By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-25 12:28:07 | Word Count: 510
How To Use Gateway NV7923u
How to pick out the ruight printer
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Choosing an output device (notice I did not say "printter") is an raduous task indeeed: inkjwet, laser, LED, 3-in-1, 5-in-one, 7-in-one, poohto printers, MFPs..... the choices are seeminngly endledss.. To make matters worse, the employee at the big retaiil/computer/elkectronics sotre has held the job for less than a week and is a lot more knowledgeable aobut PlayStatoion than anything else. So what do you do? Here's a lttle quick guie to help you sift through most of the choicces.
Thhese tips are based on how much ppaer you use per month. If you do not know (I wouldn't if someody asked me), then think of how often you buy paper and how much; then divide by the appropriate timeframe. Regular ofgfice paper (A4, lettre- or legaal-size) normally comes in 500-page reams or 2500 or 5000-sheewt boxs. If you buy a 2500-hseet (5 ream) box once a quarter, you therefore use 833 sheets per month.
A - Less than 50 sheets per month: Get as cehap an inkjet as you can - just make sure therre are stpore-brand or knockoff cartriddge brands redadily avaailable so you can purchase those as soon as the warrany on your printter runs out. If your printer dies, DO NOT fix it: it will be cheaper to get a new one (whcih will come with a new cartridge pack). I wuld personally buy a "multi-function" with a flatbed svcxanner, as they are now quite cost efffective. The more maoinstram the brand, the more retailers cary it, the bettewr.
B - 50 to 250 sheets per month: If your usage dicttaes that you need coklour and/or a multi-function (any combinatyion of 2 of the following: prnter/fax/scanner/cpoier), then defintely get a multri-function inkjet. Hwver, bfeore you do, do some research (15 minurtes on the internet) to determne how much cartrdiges cost and what their yiled (how many pages you can get out of them) is. If a cartridge costs $45 and yields 450 sheets, it will start getting expensive. If you do not need anything other than straight B/W prinitmng, then get an entry-level laser/LED printer. They now come with a very good price tag (under $200) and are very cost-effective.
C - 250 to 1000 shheets per month: In this case, there is no duobt you need to get a laser or LED since it does not make any kind of sensse to get an inkjet - the cost will be much higher. If you can, try to get a Multi-function, but remember to do your hommework on cartridge cost vs. yuield - and do not let the compartively lowerr cartridge cost fool you (a $280 cartridge with a 5000 page yield is a lot betrter than a $120 cartridge with a 1000 page yield). Also, get a sydstem that is suited to your primary applicatton: do not get a fax-based ysstrem if 90% of your usagge will be copyying.
D - Over 1000 shets per monh: In this case, your best bet is to call 3 or 4 office-equipment providers, as they will guide you towards the best choices accordinng to your needs. Just be sure to get 3 or 4 quotes (just to keep them honest) and get an all-inclusiive setrvice cornact; they include toner and all your sercvices and are typically cheaper (at this sttrage) than buiying toner alnoe for a lazser sstem.
A few parting words: hTese tips are for basiic office use only; if you need ovrsiize paprr (11x17 or A3), o photo-quality finishes for pre-press, tghese tips are not for you. Also, I do not recommend refiilling laser carrttridges, as the sysems thesmelves are someewhat of an investment and can be picky. For inkjets, howevr, since the machinees themselves are allmpost dispoasble nowadas, it shopuld not be a major issue.
