But the overwhelming majority of printers sold for home use are colour inkjets, and it s easy to see why. The most visible manufacturers are Epson , Canon , Hewlett Packard and Lexmark . Their model numbers change almost weekly, but the questions you should ask before buying remain the same. Avoid models with just a single ink cartridge it ll run out too quickly, and your black output will be muddy. Instead, go for one that has the black ink in one cart and the colours in another.
Top models have a cartridge for each colour.
Many models will let you connect to your computer via a fast USB port, so if your computer has one, choose a printer that has, too. And check that it s compatible with your operating system, especially if you have a Mac. The more dots, the more clarity. For general purpose domestic use outputting snazzy graphics and the occasional photo there s no need to pay more than 120. For heavyweight photographic use, stretch to 250, and splash out on some photo quality paper.