One of the things to consider when selecting a printer for your workplace is how the printer connects to a computer. Most printers link directly to a single computer, but many also let you to connect to a wired or wireless network for convenient sharing. Knowing the benefits of each type of printer can help you make the best decision for your company.
Wired Printers
Most connected printers use USB for direct connection, which allows the printer and computer to interact at fast data transmission speeds. These printers are often simple to set up, and your PC’s operating system may be able to automatically identify and install drivers to assist you. A wired printer may be shared via a network, allowing other users to send print jobs to the device. Other users’ connections will be lost if the PC linked to the printer shuts down.
Network Printers
You will need a printer that connects directly to your network in order to rapidly provide many people access to it. An Ethernet cable is used to connect a wired network printer instead of a USB cable, and it connects directly to the router as opposed to a specific computer. However, setting up these printers takes more time since you have to enter your network information into the device to give it access to the network. You must also install software on each computer before it can print to the new device after connecting a network printer.
Wireless Printers
A wireless printer is similar to a network printer in that it connects by Wi-Fi rather than a cable. You must input your Wi-Fi password in addition to the standard network setup in order to let the device see and join to the network. Additionally, you must confirm that the printer’s specifications and the network type are compatible, since attempting to connect an 802.11b device to a faster 802.11g network may cause data flow to slacken. A wireless printer requires driver software to be installed on every computer you want to use it on, just like a network printer does.
Which to Choose
The cheapest and most straightforward solution for those without a lot of computer skill is typically a wired printer. When numerous users must use one printer in a large firm, network printers are a much better option. When it comes to setting up your office equipment, wireless printers provide you the advantages of a wired network printer as well as the freedom to position the device anywhere it can detect a strong Wi-Fi signal.
