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Single-function printers stick to one job-printing. As the name indicates, AIO models print a variety of jobs while also being able to scan, copy, and fax. All-in-one or single function?Īnother factor you’ll want to consider is when your home or office needs an all-in-one printer (or AIO) or a single-function printer. Be sure to look at the ink costs for the printer you are considering to determine if it will fit your budget needs down the line. While you can find inexpensive printers, ink prices may result in your cheap printer not being so affordable once in use. However, laser models tend to do best when only printing text, so laser may not be the best choice if you are looking for a printer for photo purposes. These machines are generally better-built printers that can withstand printing out hundreds and hundreds of pages. On the other hand, laser printers, which use a powder form of ink, called toner, operate using a much different process. However, inkjets may not be the best option if you are printing a high volume because the ink is expensive, and the build quality isn’t always as high as what you’ll find with laser printers. They also tend to outshine lasers when printing different types of photographs, such as borderless photos and printing on various types of paper. Inkjets excel at doing a variety of tasks well. Most consumers tend to choose an inkjet, which, as the name suggests, uses ink (or ink droplets) to produce a page of text, a photograph, a graphic, etc. The first decision you’ll need to make is what type of printer you want to buy: A laser or inkjet.
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Things to consider before buying a cheap printer Should you choose a cheap laser or inkjet printer? While cheap printers may not have the same bells and whistles as more expensive versions, the best cheap printers will check the boxes to meet your printing needs. Some photogs want to run prints for proofs, while others may just need to print black-and-white documents such as contracts. Even among photographers, use cases can vary widely. For starters, you might need it for tasks that another person might not find all that important. Finding a cheap printer for your needs isn’t always an easy task.
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