I must admit that I'd be absolutely lost without the growing number of desktop and laptop computers, printers, digital cameras and all the other assorted electronic equipment in my house and home office. I know I once got along without all this gear, but that was back in the olden days, in the last millennium. Today I absolutely depend on it. What this means is that I buy a lot of stuff, and I have formed some definite opinions about where I do my shopping and what places I avoid like the plague.
I hate to say it, but #1 on my list of places to avoid are the big electronics chain stores. They are certainly convenient and their prices are usually in the ballpark. And all their glossy brochures have lured me more than once when I quickly needed some RAM, a disk, or a new inkjet printer. Problem is that their sales people are embarrassingly clueless and often only interested in selling extended service contracts. No thank you.
When I build a new desktop computer I occasionally buy the parts from a local electronics superstore. Those places are a geek's paradise, or they could be if it weren't for a couple of really annoying deal breakers. First, half of the boards don't work after I bring them home. And second, I absolutely refuse to buy things that are only a good deal after a mail-in rebate or two. I've been burned too many times with rebates. No more.
Office supply stores are stocking more and more electronic equipment. So when I go buy a ream of paper or some other small stuff I often end up looking at their laptops and digital cameras. And once I even bought a notebook computer there, something that I later regretted as there was, of course, no service or support. I actually like the office supply stores and have no problem buying things like laser printer cartridges there, but that's about it for computer stuff.
Another bad practice that's taking over is luring customers with low prices, make them wade through several order screens, and then break the bad news, like some gargantuan shipping charge or that, sadly, the item is not in stock. Do that to me once and I won't be back.
So where do I get most of my electronics gear? Online. I love being able to browse online stores at my leisure, without any sales pressure and usually with all the information I need. I like neat, clean just-the-facts stores that specialize in the kind of gear I want. I don't need useless "reviews" by folks who always seem to have an axe to grind or hate everything. And I don't need long lists of the 99 lowest prices on the web. All I want is information and a good selection. I do expect a degree of customer support in case I have questions, and most of the better online stores can handle that easily.
Had someone told me 10 or 15 years ago that some day I'd buy things like laptops, digital cameras, printers or even desktop computers online from some website far away, I'd have laughed. But that's where I get most of my electronic equipment and gadgets from these days, and I've rarely ever had a bad experience. Those online stores seem to try a lot harder, and that's good news for guys like me.
Tampilkan postingan dengan label inkjet printer. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label inkjet printer. Tampilkan semua postingan
Sabtu, 24 Desember 2011
Minggu, 14 Februari 2010
Choosing A Printer For Your Home Office Use
Are you looking for a printer for your home office use? It is a rather daunting task especially since you are surrounded by so many choices that can really make it difficult to select the best home office printer from the shelf. And researching over the internet just doesn't help much because every website worth its salt, talks about "best printer ever is..." just adding to the confusion!
If you are like me, then the biggest obstacle you will face is just not being sure where to begin your search. Gosh! There are just too many types of printers and brands to choose from….being spoilt for choice just does not help here.
Let us cut to the chase and start at the very beginning. By now you must be really wondering, "How many types of printers are there?". The last time I counted, there were three basic types and I am sure that number is still constant. These three types are laser, inkjet, and dot matrix. We are going to look at each of these type individually and then share the pros and cons of each type of home office printer with you so that you are clear on whether it fits with your business/home requirements or not.
Dot Matrix
It's the oldest type of printer currently in the market. Similar to a typewriter in function, they print using an inked ribbon that is impressed upon by a printhead to generate the print on the paper. Dot matrix printers were considered pioneers at the time of introduction. However, now their technology is redundant, because better performing printers have been introduced since then.
That being said, it's also a common sight to still find many companies using these printers. Why, did you ask? Because dot matrix printers are the only printers capable of producing carbon copies, making it easy for banks and payroll departments of companies to tolerate these noisy beasts!
If you also require a printer for this specific need, dot matrix printer will do the job well. Here’s what you need to consider:
Dot Matrix Printer's Pros
* Can easily print on multipart forms (read carbon copy)
* Very economical
Dot Matrix Printer's Cons
* Very noisy
* Poor quality output
Inkjet
One of my favorite types of printer, inkjet printer works by ejecting many hundreds of tiny drops of ink on to the paper. Each company has its own technology but the common this is the result - noiseless, crisp printing at low costs.
The cartridges used in these printers cost a fortune. But that's how printer companies make their money. They keep the cost of the printer low but make the cartridges expensive. And did you know that it is cheaper to fill a pool with vintage champagne than with printer ink?
The resolution or the quality of print offered by inkjet printers is measured in DPI or (dots per inch). The higher the DPI, the better the print quality. You can also choose from colored printers to photorealistic models. If you are require the printer for printing high quality graphic work or want to print family pictures, a photo inkjet printer can be avoided.
