Shopping for an Affordable Printer

Printers have come a long way in the past 20 years. They no longer cost thousands of dollars but are available for under $100 and unlike years past, printers today have the ability to print more than just a few pages at a time. 

Almost everyone requires a printer in today’s computer centric world. Paper provides one of the best mediums for transporting information, even proving more worthy than other, newer, electronic medium’s such as flash memory and CD’s 

Most computer owners who do not already have a printer want to purchase one, but many worry about the costs associated with ownership. If you shop smart, buying and maintaining a printer does not have to be an expensive proposition but can instead be a rather cheap one. 

To find an affordable printer, one must first determine their printing needs. If you plan to print a lot of photos, a photo printer, perhaps bundled with a digital camera may be the best option. Such printers vary in cost but tend to be much higher than most desktop printers, and will require expensive photo paper and many color ink refills depending on the quantity that is printed. 

The most affordable option may be the average black & white and color desktop printer. These printers tend to cost under $50 usually after a rebate. Ink is usually expensive but the cost can be cut down by purchasing remanufactured cartridges which can cost up to 75% less compared to traditional cartridges purchased from the printer manufacturer. Such printers can be purchased at most big box retailers and many online stores such as Best Buy and Buy.com. These printers accept standard printer paper which is available cheaply at most office supply stores. Paper is a product that often tends to come on sale at many retailers allowing for maximum savings when one purchases and stocks up on it at such a time. 

Many printers also come with additional features such as scanning, copying and faxing capabilities, allowing you to get more value for your money when purchasing such a device. Many stores run sales a few times a year during specific time periods. Purchasing printers and printer products during this time frame can allow for the consumer to save the maximum amount of money and get a bargain. 

If you are looking for a barebones machine that is only going to be used once in a while, older models of printers that only print in black and white may be the answer. These printers may be the cheapest option available for purchase, in some cases, costing as little as $20. Finding cartridges and ink refills on the other hand is another story – you’re best option is to shop at online discount ink suppliers such as 123Inkjets.com, who specialize in carrying a wide variety of factory discontinued print and toner cartridges. 

Remember to purchase a printer based on your needs. Cheaper printers tend to be made for only occasional use while more expensive models allow for heavy duty and faster printing. Fortunately, today, a printer is available to fit each and everyone’s budget, no matter how big or small.

Printer Ink and Toner 101

In today’s information driven world, the portability of documents is vital. Even with the advent of electronic media such as CD and USB Flash Drives, it is not always convenient to transport documents in such a manner. Sometimes, a physical copy just works best. 

Most people today own personal computers and a printer allowing them to print documents right from the convenience of their own home. Word documents and internet pages can be printed within a matter of seconds in black and white or color. Modern printers feature a host of formatting options and can accommodate multiple paper mediums. 

Buying Printer Ink Cartridges:  Not just Black and White 

Printers tend to be relatively inexpensive while the cost of printer cartridge refills can be relatively expensive. Color ink cartridges tend to be more expensive than black and white ink cartridges and most printers tend to require that you purchase both. Usually printers come with a black and white and color sample sized cartridges when purchased, but after they run out, refill cartridges must be purchased. Refill printer cartridges sold by the manufacturer tend to be very expensive, often costing more than the printer itself, making the true cost of printing quite expensive for most individuals. 

To help cut down on cost, many printer owners purchase remanufactured print cartridges . Remanufactured cartridges are just like brand name cartridges but are often made with recycled components by 3rd party manufacturers. Purchasing remanufactured cartridges can cut down the cost of refills by up to 75%. Remanufactured print cartridges are available in both black and white and color and sometimes even contain more ink than their brand name equivalents. Many printers these days also come with alternative functionality such as including a built in scanner or copier. 

Toner for Copiers & Laser Printers 

Toner is the equivalent of ink for copiers and larger capacity printers tend to be located in most commercial environments. Regular printers should suffice for most individuals but some individuals may require higher capacity commercial printers that utilize toner at home if they need a large amount of printing done at faster speeds or if they possess a copier. 

Commercial printers tend to be very expensive and tend to not have the razor and blades business model that most printers targeted at the average consumer are based on. Toner is also very expensive and most commercial establishments spend large amounts of money purchasing it. Fortunately, remanufactured toner is available. Remanufactured toner, much like its printer ink refill counterpart can cost up to 75% less compared to the brand name version, helping most organizations save a large amount of money. 

Purchasing remanufactured ink and toner also has another added benefit. Since they tend to be made out of recycled components; they possess a smaller carbon footprint and in turn are more environmentally friendly.
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All ink and toner supplier rankings are ordered in rank order. These companies are independent suppliers of inkjet, printer ink, laser toner and related printer accessories and have no affiliation with HP, Hewlett Packard, Dell, Lexmark, Brother, Canon & Epson.