Thanks to the Internet and a plethora of printing programs, you can now use printers to create everything from T-Shirts to greeting cards, CD/DVD covers to books. They can also be used to print off photographs that have been scanned into a computer or transferred from a digital camera.
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Deciding what sort of printer you need
Does it matter if my printer prints a little slowly?
You can pay less for a slower printer and spend more on other features.
- It is not a matter of printing in colour, but will I be printing colour photos?
You are going to need to look at low-end colour lasers or inkjets, or if budget is no object, high end lasers and dedicated colour printers. Or you could consider a fast monochrome laser printer.
- Will I print mainly text or mainly graphics?
Printing a lot of graphics requires a printer with a higher resolution.
- Do I need professional colour output?
You may be in the market for a dedicated colour printer, otherwise a standard inkjet or low-end laser will probably suffice.
Some printers also have capability to directly connect to a digital camera for printing photos or ports for inserting your memory cards.
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Warranty
Most printers come with a one-year warranty, and some give you the option of paying extra to get a three or even five-year warranty.
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