What is the best type of printer for home and business use?

Like most things, the best printer for home or business use depends on your needs. There are many printer technologies. The two most common are Inkjet, a de facto standard for home use, and a Laser printer, more commonly used in the office. While there are other types, I will concentrate on these two. Laser and Inkjet printers are available in monochrome and colour for printing. They will also come available in a couple of formats, a stand-alone printer or a multifunction. The multifunction usually includes printing, scanning and photocopying.

Inkjet printers

These are the most popular type of home-based printer.

They spray liquid ink onto paper through tiny nozzles to create images and text.

Inkjet printers are affordable, produce high-quality prints, and are ideal for printing photos and documents. They can print on a variety of media types, including glossy photo paper, cardstock, and even fabric. It makes them a versatile choice for home users who may need to print a variety of different documents.

The disadvantages of Inkjets are that the ink cartridges are expensive to replace, which will add up over time depending on your print volume. Inkjets are typically slower than laser printers, therefore, not ideal for high-volume printing. They can also be prone to smudging and streaking

Laser printers

These printers use a toner (powder) instead of ink to produce prints. They are faster and produce high-quality text documents. However, they are not ideal for printing photos. Laser printers have a low-cost per page, making them a more cost-effective option for printing large volumes of documents.

The main disadvantage is the initial upfront cost. Laser printers cost more to purchase. The toners cost more to purchase. Some in the hundreds of dollars. But on a per-page print, they are almost always lower cost. So when considering getting a printer, determine your primary use and then look at the volume of printing you might do. All printer manufacturers will give you a cost per page to print both in black and in colour. So while Laser toners may cost more, they will do thousands of pages compared to the hundreds from an Inkjet. Printing a lot can be a significant saving compared with Inkjet costs over time.

If you’re looking to light up your week with a trip into town to check out Vivid, but want to avoid the commute, a Sydney staycation is the way to go.

When it comes to checking out the annual Vivid Festival, the idea of travelling from western Sydney on a train, which will inevitably be delayed, or braving the terrible traffic and tolls, is enough to convince anyone to give it a miss.

That’s exactly what I planned to do this year, before I had the opportunity to stay at the Park Regis City Centre hotel.

Located smack-dab in the middle of the city and conveniently surrounded by plenty of great restaurants, cafes and major shopping precincts, Park Regis City Centre is the perfect place to stay if you want all the perks of Sydney right on your doorstep.

Checking in on a Monday, I took the very short walk from Town Hall station to the hotel, where I was greeted by friendly staff and shown my room. Called the Park Suite, the spacious studio-style room was made up of a modern lounge room, a bathroom and a bedroom with a huge bed.

Immediately the first thing I noticed was how cosy and warm the lounge room felt. A comfortable lounge and armchair took up the bulk of the room, with a desk located in the corner next to the TV. As someone who was still on the clock, the lounge room also served as the perfect make-shift office to do my work in.

The hotel room offered plenty of amenities, including easy access to a microwave and bar fridge off the bedroom, as well as plenty of storage. And although the bathroom was a bit on the smaller side, the size of the rest of the room more than made up for it.

When it was time to check out this year’s Vivid attractions, all I had to do was take a quick train ride to Circular Quay and suddenly I was surrounded by beautiful lights. After checking out the amazing wallpaper and fabrics that were projected onto Customs House, which was definitely a highlight of the festival, I then headed off in search of something to eat.

Transformed into an immersive butterfly experience, Gateway Sydney not only offered me a delicious dinner in the form of burgers from the always dependable Betty’s Burgers, it also served up a unique and eye-catching experience for visitors to Circular Quay. For those after restaurant and food court options that cater to every taste, Gateway Sydney is the perfect choice.

Each year the Vivid Festival one-ups itself, introducing new installations and light shows that has people of all-ages stopping in their tracks and looking up in awe. From the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, which pays tribute to First Nations cultural and art practices, to the always stunning Sydney Opera House, Vivid is not to be missed. After walking around Sydney, it was time to finally head back to the hotel, where I enjoyed a glass of wine and relaxed. With so much to see in the city, spending a night in town was the best way to end a successful night of light seeing.

So if you’re planning on checking out this year’s amazing Vivid attractions and don’t want to worry about getting to and from the city, check in to Park Regis City Centre and enjoy a stress-free staycation – you won’t regret it.

Park Regis City Centre is also currently offering an exclusive Vivid special, which includes 15 per cent off accommodation and 10 per cent off Vivid Sydney Cruises.