Max. resolution
The maximum resolution of the image to be printed. It is usually indicated by two numbers denoting the number of dpi (DPI) horizontally and vertical:
600x600, 1200x600,
1200x1200,
2400x600,
2400x1200,
4800x600,
4800x1200,
4800x2400,
5760x1440,
9600x600,
9600x2400. The detail of the image depends on this parameter - the higher the resolution, the more fine details the printer is able to convey and the better their image will be. High print resolution is important, first of all, when working with graphic material; low resolution is sufficient for high-quality text display. So
First page print time
The time from the receipt of a print command to the exit from the printer of the first page printed in black and white, in other words, how long after pressing the "Print" button, the user will receive the first page. Most often indicated for draft (fastest) print mode, higher quality will take longer. You should pay attention to this parameter if you often need to print small documents (on one or several pages) on the printer.
Mono print
The black and white print speed provided by the printer. It should be noted that this parameter is often indicated for low quality when the device is running at maximum performance; at a higher quality (even at standard), the actual speed can be noticeably lower, so you should choose with a certain margin. Also note that high speed significantly affects the price, power consumption and noise level. Therefore, it does not always make sense to chase maximum performance — for simple applications (for example, at home or in a small office), a relatively slow and inexpensive device may be the best choice.
As for specific values, speeds
up to 20 ppm are considered relatively low,
20 – 30 ppm — average,
31 – 40 ppm — decent, and the fastest models are capable of delivering
more than 40 pages per minute.
Mono cartridge resource
The maximum number of pages that the printer's ink (toner) can print. The value is rather conditional, in reality the deviations from the norm are very large (up or down). In inkjet printers, the cartridge life is relatively small and amounts to several hundred prints. In laser and LED devices, the bill is already in the thousands.
OPC drum resource
The photoconductor is used in laser and LED printers (see Printing technology); during use, due to constant contact with paper, scratches and abrasions appear on it, which significantly affect print quality. In some printers, the photoconductor is part of the cartridge — in this case, its resource is equal to the resource of the cartridge, the drum is installed and changed along with it. In other models, the drum is installed separately.
The drum yield is the maximum number of pages that a printer with a drum unit can print without any noticeable loss in quality. It is usually specified for printers with a separate drum. The resource is a rather approximate value, because depends on the specific conditions of using the printer, and in fact it may differ from the claimed value both in one direction and in the other.
Cartridge model
The types of cartridges (both black and white and colour) used in the printer. Some printer models are able to work with "non-native" cartridges, but this feature usually refers to undocumented features, and the manufacturer's warranty covers only specific types of cartridges. So use "non-native" models with caution.
Voice assistant
Printer support for one or more
voice assistants. The most popular voice assistants among printers today are:
- Amazon Alexa
- Google Assistant
- Microsoft Cortana
We emphasize that this is usually not about the voice assistant built into the printer itself, but about improved compatibility with external devices where such an assistant is installed — so to use this function, you will also need an appropriate device. However, the ability to give voice commands to the printer significantly expands the control options, making it more convenient and intuitive; but the specific functionality and features of different voice control systems may be different. For example, Amazon Alexa is available both through special control devices (like Echo smart speakers) and through mobile applications for Android and iOS; Google Assistant is part of the Android OS and Google Home smart home systems; and Cortana is designed primarily for use with Windows PCs and smartphones, although it is also available as an Android application. The set of supported languages can also be different (in particular, English is almost always available, but Russian support should be specified separately).
RAM
The amount of internal memory installed in the printer.
The main purpose of such memory is to store tasks sent for printing. This gives various additional features: printing when the computer is turned off, continuing to work after troubleshooting, pausing the process and resuming at will, etc. The more memory, the wider these printer capabilities (in particular, large volumes allow you to store more tasks ).
Note that we are talking about the built-in memory; if the printer also has a hard drive (see below), its capacity is specified separately.
Clock Speed
The clock speed of the processor installed in the printer. Theoretically, a higher clock speed improves performance and, accordingly, the actual speed of operation. However, in fact, these indicators depend on so many additional factors that the processor frequency is a purely reference parameter, and when choosing, it is worth focus on more “close to life” characteristics — print speed, first sheet output time, etc.
