Printers. They are the bane of our existence. They waste paper and time when they don’t work. But alas, not everyone can be paperless. If you are looking for a new printer that’s going to save you time, money, and effort, Look no further.
I’m not going to try to recommend specific printers because there are so many different makes, models, use cases, and budgets. Rather, which brands to choose and which to avoid.
My top brands are Brother and HP. << You can click either brand name to take you to their Amazon stores.
Brother printers have been workhorses for me for over 10 years on multiple sites with multiple clients. They are quite bulletproof when using their Laserjets. The software is on point as well, with a very easy install.
HP printers have improved significantly over the years, and I’ve only recently begun to like them. Their HP Smart software is fantastic, and, like Brother, it makes installation and maintenance a breeze. Depending on your needs, their instant ink program can also save you money.
Konica printers have proven to be excellent for business. Excellent backends that are simple to configure.
Brands to Avoid:
Canon printers have notoriously bad software and expensive ink. I’ve had a consistently poor experience deploying these to clients.
Epson and Xerox have been mediocre brands. Boring, unfeatured software and websites making these brands I generally avoid.
Notes:
- Hardwire when you can. USB is the most reliable. Ethernet is the next most dependable option. Wifi should be the last resort as there’s too much that can interfere.
- Depending how often you print and what you print, I’ll commonly recommend Laserjet over Inkjet. Inkjets tend to dry up if they sit too long, but they are cheaper.
- Any brand can have a lemon or a bad experience. Keep this in mind when purchasing.
- You get what you pay for. Cheaper models may not last as long. At the same time, they could last just as long or longer than higher-end models. Mileage may vary.
