Like any other computer peripheral, there are several types of
printers available. Some printers employ technologies that mimic manual
typewriter-style functionality, while others spray ink on paper, or use
a laser to generate an image of the page to be printed. Printer hardware
interfaces with a PC or network using parallel, serial, or data
networking protocols. There are several factors to consider when
evaluating printers for procurement and deployment in your computing
environment.
The following sections discuss the various printer types and the
protocols that printers use to communicate with computers.
There are several aspects to factor into printer evaluations. The
following specifies some of the most common criteria when evaluating
your printing needs.
Evaluating your organizational needs and how a printer services
those needs is the essential criteria in determining the right type
of printer for your environment. The most important question to ask
is "What do we need to print?" Since there are
specialized printers for text, images, or any variation thereof, you
should be certain that you procure the right tool for your
purposes.
For example, if your requirements call for high-quality color
images on professional-grade glossy paper, it is recommended you use
a dye-sublimation or thermal wax transfer color printer instead of a
laser or impact printer.
Conversely, laser or inkjet printers are well-suited for
printing rough drafts or documents intended for internal
distribution (such high-volume printers are usually called
workgroup printers). Determining the needs of
the everyday user allows administrators to determine the right
printer for the job.
Other factors to consider are features such as
duplexing — the ability to print on
both sides of a piece of paper. Traditionally, printers could only
print on one side of the page (called simplex
printing). Most lower-end printer models today do not have duplexing
by default (they may, however, be capable of a manual duplexing
method that requires the user to flip the paper themselves). Some
models offer add-on hardware for duplexing; such add-ons can drive
one-time costs up considerably. However, duplex printing may reduce
costs over time by reducing the amount of paper used to print
documents, thus reducing the cost of
consumables — primarily paper.
Another factor to consider is paper size. Most printers are
capable of handling the more common paper sizes:
letter — (8 1/2" x 11")
A4 — (210mm x 297mm)
JIS B5 — (182mm x 257mm)
legal — (8 1/2" x 14")
If certain departments (such as marketing or design) have
specialized needs such as creating posters or banners, there are
large-format printers capable of using
A3 (297mm x 420mm) or tabloid (11" x 17")
paper sizes. In addition, there are printers capable of even larger
sizes, although these are often only used for specialized purposes,
such as printing blueprints.
Additionally, high-end features such as network modules for
workgroup and remote site printing should also be considered during
evaluation.
Cost is another factor to consider when evaluating
printers. However, determining the one-time cost associated with the
purchase of the printer itself is not sufficient. There are other
costs to consider, such as consumables, parts and maintenance, and
printer add-ons.
As the name implies, consumables is a general term used to
describe the material used up during the printing process.
Consumables primarily take the form of media
and ink.
The media is the material on which the text or image is printed.
The choice of media is heavily dependent on the type of information
being printed.
For example, creating an accurate print of a digital image
requires a special glossy paper that can withstand prolonged
exposure to natural or artificial lighting, as well as ensure
accuracy of color reproduction; these qualities are known as color
fastness. For
archival-quality documents that require
durability and a professional level of legibility (such as
contracts, r�sum�s, and permanent records), a
matte (or non-glossy) paper should be
used. The stock (or thickness) of paper is
also important, as some printers have a paper path that is not
straight. The use of paper that is too thin or too thick can result
in jams. Some printers can also print on
transparencies, allowing the information to
be projected on a screen during presentations.
Specialized media such as those noted here can affect the cost
of consumables, and should be taken into consideration when
evaluating printing needs.
Ink is a generalized term, as not all printers use liquid
inks. For example, laser printers use a powder known as
toner, while impact printers use ribbons
saturated with ink. There are specialized printers that heat the ink
during the printing process, while others spray small droplets of
ink onto the media. Ink replacement costs vary widely and depend on
whether the container holding the ink can be
recharged (refilled) or if it requires a
complete replacement of the ink
cartridge.
