CNET printer buying guide
CNET editors' printer buying guide:
What kind of printer is best for me?
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The printer buying guide from CNET's editorial experts is all the input you need to get the best output.
What kind of printer is best for me?
Choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. There are several different types of printing technology to choose from, each suited for different needs. Printers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny travel companions to workgroup workhorses; some are geared toward photographers, others are for multitaskers. And the many specifications for resolution and speed can be misleading. As a rule of thumb, inkjet printers are a must for long-lasting photos, while laser printers are best to produce speedy text documents.
User types:
Home user |
Budding novelist |
Digital photographer |
Entrepreneur |
Corporate cog |
Frequent flier
Home user
The home user demands a lot from a printer. The device must tackle everything from a book report to a newsletter to the occasional snapshot--all without breaking the budget. This is why for most home users, the best choice is a versatile and affordable printer, such as a small-office/home-office color inkjet. These printers cost anywhere from $50 to $150 and are designed to do a little of everything, albeit slowly.The alternative: Get a personal laser printer for fast, quality text and graphics (starting at around $200) and a second printer--either a color inkjet optimized for photos or a snapshot printer--for digital photography. Or, if you work out of your home, consider a multifunction printer.
Budding novelist
Planning on writing the Great American Novel? You'll need a printer that can crank out page after page of text in double time. A personal laser printer should fit the bill. It can deliver epic amounts of crisp, legible text faster than Grisham finishes a new thriller. Personal laser printers start at around $200 or so, but they cost less to operate than inkjets do, so you can save up money for the book tour. Inexpensive, personal lasers are also a good option for college students busy churning out term papers.The alternative: A general-purpose inkjet can also get the job done, and it gives you the added flexibility to print in color when necessary. But spend a little extra--more than $100--for a decent model that will be a little faster and won't chew through expensive ink and paper quite as quickly.
Digital photographer
Any inkjet can print photos in color, but if you want results that approach professional photofinishing, you'll need a printer that is designed to reproduce the dynamic range of photographs. If you're in the market for an enthusiast printer, you need to look at the gamut and characteristics of the ink set, the supported papers, and the color-management tools. If you plan to purchase only one printer or are a serious hobbyist, a letter-size inkjet is your best bet, since it can also handle routine printing tasks. Many use thermal dye-transfer technology (also known as dye sublimation) in which heat changes the physical state of solid inks until they infuse specially coated paper, solidifying as they cool. Snapshot printers can print directly from compatible digital cameras.If you're into digital photography but you also run a busy home office, consider a multifunction printer. Manufacturers of these all-in-ones have been working on improving photo output and scanning technology. Plus, most now boast memory card slots, LCDs to preview prints, and other convenient imaging-related features.
Entrepreneur
If you work from a home office frequently or run a small business, a multifunction printer (MFP) is an excellent choice. Also known as all-in-ones (AIOs), these multitalented devices combine an inkjet or a laser printer with a copier, a scanner, and a fax machine. They save both space and money. Though inkjet models start as low as $100, we recommend spending slightly more for a model that includes standalone faxing and has an auto document feeder (ADF) for easily faxing and copying multipage documents.The alternative: If you already have a standalone fax or scanner, a personal laser printer should meet your needs; many color laser printers now cost less than $500.
Corporate cog
If you need a workhorse that can keep up with your small business or team within a larger organization, a workgroup laser printer is an obvious choice. Designed to juggle multiple print jobs, these systems have faster processors, more memory, and print engines that are capable of churning out more than 20 pages per minute. But these $400-and-up printers are more than souped-up personal lasers; they offer workgroup features, such as network printing, high-capacity toner cartridges, and larger paper input and output trays.The alternative: A business-class inkjet may be sufficient if your team has modest printing needs, and some models support network printing.
Jet-setter
If you really need to take the whole office in your notebook bag, there's a printer out there for you. Portable printers shrink inkjet printing down into a convenient travel size. They weigh anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds and typically come with a battery (either standard or as an option) or a car charger for printing on the go. Some manufacturers are even adding support for printing wirelessly from a cell phone.The alternative: For most business travelers, the best alternative is no printer at all. If you have a wired or wireless network connection, you can usually find a printer in most offices. And if you really get in a jam, you can always use a hotel business center or an airport kiosk.
CNET editors' printer buying guide:
What are my printer buying options?
The printer buying guide from CNET's editorial experts is all the input you need to get the best output.
What are my options?
Most buyers start with a general notion of the type of printer they'll need. The reason is that different printing technologies are suited for different printing needs and budgets. Find out more here about the basic types of printers and their pros and cons.
