How Do I Choose an HP Printer?

The demand for printers for home office use has never been as high as it is now. That’s because a lot of us are either working or getting an education from home. Parents might need to print out their business reports or child’s workbooks. Then, there are those occasional forms you find yourself needing to print now and then.

Since it isn’t advisable to go outside to do all these, getting a good printer for the household is paramount. And what better printer could you have than one from the Hewlett-Packard Company or HP?

HP printers come in a variety of styles and uses, and there are many things to consider before making your decision.  In that way, you can select one that’s perfect for your home situation.

Types of HP Printers

Before you set foot inside an HP store, you should be aware of the basic types of printers out there.

Inkjet

If you’re simply looking to print and copy at home, inkjet printers are your best bet. They’re the typical all-in-one printers that are affordable and easy to operate. They also come with four ink colors, namely: red, black, yellow, and blue. A trio of these colors can be bundled into a single cartridge or separated into three different cartridges.

One of the best things about the inkjet is its quick ink application and little to no drying time. You’ll usually be able to touch the page the moment it comes out of the printer.

Laser

Laser printers used to be for mass production only but are now available for home use. Their toner cartridges and drums are more sophisticated than inkjet printers, but they also have significantly higher price tags. That said, their more advanced design also ensures more impeccable toner powder application on pages.

Home laser printers usually print in black and white, though color models are also available in the market. 

Zero-Ink Printers

Otherwise known as Zink printers, zero-ink printers use a thermal process to activate the paper it’s printing on. There’s no ink involved in this procedure, but once the specialty paper is activated, colors and designs will appear on the page. HP has a select line of portable printers and some printer-camera combinations that have this particular feature.

One such printer model is the HP Sprocket, which is a portable printer you can pretty much take anywhere. This smartphone-like device can print, edit photos, and connect to other gadgets at the click of a button. It also prints on one-of-a-kind sticker paper to let you keep your memories close.

Photo Printers

There used to be just two types of printers back in the day; now there are four. Part of this quartet is the photo printer, which allows printing of full-color prints in virtually any size at home for not even five cents.

Forget editing tools and fancy software; these gadgets can take your special moments from your computers and smartphones and deliver them straight to your hands in mere seconds. They can even access photos from your social media feed with your permission.

Photo printers accomplish all these for a reasonable price, which is why they’re so popular these days. Their variety of printing styles means there’s no need to own more than one printer at home for printing different types of documents.

What To Look for in Home Printers

While you might not require much from your home printer, the modern standard for these devices has gone way up from a few years ago. Today, a good-quality home printer can offer the following:

• Collating and printing on both sides
• Several connectivity options
• App-controlled tech to enable printing from smartphones and other devices
• Touch screen controls
• Duplexing and multiple trays for paper
• Instant Ink Technology by HP, which triggers ink shipment before the cartridge empties
• Printing directly from USBs and SD cards

Printers for home use have also improved aesthetically by several levels. Back then, these devices used to be huge, blocky, and space-consuming. These days, they take up almost no space due to their slim structure, have a ton of useful features, and come in designs that complement most home offices. Their app-communication capabilities also allow you to control them from your smartphone.

Of course, a great look isn’t reason enough to go for a printer. You have to actually go through its specifications to see if it can meet your specific printing needs. This way, you’ll also know if more affordable options can meet your needs. 

So, Which HP Printer Will It Be?

At the end of the day, your needs dictate your printer choice. Your home-office needs might not require anything more than a basic HP Inkjet printer, and that’s okay. On the other hand, they could be so diverse and specific that a high-quality photo printer is required to meet them.

So, assess your personal requirements first before creating a shortlist of potential HP printers to purchase. In that way, you should find choosing the right HP printer for home use easier.