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Printers

July 4, 2009
Expert printer advice from our editors
Melissa Riofrio, Contributing Editor, pcworld.comGrads have places to go, and Dads have things to do. What kind of printer will help them along the way? For the student or home office, a color inkjet multifunction printer (MFP) is a versatile choice, combining a printer, scanner, copier and (sometimes) a fax machine. Good models from our Top 10 chart are available for as little as $100. If you just need to print, then our Top 5 single-function Inkjet printer chart includes models starting at just $50. In the case of any inkjet, check the ink pricing (which we also discuss in the review) to make sure the cost and the capacity will fit your needs. If you print a lot of pages or a lot of photos, look for a model with higher-capacity cartridges, since they generally cost less per page and will also save you a lot of replacement hassle. No need for photos? Consider a monochrome laser: We just reviewed a baker's dozen of them--which is the simplest and cheapest way to churn out a lot of text and extremely basic graphics. Got a little more dough and need speedier color (and decent photos)? Our top-ranked color lasers start at just $299, while the best multifunction color lasers we've tested start at $599.
Color Lasers
PCW Rating: 84.3PCW Rating: 84.3PCW Rating: 84.3
Spoil your small workgroup with this printer's speed, great output quality, and cheap toner.
Monochrome Lasers
PCW Rating: 83.1PCW Rating: 83.1PCW Rating: 83.1
Inexpensive and versatile, but slow, this laser is best suited for home or a small workgroup.
Multifunction Inkjets
PCW Rating: 83.0PCW Rating: 83.0PCW Rating: 83.0
Work- and play-oriented features blend harmoniously in this unit, with just a few quality and design issues.
PCW Rating: 82.8PCW Rating: 82.8PCW Rating: 82.8
Well designed, with solid speed and print quality, this home-oriented model has what it takes.
PCW Rating: 82.5PCW Rating: 82.5PCW Rating: 82.5
If you can afford it, this fast, full-featured MFP will suit any small business or home office.
Photo Printers
PCW Rating: 76.3PCW Rating: 76.3PCW Rating: 76.3
Photos suffer on plain paper, but shine on photo paper; photo-processing features are plentiful.
Inkjet Printers
PCW Rating: 85.0PCW Rating: 85.0PCW Rating: 85.0
Budget-minded photo enthusiasts will like the premium features tacked onto this basic chassis.
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How to Save Money on Printing
Printer How-To's and Tips
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