Printer options: Personal laser | Workgroup laser | Inkjet | Multifunction/all-in-one | Photo/snapshot | Portable
Personal laser
Samsung ML-3051N
Key features
| Interface: | USB, parallel, and RJ-45 (Ethernet) |
| Resolution: | 600x600 dots per inch (dpi) and up |
| Rated speed: | 10 to 20 pages per minute (ppm) |
| Memory: | 32MB or more |
| Paper capacity: | 150 to 250 sheets standard input tray |
Workgroup laser
Lexmark C532dn
Key features
| Interface: | USB, parallel, and RJ-45 (Ethernet) |
| Resolution: | 600x600 or 1,200x1,200 dots per inch (dpi) |
| Rated speed: | More than 20 pages per minute (ppm) |
| Memory: | 64MB or more |
| Paper capacity: | 250 sheets or more standard input tray |
Inkjet
HP Officejet Pro K5400
Key features
| Interface: | USB, parallel, Ethernet |
| Resolution: | Varies widely by manufacturer and model |
| Rated speed: | 5 to 20 pages per minute (ppm) |
| Memory: | Measured in KB |
| Paper capacity: | 100 sheets or more standard input tray |
Multifunction/all-in-one
Canon Pixma MP960
Key features
| Interface: | USB and Ethernet |
| Resolution: | Depends on printer technology |
| Rated speed: | Depends on printer technology |
| Memory: | 32MB and up |
| Paper capacity: | 100 sheets or more standard input tray |
Photo/snapshot
Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Professional Edition
Key features
| Interface: | Media card slots, PictBridge, USB |
| Resolution: | Varies by technology |
| Rated speed: | Varies by technology |
| Memory: | Measured in KB, not MB |
| Paper capacity: | Varies by technology |
Portable
Canon ip90
Key features
| Interface: | USB |
| Resolution: | Varies by manufacturer |
| Rated speed: | Less than 10 pages per minute (ppm) |
| Memory: | Minimal |
| Paper capacity: | Anywhere from a few sheets at a time to 50 sheets standard input |
CNET editors' printer buying guide:
How do I sort out printer specs?
The printer buying guide from CNET's editorial experts is all the input you need to get the best output.
How do I sort out the specs?
When evaluating printers, the first thing you're likely to see is a long list of specifications chock-full of acronyms such as dpi and ppm. Not only are all these specs confusing, they often have little or no bearing on the performance you'll actually get in the real world. Here's how to keep it all straight.
Required specs:
Resolution |
Print speeds |
Connectivity |
Processor and memory |
Paper handling
Resolution
One of the most widely used specifications, the resolution refers to the maximum number of dots per inch (dpi) that can be printed, measured both horizontally and vertically. For example, a 600x600dpi laser printer lays down a one-inch square composed of 600 dots across by 600 dots down. In theory, a printer with a higher resolution is capable of producing more-detailed text and images, as seen in this representation:
Though manufacturers have inflated the numbers for marketing purposes, and the numbers no longer correlate directly with higher image quality, resolution still has some bearing on the quality of text and curves, especially on premium papers.
Print speeds
This spec measures how many pages or photos per minute (ppm) a printer spits out. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Unfortunately, it's not so simple. To come up with the fastest-possible speeds, some manufacturers test using basic text documents at the lowest-quality print settings (Draft mode) on plain paper--not exactly a real-world test. Based on our experience, you can expect to see about half the speed promised by the manufacturer.Connectivity
The USB (Universal Serial Bus) is truly universal--all printers now have a USB 2.0 port. But if you want to go old school, you'll still find plenty of printers that accept those big, 25-pin parallel cables. Workgroup printers also support printing over a network using a standard Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector. For even better mobility, many models support printing wirelessly, using infrared, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi access points with built-in print servers.
Processor and memory
Paper handling
CNET editors' printer buying guide:
How do I judge print quality?
The printer buying guide from CNET's editorial experts is all the input you need to get the best output.
How do I judge print quality?
The cardinal rule of purchasing a printer is to print before you pay. Otherwise, there's no surefire way to tell exactly how text and images will appear. Fortunately, many retail stores let you print demonstration pages to get a feel for the output quality. Here are some things to watch for, courtesy of CNET Labs.
Quality criteria: Text | Graphics | Photos
Text
Graphics
The printer demonstration should print several geometric shapes of different sizes and shading. The outlines should be crisp with smooth curves; inside areas of solid colors should appear dense and evenly shaded. Also look for areas where a color goes from dark to light (a gradient). Is it a smooth transition, or can you see color banding, distinct bands progressing from darker to lighter? Large areas of flat color should appear solid and even, rather than muddy. Some printers try to dazzle the eye with overly saturated colors; others skimp on ink, leaving images that appear washed out. Look for a nice, natural-looking balance between the two. Printhead banding--that is, visible horizontal stripes across a page--could be caused by a clogged nozzle, a poorly aligned bidirectional printhead, or a poor rendering algorithm (gradients aren't rendered smoothly).
