Buying a new printer is a big decision. With the variety of features and price points, it can be hard to know what printer will be best for your business. If it’s time to replace or add a printer in your office, consider these factors.
What are you using it for?
There are two basic types of office printers: inkjet and laser. These can come at a variety of price points, with inkjet generally being less expensive upfront. However, the cost of ink can add up significantly, while toner for laser printers needs to be replaced less often. So which should you choose?
If you’re anticipating a low volume of printing, and it will be primarily text-based, an inkjet printer may be a good choice. These are smaller and lighter than laser printers, and less of an upfront investment. You can get them in black and white or color models, with a variety of features.
For higher volume printing, a laser printer is the better choice. They can produce large volumes of prints more efficiently and economically than an inkjet printer.
What extra features would you like?
Do you just need to print, or do you also need to scan, copy, and fax? A multifunction printer can perform a variety of tasks, saving space in the office and money vs. buying separate machines.
Printers come with a variety of features you should consider, including:
- Wireless printing
- Mobile printing
- Color vs. black and white
- Collating options
- Cloud access
These and other features can enhance your business, allowing you to do more tasks more easily.
Is it secure?
Unsecured printers are the weak link on the office network, and hackers use this knowledge to gain access to your network devices and data. It’s essential that any new device, including your printer, have security features to protect you. Data encryption, user authentication, and pull printing are three types of security that can help improve the security of your network and data.
Buying a new printer can be confusing, and can be a large investment, so it’s important to carefully consider your needs and budget before making the leap.
Are you looking to add multiple printers to your fleet? Talk to us about our Managed Print Service solutions that include hardware, service and supplies at one low cost per page.
