What to consider when shopping for a new printer Printers range quite dramatically in price so you’ll want to make sure you’re even looking at the right categories before you make your purchase. The two main categories available are inkjet and laser printers, the former is much more suited to everyday and home use, with a generally cheaper initial cost and the ability to produce better quality photo prints and handle multi-function tasks such as scanning and photocopying with ease. Laser printers, however, are better suited for offices that generally print in large quantities, as the toner used for this is better value over time, but these printers may suffer in more specialist tasks. The field is largely dominated by names such as Brother, Canon, Fuji and HP and, given the exclusivity of print cartridge design, it’s generally a good idea to stick to these names.