You're not sure why, but your current computer printer is not working properly. Yes, you could call a repairman to come and look at it...or you could spend about the same amount of money and just go out and buy a new printer! What type of printer do you need? Is price the only concern or are there additional factors to consider?

Printing Technology And Special Features
The first thing to consider, although it's usually the least important to buyers, is the printing technology. Printing technology is important in that it affects price, print quality, noise and speed. Toner based printers, including laser printers, are popular for their high quality prints, good printing speed and a low cost per copy rate. Though far more expensive than liquid inkjet printers, they do actually save money in terms of cost per copy. Inkjet printers also produce high quality text and graphics, and are silent in printing noise. Though very affordable, they are expensive to maintain when compared to laser printers, and operate at slower speeds. Other types of printing technologies include solid ink printers, dye-sublimation printers and inkless printers.

Most people buy inkjet printers because they are lower priced. However, many shoppers like to combine products into one package deal – or even one PSC (printer, scanner, copier) unit. While these all-in-one units used to be pricey, they have been marked down significantly, even in suggested retail price. You can buy a Canon Pixma MP510 Photo/All In One Inkjet Printer for $99.99 from Circuit City or an HP Photosmart 2575XI Color Inkjet PSC for $179.99.

Where To Find Cheap Printers
If retail price is still too steep then look into purchasing wholesale printers or previously owned or refurbished printers. Cheap computer printers that have been refurbished are available from online sites such as Geeks.com or Epcbuyer.com. Wholesale discount printers are available from sites such as Liquidation.com and Koolprint.com. You may even be able to find a cheap printer at a manufacturers site like Epson.com, which offers closeout and clearance printers for cheap and also includes free shipping and handling.

For printer reviews and detailed comparisons of printing performance between the top models visit reviews.cnet.com. For instance, Cnet reviewed the Epson Stylus Pro 3800, choosing it as an editor's choice. The printer received good marks for its black and white printing technology, large ink cartridges and different paper options. However, its price of $1,295.00 also merited some concern. The site recommended the printer as the least expensive pro-series printer from Epson so far, suggesting it was an ideal buy for professionals and big spending amateurs. Another site for printer reviews is Pcmag.com. Get educated before getting the best deal.