STACK #195 Jan 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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IT ESSENTIALS Like any job, you need the right tools on hand to get the work done effectively. The same logic can be applied to preparing to send your loved ones back to school. The transition into a new year, new challenges and opportunities calls for the right gear to be available. The good news? You don’t need to spend a fortune to set your budding students on the right path. We’ve pulled together a selection of IT essentials to start the school year off right.

Print Perfect H ow do you shop for a new printer? Do you walk up to the in-store display filled with printers, noting how they all look kind of the same? And after staring at them blankly for a few minutes or so, pondering the price difference between the various models, should you opt for the cheapest one? Well, you’re not alone. Buying printers can be a confusing exercise, especially when faced with so many options. What is an inkjet printer? Is a laser printer a better option? What’s the cheapest printer to run? Do I really need a scanner? Where do I even start? Allow us to demystify the technical mumbo jumbo and make your buying decision a whole lot easier.

Connectivity There are several ways for you to connect to your printer: Wireless A printer connected wirelessly hooks into your home network via your Wi-Fi router and makes it accessible to any computer on that network. The advantage here is that anyone with access to that network can use it, and it can be placed anywhere around the house. USB A USB cable is the quickest and easiest way to connect a desktop or laptop directly to the printer without interrupting the signal. It’s also one of the most secure ways to connect a printer to a computer. Ethernet Some printers can connect via an Ethernet cable directly into the back of a router; this is a good way to share and link one printer with many computers in the house.

Inkjet Printer One of the most popular choices for the home is an inkjet printer, a system that uses ink-filled cartridges. Cheaper to buy, an inkjet printer delivers high quality prints but is best suited for occasional use as opposed to bulk printing, due to the high cost of replacement cartridges. And it’s important to use them regularly to avoid clogging the ink jets. Laser Printer Typically reserved for high volume printing, laser printers use a powder-based ink that sets on the paper. While they’re generally more expensive to buy outright, the lower cost of ink makes them a viable proposition for bulk usage, and they tend to print faster too. Ink Tanks Some budget inkjet printers use a single cartridge that contains all the ink colours. The problem with that What are my options?

system is that when one colour runs out, the entire cartridge has to be replaced, making it a potentially expensive option. The principle behind an ink tank is simple; the cartridges are refillable through bottles of ink. It saves on waste and keeps the cost of printing low. Multifunction Printer The Swiss army knife of the printing world, a multifunction printer combines the ability to print with a scanner and sometimes a copier, too. Duplex Printing Duplex printers will print on both sides of a page, thus reducing the amount of paper required for a printing task. Monochrome If your printing is uniquely black and white, a monochrome printer will fit the bill nicely.

TIP: When you look at the product description on a printer you’ll see the letters PPM. This stands for pages per minute, so obviously the

Coming from a reputable brand, the entry level inkjet Canon TS3160 combines print, copy and scan functionality. It’s a sleekly designed unit and small enough to perch on a desk without taking up too much surface area. A quiet operator, it produces good quality prints perfect for school projects.

higher the number the faster the print time.

16 JANUARY 2021

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