Are Network Printers Really Necessary?

Printing through the local network on a device that is shared by a computer can be very frustrating. These standard printers connect to a computer via USB or the parallel port and are put through to the network by the operating system, while network printers are connected to the network by a network interface of some description directly. The latter completely removes the need for the computer to be online at all times which saves time, money and a considerable amount of frustration.

Offices and households with at least a few computers should invest in a network printer mainly because it saves money on the long run by cutting down on electricity bills and better utilization. Using one printer on the network instead of a few different types and brands scattered around the office or house can definitely make the initial investment lower and the maintenance faster and more cost effective.

Larger enterprises may have to buy a printer with a few more extra functions such as password protection or smart car reading capabilities. When there are many colleagues working in the same confined space, protection of sensitive data can become a concern. Passworded printers fix the issue by starting the actual job only after the user has entered their password or inserted their smart card and hit print.

The question if regular printers can be turned into network printers occurs regularly. There are more recent models that already have a bay for the network module, for $30-$50 it can be purchased and the printer can be converted easily. Other older models might miss this function though, and are in need of another solution. Printer servers are the size of a cell phone and can translate between USB and the network. Installing one in the network can save considerable amount of money on electricity on the long run.

Network printers are easy to come by nowadays and barely cost any more than normal printers. Models with the capability of wireless connection may be a bit more expensive, but $200 to $300 gets a decent one. The price greatly depends on the model and included functions though, so look around before purchasing.