Printer buying guide

Choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. There are several different types of printing technologies 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 pretty colors and long-lasting photos, whereas laser printers are best to produce speedy text documents.

User types: Home user | Budding novelist | Digital photographer | Small business | Corporate cog

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 the best choice is a versatile and affordable printer, such as a small-office/home-office color inkjet. These printers cost anywhere from $40 for a single function inkjet up to $499 behemoths with interactive touch panels, Web connectivity, cloud-printing features, and more.

The alternative: Get a personal laser printer (starts at $100) for simple setup with fast, quality monochrome text and graphics output. Also consider purchasing a second printer--either a single-function photo inkjet or a snapshot printer for light-duty digital photography.

Writing your thesis on the evolution of the market economy in the southern colonies? You'll need a printer that can crank out page after page of text in double time, and a monochrome personal laser printer should fit the bill. It delivers copious crisp, legible text faster than you can say "Wikipedia is not a valid source." Personal laser printers start at around $100 or so, but toner generally produces more pages per refill unit than ink cartridges, so you can save money while clawing your way out of debt.

The alternative: A multifunction inkjet is a viable option for power users who will make use of the additional copy, fax, and scan options--plus it gives you the flexibility to print in color when necessary--photo postcards for the family, perhaps? If you decide to head down this path, 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 as quickly.

Any inkjet can print photos in color, but if you want results that approach professional photofinishing, you'll need a printer designed to reproduce the dynamic range of a traditional photograph. If you consider the printer a critical aspect of your digital darkroom, you need to look at the gamut and characteristics of the ink set, the supported papers, color-management tools, and paper path options. 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. Some 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, but the other end of the spectrum (high-quality medium format, or 13x19, desktop models) can cost as much as $800.

The alternative: If you're into digital photography but 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, and many offer multiple ink cartridges that save you money in the long term by allowing you to replace each color as it depletes, as opposed to purchasing a brand-new tri-color every time one runs out. Additionally, most all-in-ones boast memory card slots, LCDs to preview prints and light edits, in addition to connectivity options like Ethernet and wireless, with Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print features in the upper tiers.

Small businesses can benefit from a jack-of-all-trades model like a multifunction or all-in-one printer. These space-saving devices come in both laser and inkjet models that also include a fax machine, copier, and scanner along with printing to round out the versatility. Depending on the extra features you choose (for example, auto-ducument feeder (ADF), auto-duplexing, wireless, etc.), this category can get pricey, but many of the lower-end models start at $99 and up for basic copy, scan, and print functions.

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 $250.

Workgroup lasers are the obvious choice for your small business or team within a larger organization. Designed to juggle multiple print jobs, these systems have faster processors, more memory, and print engines that are capable of churning out more than 35 pages per minute. But these $300-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 most models support network printing and wireless connectivity. If you're an employee bound for work-related travel and still find yourself hunting for a printer, many manufacturers still produce special mobile printers that make for useful accessories on the road. The HP Officejet 100 remains one of our favorites and is a great place to start when shopping for a portable output device.