Over recent years computer printers have simultaneously plummeted in price and gained myriad exciting new features and capabilities. The only major downside to the recent proliferation of new models and types of printer available is the matter of choosing the most suitable for your circumstances. Although there are literally hundreds of different models of printer available from a great number of manufacturers, the different types of printer break down into just a few categories. Here we'll explore these different types of printer and outline what type of usage they are best suited to.

Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers are by far the most popular form of printer for the home user and also very prevalent in offices. Recent advances and improvements in inkjet technology have not only improved the quality of prints using inkjet printers, but also meant that documents are printed faster and less ink is used and less wasted. The huge majority of inkjet printers are capable of printing full colour and they lend themselves well to printing images. As an additional benefit, many inkjet printers also incorporate additional hardware such as a scanner or the ability to print direct from a memory card, which greatly adds to their overall usefulness. Due to the relatively high cost of ink compared to laser printers, inkjet printers are more suitable for light use as opposed to heavy duty and offer a low entry cost but a higher cost per print over the life of the printer. In summary, inkjet printers are best for those with only occasional printing needs and who are particularly likely to print high quality images rather than black and white documents.

Monochrome Laser Printers

Monochrome laser printers have historically been the printer of choice for larger offices but have waned slightly in popularity in recent years due to the gradual decline in price of colour laser printers. They are designed to handle high volumes of document printing and obviously not the best choice for photo printing as they are incapable of printing in colour. Monochrome laser printers offer the lowest price per printout and incredibly high speed, as such they are ideal for companies who need to print a large volume of documents.

Colour Laser Printers

Essentially offering the 'best of both worlds' when considered alongside inkjet and monochrome laser printers, colour laser printers are capable of printing in colour and at high speed. This speed and form of printing means that it is not as adept at printing high quality photographs as an inkjet printer, but more than capable of handling both text and graphics to a highly competent level. Although the cost of entry is higher than with monochrome or inkjet alternatives, over the life of the printer, the cost per page resides between the other two. If your output volume is high and likely to cover the printing of documents, graphics and photographs (which don't have to be of impeccable quality) then a colour laser printer is likely to be the best choice.

Having decided which type of printer is best for your circumstances there is simply the task of comparing the individual models available in order to find the best priced printer to fully cater to your needs.