Buying a printer can be particularly confusing for a home user who seeks versatile options but doesn’t want to pay a fortune. Which options are most important? First, as a rule of thumb, laser printers excel at printing black and white text at quick rates while inkjet printers are better for graphic heavy applications. Not only do the printers themselves cost less than a laser printer, their supplies are also less expensive. Inkjet printers excel at a wide range of applications and can print quality photos up to 8.5 x 11 inches as well as greeting cards, banners, and business cards.

Next, it is important to decide just how versatile you need your printer to be. Many printers offer all-in-one fax, copy and scan options. These can be useful, yet as with other multi-function devices, if one function breaks, the entire unit will need to be replaced or repaired.

With the needs of a home user encompassing both printing digital photography and text, it is probably best to choose a inkjet printer. A laser printer that could adequately cover both applications would likely be out of the budget of most pedestrian home users, whereas a inkjet printer that could fit the bill will run between $50 and $150. The only downside being print speed, however, if you are willing to shell out more money, printer speeds increase.

For a digital photographer, the choice isn’t as simple as it may seem. Sure, the dynamic range of photographs demands the color and ink set that an inkjet can provide, but considerations must be made as to whether the printer will be a dedicated photo printer, or if it needs to have multiple functions. If the solution is a dedicated printer, then there are a number of important features to consider including ink set, color-management tools, and supported papers. Another solution for some digital cameras are snapshot printers which can print directly from a supported digital camera.

If your main concern is printing high quality text and a quick rate, perhaps a student or writer, a laser printer is an ideal choice. The speed and quality of laser a printer can be had for around $200 and is the ideal complement for these specialized needs. For the frequent traveler, a high quality, portable printer is necessary. There are an amazing amount of inkjet printers that weigh between two and three pounds and are easily transported by the business traveler.  A printer of this type often runs on a battery or has a car charger that can keep it at full power.