When it comes time to replace your printer – or add another to your fleet – it can be hard to know which printer to choose. A new printer is an investment and you’ll want to be sure you get the best one to suit your needs, within your budget.

Consider these factors to help you choose:

1. What are you going to use your printer for?

If you’re planning on doing a low number of mostly text-based prints, an inkjet printer might be all you need. These smaller, lighter, and less expensive printers are sufficient for basic print tasks. Full-featured color inkjet printers can handle graphics adequately, but ink costs can add up quickly if you’re doing a lot of prints.

For heavier use, a laser printer is a better option. While it’s a bigger investment upfront, toner costs are less than inkjet ink, and the quality and speed can make it payoff over time.

2. Do you need other features?

If all you’re looking to do is print, a simple printer will get the job done. However, if you need to scan, fax, or make copies, you may want an all-in-one printer, especially if you have limited space and/or money. Other features you might want to consider include:

• Wireless printing
• Color printing
• Mobile printing
• Cloud access
• Security features for regulatory compliance or privacy

3. Is it secure?

An unsecured network printer is often the weak link in network security, allowing hackers to gain access to sensitive information or even your entire network. It is critical that your printer be secure. Encryption, authentication, pull-printing, and other security features are valuable additions to consider.

A new printer is an investment, and all the choices on the market make it a difficult and confusing decision. Before you buy, make sure you’ve analyzed your needs, know what features will be a benefit to your business, and what security features are important to you. These key factors can help guide your decision so you get a printer that will serve your business for years to come.

Thinking making some changes to your print fleet? Give us a call and ask us about our Managed Print Services. Our Managed Print Services will not only save you money on new equipment, our end-to-end solution will leverage your existing resources for maximum output.