Ink Jet Printers Test (A4)

Reviews on Ink Jet Printers (A4)

"HP OfficeJet Pro K5400n Inkjet Printer"

Published on: 6/2008

On test: Hewlett-Packard OfficeJet Pro K5400n

Will HP be successful as it goes after laser printers with it's OfficeJet Pro K5400n Inkjet Printer → More

"Canon Pixma iP2600"

Published on: 3/2008

On test: Canon Pixma iP2600

The Pixma iP2600 is Canon's inkjet photo printer for users on a budget. Replacing the Pixma iP1800 as its entry-level, straightforward printer with limited features. → More

"Join the jet set"

Issue: 12/2007

On test: Canon Pixma iP1800, Canon Pixma IP3500, Canon Pixma iP4300, Canon PIXMA iP4500

Inkjet printers are the easiest and most affordable way to get high-quality printing at home. Even a device that costs less than a return train ticket from London to Milton Keynes can print your photos, letters and colour documents. If you are prepared to pay a bit more, you can get an inkjet that prints directly on CDs and produces photos good enough to rival the in-store machines at your local chemist. → More

"Epson Stylus D120"

Published on: 9/2007

On test: Epson Stylus D120

The sales pitch for Epson's new Stylus D120 is that it makes a sensible alternative to a personal laser printer in a small or home office. Rather than restricting yourself to a mono printer, the argument goes; you can get the same kind of speed, quality and running costs from an inkjet and have the facility for colour print when you need it. Given that sales of personal laser printers have died a death over the last 10 years, against the onward march of inkjet, we reckon that battle has largely been won. The Stylus D120 is about as conventional as an inkjet printer can be from the outside. A flip-up paper support at the rear reveals a paper feed tray where paper passes through the machine to a telescopic output tray, which folds down from its front panel. The top cover lifts to reveal a typical Epson piezo-electric head design, which takes five ink cartridges. → More

Ink Jet Printers (A4)

Inkjet printers, also known as Bubblejets, print by squirting a tiny jet of ink onto paper or some other material. In most printers this jet is caused by heating a small amount of ink in a tiny chamber. The heat turns to steam and pressurises, forcing it out of an opening and causing it to deposit on the page. Most ink cartridges have an integrated print head so every time the ink is changed the head is also changed. This means that blockages no longer present too much of a problem as the cartridge is not intended to last too long but as the print heads have to then be mass produced and costs kept low, they are not as accurate as a fixed head. Most printers will turn themselves off after a period of being left idle which saves the ink from drying up and will often go through a short cleaning cycle when powered on. Inkjet printers are used a lot in the home because they are relatively cheap to run and produce decent text and image quality. Different types of paper can also be used, such as photo paper or acetate to improve the quality of photo prints or for use with overhead projectors. Special Inkjet printers for photographs are known as dye sublimation printers, these infuse the ink deeper into the paper and produce a better, more natural image. A4 inkjet printers are available from as little as thirty pounds while a photo printer will cost more depending on features. A good photo printer will set you back around one hundred pounds.