1. Brother HL-2170W Laser. This was released about a year ago, and it is appreciated for its compactness while being able to quickly print good quality pages for three computers in a network.

2. Canon MX850. This printer can also connect to two other computers in a network either via Ethernet, wirelessly, or other methods. It’s an all-in-one compact and incredibly portable printer that is easy to use. It also prints fast. This was released about 11 months ago.

3. Brother MFC 9840cdw. Another all-in-one printer that was released a year ago. This is easy to connect to more than 3 computers with either USB or wireless methods.

These three printers have been highly recommended by users who have personally experienced their service. All three were recommended for the office and large volume printing.

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Three Recommended Network Printers

Proof the Product

Read through the document at least once before printing it. If possible, allow the article to sit for a while before you check it, because your brain can fool your eye if you immediately complete the document and then proof read it.

Print Preview

Using Print Preview allows you to see what the copy will look like, to be sure you have it right before sending it off to the printer. This is your last chance to double-check the document and prevent wasted toner and paper.

Printer Properties

Set your printer properties to “Normal” or 300dpi. This provides clear printing without overusing the printer toner. If you are printing highly detailed images, don’t forget to set the printer resultion back to it’s “Best” quality setting. For print jobs of low importance, use the “Draft” mode, which uses the least amount of toner, but provides a lower quality level.

Color Vs Monochrome

Unless there is a specific reason to use color, set your printer to black and white printing. The toner or ink cartridges are around half the price, and color is not required for 99% of all print jobs.

Buy Bulk

You may be able to save even more by purchasing the cartridges in bulk. Many office supply shops will offer a discount on quantity purchases. Buy recommended replacements, not generic brands. All cartridges are not created equal, and some will not function properly, or provide the correct color representations.

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Save Money On Printing

A Network printer is a printer that connects directly to the network either by Ethernet cable or wirelessly. A network printer can be shared and used by everyone connected to the network. An advantage of this is that a company does not have to have a printer for every computer; many computers can share a single printer. For example, a college may have twenty computers in a computer lab; instead of purchasing twenty printers they can have one or two and everyone can share them. A disadvantage of network printers is that if too many computers print to the printer at one time, the other jobs get queued, sometimes requiring long wait times.  Another disadvantage is when the printer is located in another part of the building you would have to walk to get to it, and if you are printing something confidential another person may see it in the printer and read it.

On the other hand, a USB printer connects directly to one computer via USB and is not shared by others. This allows for timely printing without waiting for others as well as printing confidential reports not to be seen by anyone else. Another advantage of a USB printer is that it is local to you and usually sits within six feet of your workstation. Disadvantages of USB printers are the cost of many printers if the company has a lot of computers used for printing. A separate printer must be purchased for each computer. Another disadvantage is that the ink cartridges on USB printer are not as efficient as the ones found in many network printers. Network printers tend to be larger and capable of printing bigger files more efficiently.

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Network printers vs USB printers

If you only have one printer, on your computer, it is the default printer.  If you have multiple printers, you are able to choose which one is used by default.  Even after you have set this to a certain device, you will be able to manually choose a printer for most uses by clicking File >> Print, but it is still nice to set the best machine for your common needs as default.  Here’s how it is done:

1. Click Start >> Control Panel >> Printers and Faxes
2. Choose a printer from the list you are shown.
3. Right-click the desired icon
4. Click “Set as Default Printer”.
5. Exit out of the printers window.

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Setting or changing default printer

Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers use liquid ink.  The cartridges tend to be smaller than their laser counterparts, but also have a lower printing capacity.  The cartridges are usually smaller than toner cartridges by more than half, and are less expensive to buy.  Keep in mind, though, that toner cartridges last longer.  Inkjet provides sharp image printing, but pages must be allowed to dry before handling, or smudging may occur.  Lastly, inkjet printers have lower average off-the-shelf costs.

Laser Printers
Laser printers operate at about the same speed as inkjets for only a page or two, but once they have warmed up, their speed increases, making their overall print speed faster.  Speed, though, comes at a price.  Laser printers average a bt higher in price, as do the toner cartridges which they use.  Where inkjets use liquid ink, laser printers normally use a drier, powdery ink, or toner.

Which is Best?
If the economics are your only, or primary, concern, then an inkjet is most likely the best choice for your uses.  If high quality and fast printing are more important, a laser printer is best suited to deliver.  Both types have relatively long usage spans, and require very little maintenance.  As with so many products in the computer field, which one is best for your use will depend on your specific usage and needs.

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The difference between laser and inkjet printers