There are many different types of printers available for home and business use. There are all-in-one printers for copying, scanning, faxing, and e-mail, as well as simple budget printers that only print. Some print in color, some only print in black ink.
Apple AirPrint is Apple's wireless printing technology. It allows you to print without downloading or installing drivers, which can be a headache when setting up a new printer. The best printer for printing with iPad is HP's Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479. This multifunctional laser printer can complete all work quickly, efficiently and with high quality.
Most wireless printers from major manufacturers support AirPrint, but always double-check to make sure. When you buy an AirPrint printer, you only need to click "Printer" on the iPad, and your new printer will appear automatically.
Inkjet printers: When it comes to desktop printers, the most basic is inkjet printers. Because of its low price, it is the most common type of printer in homes and small offices. Almost every manufacturer produces inkjet printers.
Solid ink: The solid ink printer uses waxy ink made from non-toxic vegetable oil, which is the choice of environmentalists. Solid ink printers are slower, but can print clear documents and bright colors.
LED: Light-emitting diode technology is efficient and low-cost. Because this technology is new, their cost is higher than any other type.
Laser: For people who want to quickly generate a large number of high-quality images, laser is the best choice. They are the choice for offices and people who need a lot of printing, because they are a solid and reliable workhorse. Laser printers are more expensive to purchase, but lower operating costs because they use powdered toner instead of liquid ink.
Multifunction printers, also known as all-in-one printers, are popular with small businesses and home offices. In addition to printing, they can also copy, scan, fax and send e-mail. The more you want the printer to do, the higher the cost, but a multifunction printer is always cheaper than buying a separate printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine. All-in-one printers also take up less space, which is a big advantage for small home offices. If you just plan to use the printer casually and infrequently and want to save money, consider using a cheap stand-alone printer.
A photo printer is a special purpose printer that can produce ultra-high-definition photos that photographers and artists want. Photo printers are available in laser, solid ink and LED versions. Because they use a lot of ink, they print very slowly compared to documents. The size of the printer is determined by the size of the print you want.
AirPrint technology has been built into various printers. It allows iPad, iPhone and iPod users to print directly from their devices via WiFi without installing any additional software or drivers.
Measured in pages per minute, desktop printers produce 1-50 ppm. The printing range of inkjet printers is 1-50 ppm, while the printing speed of laser printers is 4 ppm to more than 50 ppm. If you often print a large number of pages, you need faster speed. Since higher speeds are more costly, if you rarely print something, speed is not an important consideration.
DPI is measured in dots per inch and is used to measure the resolution of printed images. Very similar to the resolution of the screen image, a print with a higher DPI will produce a clearer, more detailed image. A typical inkjet printer has three standard output settings: 300 x 300, 600 x 600, and 720 x 720, while a typical laser printer has a resolution of 1,200-2,400 DPI.
Some printers can only print on one side of the page. The double-sided printer automatically prints on both sides without turning pages and reloading.
The price of AirPrint-enabled printers ranges from less than US$100 for basic inkjet printers to US$500 or more for all-in-one laser printers. The higher the print quality and speed, the higher the cost.
A. If you want the latest technology, please consider using an LED printer. If you want to use more environmentally friendly non-toxic plant-based inks, please check solid ink printers. Most people who want an affordable printer will choose an inkjet printer. People who need high-speed print quality prefer laser printers.
Answer: Although they used to cost more than single-function printers, their prices have fallen enough to make printers with scanning and copying capabilities a good choice.
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479: Available from HP
Our view: It can copy, scan, fax, send e-mail and print at a speed of up to 28 pages per minute.
What we like: Its intuitive touch screen makes it easy to set up and use. The automatic document feeder makes duplex scanning easy.
What we don't like: It is as expensive as you would expect from a multi-function color laser printer.
Canon PIXMA MG3620: Available on Amazon
Our view: This wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer can produce 4800 x 1200 DPI.
What we like: print high-quality graphics and photos at above-average speeds. Excellent photo scanning quality. XXL cartridge options.
What we don't like: The printing speed is relatively slow, but it is enough for casual use.
Epson SureColor P700: Available on Amazon
Our view: It prints high-quality high-resolution photos and artworks on paper up to 13 inches wide with a resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi.
What we like: Provide professional print quality for photographers and artists who use iPad Pro to draw. Its 10-color ink cartridge prints deeper and purer colors. The roll paper feeder is standard equipment.
What we don’t like: There is no automatic document feeder.
David Van is a contributor to BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company whose mission is to help simplify your buying decisions and save you time and money.
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