Every student needs a reliable printer for their day-to-day requirements. They need it for various purposes ranging from printing assignments and essays to making graphic presentations.
Choosing the right printer can significantly help you in your academics by giving you fresh copies printed right in your room without any need to visit any café, library, or classroom.
There are various options like scanners, fax machines, copy machines, or printers, but not all the printers are the same, some are for nothing but text and others are for colorful graphics.
So, buying the right printer can sometimes become a cumbersome task for students like you. In this article, we will guide you through different points for choosing a printer that meets your requirements within your budget.
Understand Your Printing Needs
There are various options of printers out there, but before proceeding, it is vital to understand your printing requirements. Take into consideration the types of documents you will be printing often. Do you print only text-based documents or need prints with high-quality graphics?
As a college student, you will be mostly printing your assignments. You can use write my research paper service online, but you will still be required to get prints of your final documents for submission, consider the number of your printings.
In case you will be printing in high volume regularly, then get a printer that is built for handling extensive usage without any need for frequent maintenance.
Inkjet vs. Laser
In the market, there are mainly two types of printers available for students: Inkjet and laser. Inkjet as the name suggests works by squirting ink into the paper. They are majorly required for higher-quality color prints, particularly for graphics and images. It has a downside in terms of cost, as ink cartridges are a little pricey, which makes it less cost-effective in the long run.
On the other hand, laser printers are predominantly used for printing text documents. They cost less per-page printing and are faster and more efficient, which makes them cost-effective for higher volumes of printing. There are color laser printers available in the market, but their original investments are expensive, and they will cost you in maintenance as well.
Cost of Ownership
Initially, the cost of ownership might go beyond the actual purchase price of the printer, considering long-term costs, including toner or ink, paper, and maintenance. The starting cost of Inkjet might be low, but in the long run, it can get expensive because of the cost of ink replacements.
Alternatively, the initial price of laser printers is higher but typically costs you less per page, which makes them an affordable choice. When you look for printers, keep in mind that printers with refillable ink tanks or high-yield options can reduce ongoing expenses.
Connectivity Options
As everything is connected in the digital world, your printer must have good connectivity. These days, most printers offer Wi-Fi connectivity, that allows you to take prints from anywhere in your apartment or dorms without the need for bulky cables.
Some models support mobile printing through apps, it becomes convenient for students using smartphones or tablets for their studies. You should also consider cloud printing services, which allow you to print documents directly from cloud storage platforms.
In the following bar graph, we can see the growing global printing market size of 3D printers from 2020-2026.
Size and Portability
The size and portability of printers are vital factors for students living in shared spaces or dorms. Compact printers do not take up a lot of space on desk areas and can be a great fit for small study areas.
Some models are designed with portability in mind, with lightweight construction features and even battery-powered options for printing on the go. Keep in mind that a smaller size may not have a lot of features or does not have higher paper capacity, so you should balance your space limitations according to the printing requirements.
Additional Features
You should always take into consideration any additional features that can significantly enhance your prints. Duplex printing allows printing on both sides of the paper automatically, which can save you time and does not require a lot of paper.
Also, features like scanning and copying functions are extremely helpful for students who have requirements for digital documents, and they make quick copies as well. Some printers offer security features such as password-protected printing, which is indispensable for sensitive document printing.
Eco-Friendliness
Getting an eco-friendly printer can help in sustaining the environment. Students need to purchase a printer with energy-saving features like sleep mode, which helps in less consumption of power when not in use.
You can reduce your carbon footprint by using printers that are compatible with recycled paper eco-friendly inks. You can even register yourself in recycling programs offered by some manufacturers, to promote sustainability. An eco-friendly printer helps the planet and can be more cost-effective in the long run due to lower energy bills and efficient use of consumables.
Did you know?
About 4 Liters of Oil Is Used To Manufacture a Printer Cartridge.
Print Quality
In a printer, it is noteworthy to look for efficiency and speed, but you can not ignore the print quality. It is particularly necessary for students who are into photography, graphic designing, or some other high-quality visual representation.
The resolution of the printer, calculated in dots per inch (DPI), indicates its ability to produce detailed images with crisp text. It is like a rule of thumb, the higher the DPI, the better be quality of the print. DPI rating in Inkjet printers is higher, it offers excellent photo prints and color documents. But for crisp text documents, laser print will be still a better choice.
Before buying a printer, consider reviewing samples for print quality assessment or read online reviews that can make sure that the printer meets the standards for details and clarity.
User-Friendliness
Always get a user-friendly printer, to save your time and energy. It should have a simple interface, easy to set up, great display screen, and easily accessible cartridge replacement to get a hassle-free printing experience.
Also, responsive service centers and online resources with reliable customer support from the manufacturer can help in solving issues quickly. So, consider buying a user-friendly printer to save your time and focus more on your studies and less on fixing printing tasks.
Conclusion
Getting the right printer for students needs a balance between specific requirements and budget considerations as well. Understanding the conditions like types of documents to print, connectivity options, pros and cons of laser and inkjet printers, size, and cost can help you in finding the right printer.