Photos
When evaluating print quality, there are four chief considerations:Color accuracy
Compared to the original, the colors should be accurate, pleasing, and well balanced. Colors should be vivid but not oversaturated. Look at a monochrome photo under fluorescent light, incandescent light, and daylight. How badly does the color cast change from one light to another (called metamerism)? Be sure to look for inconsistencies across different paper types and print resolutions.
Sharpness
Is the output sufficiently sharp? Any jaggies? If you see problems, do you have any theories about what's going on? Does the lack of sharpness have to do with printhead or color misregistration?
Dynamic range
Can you see detail in highlight and shadow areas, or are they rendered as flat or with no color? Does the printout look muddy or low contrast?
Artifacts
Do you see any banding? How about evidence of a clogged nozzle? Excessive dot gain? Any other weird stuff going on?
CNET editors' printer buying guide:
What will a printer really cost me?
The printer buying guide from CNET's editorial experts is all the input you need to get the best output.
What will it really cost me?
The prices of personal printers look pretty enticing, especially those sub-$100 models. But keep in mind that the purchase price is just the start: the care and feeding of a printer can quickly exceed the original cost. Before pulling out your credit card, be sure to compare the costs of consumables.
Costs: Ink and toner | Paper | Other extras
Ink and toner
Inkjets are the least expensive printers available, with many models starting at less than $100. The catch? The consumables, such as replacement inks and specialty papers, can cost you an arm and a leg. Ink typically costs between $12 and $60 per cartridge and can last for 100 to 200 pages. More expensive printers, however, tend to be more economical to operate because they have higher-capacity ink tanks and separate ink tanks for each color so that you don't need to replace everything when only one color runs dry. To save some money, you can purchase a compatible ink-refill kit from a separate company, though you may not get the same reliability or print quality.Laser toner cartridges vary greatly in price, yield, and print capabilities. Toner cartridges generally cost from $10 for a small cartridge for a personal laser printer to as much as $300 for a high-capacity cartridge for a networked workgroup laser printer. Toner costs seem high, but so is the yield. A cartridge typically prints between 2,500 and 10,000 pages (although some claim to print as many as 30,000), so the cost per page is a few pennies for text (at 5 percent coverage) and not much more for images (with 15 percent coverage). Pay attention to the expiration dates, though; some cartridges (HP's in particular) will stop working at a set time, no matter how much ink is left. Also, consider paying a little more for a separate toner cartridge and drum kit, rather than the usual combination unit. That way, you don't have to replace the drum, which is often capable of handling many more print jobs, every time you replace the toner.
The chart below illustrates the cost of printing 1,000 pages on a budget inkjet (750 pages of black text and 250 pages of color images), a personal laser, and a midrange office laser. Factoring in the cost of the printer and the cost of the printed pages, the lasers still cost more in total, but that's because their purchase price was so much higher. The cost of printing pages on the inkjet, however, has already overtaken the cost of purchasing the actual printer. If you project out to printing 3,000 pages on each printer, the inkjet's total cost rockets to $291.75, compared to the personal laser's $278 and the midrange laser's $294.
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Dye-sublimation printers have the advantage of a fixed cost per print, since each print eats up the identical amount of ribbon, regardless of photo content. On the other hand, the prices for packs of ribbons and paper can be exorbitant, sometimes as much as $2 per photo.
Paper
If there's one thing we've learned from CNET Labs' extensive printer testing, it's that better-quality paper yields better-quality printouts. For the best results, you really need to bite the bullet and buy the coated or specialty paper recommended by the manufacturer of your model. This is particularly true for inkjets, photo printers, and multifunction devices. Special paper can cost 10 cents to $2 per letter-size sheet, but it is essential if you want to print crisp-looking text or high-resolution photos.Other extras
The biggest gotcha with many printers is the printer cable. Incredibly, many manufacturers don't even include one because retailers want to sell you one separately for anywhere from $10 to $30. Before leaving the store, read the box to determine whether you'll need to buy one separately. For some business inkjets and laser printers, network connectivity is optional, as well.If you're purchasing a workgroup printer or an advanced multifunction printer, you should also consider some paper-handling features that are frequently offered as add-ons, such as larger-capacity input trays; output bins for collating, stapling, and other finishing options; and auto documents feeders for copying and faxing multipage documents.