Types of Printers

If you didn't get a printer as part of your computer package, you will definitely be on the lookout for one soon.  My first printer was a dot-matrix- a whirring noisy dotty machine that took up half my desk!

Today we have more streamlined options ..  the most popular technology for home is the inkjet or bubblejet.  Much quieter and no dots!  Cartridges are black or colored and after you've used up half a dozen, you could have bought another printer.  If you want high quality output  you'll end up buying special coated paper.  

Some printers have a print head that gets clogged up if you leave it unused for long - replacing the print head can be almost the cost of the printer.  (I know because I've had to do it twice)  Other brands have the print head built in to the cartridge so you get a nice clean print head each time you change your cartridge. 

Refilled non-branded cartridges are readily available and are much more economical, but the quality can be poor in some cases. Prices of inkjet printers range a lot and are based more on speed than a huge difference in quality.

But if it's speed and quality you're after, the laser printer is the answer.  The prices have come right down so they're an affordable option for the home or home office.  We're talking black and white copies only, color models are still out of reach for most of us.  Their cartridge also needs replacing from time to time.  

There is another option, which I have taken up lately.  It's a combination phone, fax, bubble-jet printer and a scanner.  It seems to do all these functions adequately.  As a phone and fax it is excellent, as a scanner it is reasonable, and as a printer it is average.  If you're setting up for home or home office use it would definitely be an economical  4-in-1 alternative.  The ability to "photocopy" a page is great, and it's a definite improvement to have plain paper faxes which don't deteriorate.  I guess the downside will be if it breaks down - my whole office could be offline, except for email!

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