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Printers 101 - Introduction
Printers in the office are a common standard, however when choosing the right printer beyond the price may hold hidden value to you and your organization long term. Here are some good questions to ask yourself before moving forward with a purchase.
- Do you need an Inkjet, Solid Ink or Laser based system?
- What is your usage volume going to be monthly, quarterly or annually?
- What type of media will you be using in the printer? Heavy Stock, Labels, etc.?
- Supply cost per page based on coverage
Inkjet, Solid Ink or Laser?
Choosing what type of technology is best for you can be a bit confusing, however it’s fairly simple. Know up front there can be a real problem child in your office if you don’t choose wisely--simply put, let’s look at the two important points below:
Inkjet = Home Use Only
Solid Ink and Laser Based Systems = Everywhere Else
Inkjet printers are great for a quick printout here and there for printing out a few family photos, but if you’re not careful they can be a real wallet drainer. If you’re going to be printing more than 10 sheets per day, do not go the inkjet route unless you absolutely must. Put it this way, if someone leaves a free inkjet printer on your doorstep when you come home today they aren’t doing you a favor. As we will cover more in depth in Printers 202 and Printers 203, the true cost of printing on these little devices can be staggering--to the tune of 60-80% higher than solid ink and laser based printers.
Volume
There’s no real rocket science here. In the printing world your monthly volume directly correlates to how much speed you need with your printer. Obviously the more volume you have, the more speed you need; vice versa for maximum efficiency.
Types of Media
Some printers do better than others with the specific type of media being used consistently through the device. For example, some printers have a special tray for envelope printing which allows a very productive environment for printing. Otherwise, you may find yourself feeding them one by one, or only a few at a time. Just use common sense here, ask the right questions or investigate the specification sheet.
Supply Costs
If there’s nothing else you take from reading this, please try to remember for as long as you plan to own a printer. Make sure you understand how much the printer you’re buying will cost! Printer companies have done a wonderful job of “reverse marketing” with a low cost printer, but make up their profits on the back end of the consumables. The published yield rate of almost every printer supply you will see online or in the store will be based on a measly 5% coverage rate. We will go into this more in-depth in Printers 202 and Printers 203, but 5% is really just some basic text on a letter size sheet. No pictures, no logo, just a simple business letter. Many times you are better off buying a more expensive printer because the yield rates will give you a much better return on investment. This is absolutely crucial to consider if you are planning to do any kind of volume on your new printer.
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