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| General-purpose inkjet printers print graphics, text, and photos on a variety of paper sizes, including 8.5 x 11-inch paper and envelopes. These printers print in monochrome and color and are a good choice for users who plan to print mostly text documents, although they will print photos, too. Photo inkjet printers are increasingly popular and have features dedicated to printing pictures rather than just text. |
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| Typical costs: |
- Budget priced color ink jet printers generally run $40 -$80. Well-reviewed examples include the general purpose HP Deskjet D2330 and the Canon Pixma ip1700 photo printer. Printers in this price range print at least 12 pages or a 4x6 photo per minute. However, color quality for graphics and photos may vary widely.
- Two well-reviewed general purpose printers priced between $115 -$160 are the HP Deskjet 6940 Color Printer and the HP Deskjet 6980 Color Printer. Printers in this price range typically are network ready. Many also include the ability to print photos directly, double-sided printing and built-in wireless connectivity.
- Higher end printers can cost around $250 and are good choices for small offices because they are economical and can print up to 36 pages per minute. They produce high quality text, as well as color graphics and photos. One well-reviewed option is the HP Officejet Pro K5400dtn.
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| What should be included: |
- At least one color print cartridge and one black and white cartridge.
- Printer software.
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| Additional costs: |
- Replacement ink cartridges $17 -$35. A replacement black cartridge will yield approximately 750 sheets while color will yield 400 sheets.
- Photo paper ( $20 for 120 sheets).
- USB cord to connect printer to computer ($10).
- Upgrade kits to make printers wireless ($71).
- Vendors that offer a wide variety of printer supplies include Supplies USA , Amazon.com and Data Bazaar.
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| Discounts: |
- Prices for printers vary widely, so it pays to shop around. If shopping online, factor shipping costs into the total price. If buying locally, it may be helpful to bring a printout of an advertised online price to see if the merchant can match it. In some cases, prices at a store can be higher than what is advertised on the store's website.
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| Shopping for an inkjet printer: |
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Article updated August 2007 |
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