated with these complex devices should be trusted by professionals.

Another problem with inkjet printers is a malfunction of the head cleaning unit, which is caused by an excess amount of dried ink. This also occurs with too frequent cleaning of the heads or with intensive use of the device with frequent cartridge changes. In some models, when you change cartridges, head cleaning is performed automatically, even if it is not required.

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