Ask the expert: Which printer is best for me?

Q. I want a new printer to make my own photos at home, but I also need to print a lot of documents for work. I know ink can be expensive, so which is the best printer for me? Can I find one printer that’ll do everything well?

A. You’re right. Photo printers gobble ink like an unattended toddler. There’s no way around the cost of consumables, apart from buying cheaper third party inks and paper, and there are some printers that excel with black and white pages, while others specialise in photos. There are also some which provide decent results in between. We’ve rounded up three of the best for all eventualities.

Solution 1: Best for stunning photos
If you’re printing photos, there’s an argument for splashing the cash and using the finest ink and paper available. After all, these are pictures you want to show off. There’s no point spending any money if they’re going to fade or look pale. This photo printer packs an extremely high resolution, and makes mincemeat of digital images. It’s a little pricey, but produces seriously impressive results.
Best option: Epson Stylus Photo R2400-£420 (on 25 July 2008)

Solution 2: Best for text
This slimline laser printer produces fantastic results in black and white. It’s perfect for use as an office printer, since it’s incredibly quiet, and won’t take up too much space. It’s pretty fast too, churning out 16 pages each minute, but above all it’s surprisingly cheap. You could even opt for this in addition to a dedicated photo printer.
Best option: Samsung ML-1630-£80 (on 25 July 2008)

Solution 3: Best for text and photos
This colour laser printer will produce good quality colour prints, as well as working wonders with text and greyscale pages. It’s more expensive than some laser printers, but will also pull double duty as a photo printer. Its resolution isn’t as high as dedicated photo printers, but it’ll save you money, since its toner typically goes further than inkjet cartridges.
Best option: Konica Minolta magicolor 2530 DL-£185 (on 25 July 2008)

Get chatting about printers over at the PriceRunner forum.

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