Printers

Printers: Which One’s Actually Right for You?

Once upon a time, buying a printer was easy. You’d pop into a shop, grab whatever was on offer, and hope it lasted longer than the ink. These days? It’s a maze. Inkjet, laser, colour, mono, wireless, duplex – and a sea of model numbers that all sound like dodgy passwords.

At Evolve Document Solutions, we help businesses and individuals cut through the confusion and pick printers that actually make sense. No jargon. No pushy sales chat. And no three-month regret when it starts playing up.

Whether you’re printing out essays, client proposals or a mountain of invoices, here’s a clear-eyed look at the main types – and what they’re best (and worst) at.

🖋 Inkjet Printers: Brilliant Colour, Great for Home Use

Inkjet printers are your best bet if you’re after decent colour without a big price tag. They fire tiny droplets of ink onto the page and are ideal for casual use, photos, and documents that need a bit of visual polish.

✅ Good for:

  • Sharp colour – perfect for photos, presentations, or graphics

  • Small and affordable – easy to fit on a desk or shelf

  • Versatile – handles labels, envelopes, photo paper, even card

⚠️ Worth knowing:

  • Not built for speed – printing lots can take a while

  • Ink’s not cheap – especially if you print often

  • Leave it unused too long, and the cartridges might dry out

Best for: Home users, students, or anyone who wants crisp colour prints every now and then without worrying about speed.

🖨 Laser Printers: Fast, Efficient, and Built for Volume

If you’ve got lots to print and need it done fast, laser printers are the ones to watch. They use toner instead of ink and are the go-to for offices, schools, and anyone who churns out black-and-white documents by the dozen.

✅ Good for:

  • Fast printing – much quicker than inkjets for big batches

  • Lower running costs – toner lasts longer, so you spend less per page

  • Razor-sharp text – ideal for letters, forms, contracts

⚠️ Worth knowing:

  • Colour versions exist but tend to be pricey

  • They’re bulky – not ideal if space is tight

  • More expensive to buy upfront

Best for: Busy offices, admin-heavy roles, and anyone who needs sharp black-and-white documents – fast.

🧾 All-in-One Printers: One Box, Many Jobs

Need to scan a form, photocopy a contract, print a report… maybe even fax something? (Yes, some people still fax.) All-in-one printers combine everything into one neat machine – perfect if space is tight or you need a bit of everything.

✅ Good for:

  • Convenience – printing, scanning, copying all in one place

  • Saves money – no need to buy separate gadgets

  • Ideal for small offices or home work setups

⚠️ Worth knowing:

  • If one bit breaks (say, the scanner), it can throw the whole machine off

  • They’re not always the fastest – jack of all trades, and all that

Best for: Small teams, home offices, or anyone who needs a multitasking printer that doesn’t take over the room.

So… What Should You Actually Buy?

Here’s our no-nonsense take:

  • Only printing now and then? A simple inkjet will do the trick.

  • Got a home office and loads of black-and-white stuff? Go for a mono laser.

  • Need standout colour? Colour inkjet or colour laser – depends how much you’re printing.

  • Want one machine that does everything? Look at an all-in-one.

  • Running regular high-volume jobs for a team? Let’s talk about proper office kit – it’ll save you money in the long run.

Still Feeling a Bit Lost?

Totally normal. Printer shopping can be oddly stressful.

That’s where we come in. At Evolve Document Solutions, we’ve helped everyone from one-person startups to large schools figure out what actually works for their setup – no upselling, no gimmicks.

Drop us a message, let us know what you’re dealing with, and we’ll help you sort it. Straight answers, zero pressure, and advice from people who’ve genuinely seen it all (and fixed more jammed printers than we’d care to admit).

Ready to stop guessing and start printing? Let’s have a chat.

lities of a printer, scanner, copier, and sometimes fax machine into a single device. These printers offer convenience and versatility, catering to various office and personal requirements. With an all-in-one printer, you can print, scan, copy, and send faxes, all from a single machine.