Here's what you need to check before investing in a new printer

We still do not live in a paperless environment! I'm sure you'd agree with this statement because even today, most departments at an office depend on printers to print important documents, legal contracts and more. Is it possible to run your office without a printer?

The answer to this questions is likely 'NO'.

Eventually, every office needs to invest in a new printer and replace the old ones from time to time. The choice of printer depends on the usage, number of people who share the printers, print volume and more. Whether you are in a plan to replace an outdated printer or looking to purchase a new office printer, you need to choose the best one that’s suitable for your office environment. Most importantly, the printer should fall within your long-term budget.  Remember, printers are not a one-time investment! You may have to replace the ink and toner cartridges now and then to keep your printer running.

When to buy a new printer?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions below, then the answer is probably NOW!

• Is your current printer problematic and reduces the employee productivity?
• Is your printer breaking down very often?
• Is your office printer shared by more members and departments than you expected?
• Are you using an outdated printer model that prevents or slows down business growth/process?
• Are you finding it difficult to buy spare parts, ink and toner cartridges for your existing printer?

5 things to consider before you buy a new printer for your office

There’s a lot more to picking the right printer for your office than just getting your hands on something you like and find affordable. You have to consider several factors before you can choose the most economical printer for your office because it is one of the best ways to increase the workplace productivity. Before browsing through the various online stores, here are things you must consider. Are you overwhelmed by the number of options to choose the best printer for office use? To make it a little easier for you we put together this list to keep in mind when buying the best budget printer.

Does a reputable supplier stock cartridges for your printer?

When you choose a new printer for your office it is good to choose the latest model. There’s no point in buying an outdated printer that doesn’t have enough supplies. Check with a reputable seller if they stock genuine, compatible and remanufactured cartridges for your printer. Choosing a reputable supplier will ensure you get the best quality of cartridges that boosts the performance of your printer. Know the prices of the ink or toner cartridges

Have you found a great printer? Does it have all the features you are looking for? What’s next? You need to find the cost of ink or toner cartridges for your printer. For example, if you have selected a Brother laser printer, you have to look at the cost of Brother toner cartridges. Note down the prices of the cartridges and this will give you an idea of how much you will be spending on printer consumables in the long run.

How many cartridges will you need?

Some printers use combined ink tanks while the other printers will have individual ink cartridges. In combined ink tanks, when your printer runs out of ink, you may have to buy the entire set. On the other hand, when you choose single ink cartridges that come with cyan, magenta, yellow and black you will have to replace the individual cartridges only when they run out of color.

• Also read, Smart buying tips to save more on printer inks and toner cartridges

Calculate the page yield of your cartridges

Every manufacturer specifies the page yield of a cartridge. You must divide the number of pages it can print by the cost of the cartridges. This will give you a good idea to compare the page yield of your printer and you can compare the value with other printers and choose wisely. This also helps you make the best buying decision depending on how much volume you would be printing at your office.

Finally, ask people what they think of this printer

It is always good to read reviews of a product before buying them. Reading reviews about the printer you have selected will help you learn more about its features, the pros and the cons of each model. It will also help you make the right decision. Read the reviews on CNET or productreview.com.au which are the most popular sites where professionals write their reviews on gadgets, equipment and more.

If you are on the lookout for the best economical printer, you may need to pay a little more attention. This will also help you save more money in the long term.