An inkjet printer can be yours for around $85 to $200. Don’t aim for the really cheap ones because you’ll be disappointed by the performance. Check some inkjet printers here. Remember; as far as printers go, you'll get what you pay for.
Inkjet Printer's Pros
* Quiet operation
* High quality print outs
Inkjet Printer's Cons
* Ink tends to smudge
* Cartridges are very expensive to replace
Laser
A high-end printer technology, laser printers have been available for some time now. Though complex in printing technology, laser printers give you great quality prints. Each paper that passes through the printer is given a negative charge while the toner is positively charged. These opposite charges attract toner to the paper where it is heated to make it hold onto the paper.
The laser's functionality is limited to "drawing" out which parts of the page should be positive or negative in charge.
A great print quality and excellent, quite functioning, laser printers are the most expensive of all printer types and the cost of their spares can be jaw dropping! If you want to know the cost of running the printer, simply ask the salesperson for this information for the first 12 months. DON'T buy a laser printer without knowing what the first year’s cost is going to be.
Laser Printer's Pros
* Extremely fast
* Impressive black and color print quality
Laser Printer's Cons
* High running costs
* Expensive Repairs
So finally that one question that is still left unanswered. "What is the best home office printer?". This really depends on your need and your budget. According to common knowledge, a mid-range inkjet printer from HP, Lexmark, Epson, or Canon would sever your SOHO needs well. And remember; stick with printer manufacturers that you recognize.
If you are like me, then the biggest obstacle you will face is just not being sure where to begin your search. Gosh! There are just too many types of printers and brands to choose from….being spoilt for choice just does not help here.
Let us cut to the chase and start at the very beginning. By now you must be really wondering, "How many types of printers are there?". The last time I counted, there were three basic types and I am sure that number is still constant. These three types are laser, inkjet, and dot matrix. We are going to look at each of these type individually and then share the pros and cons of each type of home office printer with you so that you are clear on whether it fits with your business/home requirements or not.
Dot Matrix
It's the oldest type of printer currently in the market. Similar to a typewriter in function, they print using an inked ribbon that is impressed upon by a printhead to generate the print on the paper. Dot matrix printers were considered pioneers at the time of introduction. However, now their technology is redundant, because better performing printers have been introduced since then.
That being said, it's also a common sight to still find many companies using these printers. Why, did you ask? Because dot matrix printers are the only printers capable of producing carbon copies, making it easy for banks and payroll departments of companies to tolerate these noisy beasts!
If you also require a printer for this specific need, dot matrix printer will do the job well. Here’s what you need to consider:
Dot Matrix Printer's Pros
* Can easily print on multipart forms (read carbon copy)
* Very economical
Dot Matrix Printer's Cons
* Very noisy
* Poor quality output
Inkjet
One of my favorite types of printer, inkjet printer works by ejecting many hundreds of tiny drops of ink on to the paper. Each company has its own technology but the common this is the result - noiseless, crisp printing at low costs.
The cartridges used in these printers cost a fortune. But that's how printer companies make their money. They keep the cost of the printer low but make the cartridges expensive. And did you know that it is cheaper to fill a pool with vintage champagne than with printer ink?
The resolution or the quality of print offered by inkjet printers is measured in DPI or (dots per inch). The higher the DPI, the better the print quality. You can also choose from colored printers to photorealistic models. If you are require the printer for printing high quality graphic work or want to print family pictures, a photo inkjet printer can be avoided.
An inkjet printer can be yours for around $85 to $200. Don’t aim for the really cheap ones because you’ll be disappointed by the performance. Check some inkjet printers here. Remember; as far as printers go, you'll get what you pay for.
Inkjet Printer's Pros
* Quiet operation
* High quality print outs
Inkjet Printer's Cons
* Ink tends to smudge
* Cartridges are very expensive to replace
Laser
A high-end printer technology, laser printers have been available for some time now. Though complex in printing technology, laser printers give you great quality prints. Each paper that passes through the printer is given a negative charge while the toner is positively charged. These opposite charges attract toner to the paper where it is heated to make it hold onto the paper.
The laser's functionality is limited to "drawing" out which parts of the page should be positive or negative in charge.
A great print quality and excellent, quite functioning, laser printers are the most expensive of all printer types and the cost of their spares can be jaw dropping! If you want to know the cost of running the printer, simply ask the salesperson for this information for the first 12 months. DON'T buy a laser printer without knowing what the first year’s cost is going to be.
Laser Printer's Pros
* Extremely fast
* Impressive black and color print quality
Laser Printer's Cons
* High running costs
* Expensive Repairs
So finally that one question that is still left unanswered. "What is the best home office printer?". This really depends on your need and your budget. According to common knowledge, a mid-range inkjet printer from HP, Lexmark, Epson, or Canon would sever your SOHO needs well. And remember; stick with printer manufacturers that you recognize.
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