Depending on the nature of your business, a printer forms an integral part of your operations. Having the right printer for the job can make the difference in work output. Buying a printer for your business is an important task. Before you decide to invest in a business printer, there are several factors that you must consider to ensure that you invest in the best printer for your needs. Here is a printer buying guide to help you along.
- Speed Capacity and Print Volume
If you are looking for business printers for a busy office environment, you will require one that can print large volumes in the shortest amount of time. You need to determine approximately how much printing, in pages, you expect to be done monthly. Compare this information with the machine’s monthly duty cycle. Also, check how many pages the machine can print per minute. This will tell you determine whether the printer is able to keep up with your business demands and boost productivity.
- Options for Connectivity
Go for a printer that offers different connectivity options. If your printer is for a professional environment and is used by multiple users, it is wise to go for one that offers a network connectivity option. Also, if your printer will be used with Apple products, go for one that supports AirPrint. In cases where there’s only one machine, a USB connectivity option is good enough.
- The Number of Users
You need to consider the number of people likely to be using the printer. If your machine is used by dozens of people, you need a machine with a high print speed and also capacity to work with multiple machines at a go. If you go for a lower capacity machine, you will experience long queues and this will affect work output. You may not have to go for a fast print speed machine if there are a lot of users who never use it as the same time.
- Mono or Color Machine
This is one of the simplest choices you have to make. You need to determine whether you need the print works in full color or just black and white. If you do not need color prints, you can go for a mono printer which is cheaper. You also eliminate the cost of replacing color cartridges when you go for a mono printer. Even so, if you need color prints every once in awhile or full time, you can go for a machine that requires low maintenance and still offers quality prints.
- The Size
Printers come in different shapes and sizes. Bigger machines are generally more powerful and cost more. Another reason to consider the size of your machine is that of the space you have available in your office. You need to select a printer that suits your spacing needs. This eliminates the risk of crowding out your office space with a huge printer while a smaller printer would have done just fine. Big is not always better.
