What is an inkjet printer? Or perhaps more specifically, what’s the difference between an inkjet printer and a laser printer? The inkjet printing process is radically different from the laser printing process. An inkjet printer sprays liquid ink onto paper through microscopic nozzles, which gives it an edge when it comes to documents with vibrant, blended colors and rich, detailed photos. Laser printers, on the other hand, have a laser beam that scans back and forth across a drum unit, fusing toner powder onto the paper, making them better suited for quickly producing large volumes of high-quality text documents. Today however, the best inkjet printers have blurred the lines by rivaling laser printers for both high volume speed and quality of text printing. Additionally, inkjet printers generally have a lower start-up cost since they are less expensive up-front, and ink cartridges are cheaper than the toner cartridges, though they output fewer pages relative to their cost.

Inkjet printers are also quite versatile. They're able to print just about anything on a wide range of types and sizes and styles of printer paper. Inkjet printers continue to be smaller, lighter and easier to maintain than laser copiers and, in most cases, they consume less power.

As with any purchase, to make your best inkjet printer buying decision, it's wise to start by identifying what you expect from your printer. Considerations might include double-sided printing or double sided scanning, an auto-document feeder, touchscreen convenience vs. a display screen, auto-reduction and auto-enlargement features, and whether you want a printer that is ENERGY STAR-certified.

Connectivity is also a consideration. You can have a wired connection, using a printer cable and the USB ports on your printer and computer, or you can use an Ethernet connection and router as part of a network. Or, you can connect your printer wirelessly via built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. In that case, you'll get the added benefit of placement flexibility since the printer is not tethered by a physical cable. Some printers have built-in memory card and USB 2.0 slots that let you simply plug in your memory card, USB drive, camera or other device to use as a source for printing. Others are easily configured to allow mobile printing directly from your smartphone or tablet. Of course, if you'd like help getting your printer up and running, Geek Squad will be happy to help with your printer setup, providing the support you want either online or in-person.