Like any other piece of equipment in your home or office, your printer should feature the winning combination of speed, quality, and efficiency. If you’re on the market for a new unit, there are a few specifications that ensure you meet all of these criteria. To help you select one that delivers fast, high-quality results, here are some of the features to look for. 

What to Check When Buying a New Printer

1. Speed

The number of pages per minute (PPM) will dictate how fast it is. Most standard units provide a minimum of 10 color ppm and 20 black and white ppm. Note that some models measure speed by characters per minute (CPM) or image per minute (IPM). Choosing one with the highest value you can find will save you time when it comes to waiting for a job to be completed.

2. Dots per Inch

Look for higher dots per inch (DPI) numbers for higher-resolution results. These values are multiples of either 300 or 360, meaning an inkjet printer with 600 x 600 DPI black ink resolution will not be as high-quality as one with 4,800 x 1,200 DPI. Ask for inkjet as well as laser samples before buying to avoid disappointing results.

3. Connectivity

Ask your seller if the model includes a network connection so you can hook it up to multiple computers easily. Personal printers typically feature USB connections, while business versions work on ethernet cables. Wireless capabilities are also common on today’s best models to increase productivity. This will allow someone on a computer or a laptop to send a job to the printer over Wi-Fi. 

4. Duty Cycles

Duty cycle refers to the maximum amount of pages the device can produce per month. Home devices typically require a 5,000 monthly count, which commercial versions may need as many as 100,000 pages per month.

5. Duplexing

Choose a unit that offers a duplexing feature if you prefer double-sided results that conserve energy and paper. Printing on both sides of a sheet may make the job slower, but it will save you money and protect the environment.
 

Keep your new printer in excellent condition with services from Alpha Laser Richmond Corp. Also specializing in laptop repair and cartridge sales, this company serves all five New York City boroughs as well as Westchester, Long Island, and Northern and Central New Jersey. View some of their products on their website or call (718) 317-1263 to ask about their inventory.