All posts by Vincent

How to connect a printer to a computer: Full guide + images

By Vincent on September 26, 2015

Installing a new printer can sometimes lead to annoyance and frustration. Don’t let this happen to you by taking my useful tips into account. Connecting a printer to a computer doesn’t have to be a hard task by any means. There are often many ways you can do this and I will specify each and every way. After reading this you will be able to set up a printer within minutes! Before you connect a printer to a computer decide whether you can set up a wireless connection or if you have to make use of any cables. The installment of a printer is very similar for Windows and Mac users so don’t worry too much about that.

Printers with a USB cable

Place the printer close enough to your computer so you can plug the USB cable into your computer. Once you do this your computer will detect the new hardware and inform you about the driver status.

Drivers are the essential software you need to keep your hardware running. This also goes for printers. When you go to your control panel (for Windows Users) and then select devices and printers you can actually see the installed printer.

Select the newly installed printer and go to properties. There you can find an option to print a test page. If your printer doesn’t appear on the devices and printers tab you can go to the printer manufacturer website and download the driver for your printer there. You will be asked for the product name and then you can choose and install the driver you need.

Wireless printers

These printers often come with an installation disk for your computer or laptop. This will always be the case for printers without their own display screen. Just insert the disk and start installing the printer software.

Printers that do have display screens (like LCD-screens or touchscreens) often don’t need an extra installation disk. You can simply click the wireless icon or menu on the display and set up a connection to your computer. However, this way you might only be able to make use of the basic printer functions. If you want a full installment of all your printer features (like scanning, email,…) you will still have to install extra drivers or the installation disk that comes with your printer.

If your computer is connected to the internet it will start searching for the printer. Once you found the printer and got the software correctly installed you can start printing. When the printer doesn’t have an installation disk you will have to go to the manufacturers website and install the driver you need. The installation process of every printer may vary a bit depending on what type of printer you bought. Usually it will look like something as shown in the next images. At the end of the installation you will often be asked if you want to print a test page.

Phone to printer

When you want to send your documents from a phone to a printer you will have to go to the devices and printers tab again. Go to the properties of the printer you want and select the sharing tab. There you can select share this printer. Next you might have to install the needed software for your phone. Although this isn’t always the case. Depending on what printer and phone you have this may or may not be necessary. I won’t be going into detail on every type of phone or printer but feel free to ask if you have any questions. For Iphone you typically need to install AirPrint. This might already be preinstalled on your Iphone.

Common problems and how to fix them

Make sure you plugged the printer into a power source. Without power the printer won’t work. This may sound funny to you but it is actually a very common problem!
If you plugged the printer into a power source and it won’t start, check your fuse box.
In case you encounter a problem that isn’t solved on this page, following the manual can be a good idea. Manufacturers can each have a different way to make you install their printer.
Try restarting your computer and printer if you are having trouble with the software installation.
Some printers have a status report mode. Ask your printer for its report and often it will tell you where the problem is situated.
In case of a wireless printer please make sure that your printer is in a place where it can detect your computer network. If the signal isn’t strong enough you won’t be able to print.
In case you have a firewall make sure you allow the printer to connect with your computer.
Go check out my post about common printer errors now!

Installation processes for printers are very similar overall. Once you get the hang of it future installments will be a piece of cake. I hope this article will help you in setting up your next printers. Feel free to leave a comment any time.

Vincent

Best Printers in 2026 — Our Top Recommendations

Looking for a reliable printer in 2026? Here are three of our top-rated picks across different categories, offering excellent value, reliable wireless connectivity, and low running costs.

1. Epson EcoTank ET-4850 — Best Overall All-in-One

The ET-4850 is our top overall recommendation for home and home-office users. The supertank ink system delivers thousands of pages before needing a refill, virtually eliminating cartridge waste and keeping running costs incredibly low. It features solid print speeds, an automatic document feeder, and a surprisingly compact footprint for a full-featured all-in-one.

→ Check the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 price on Amazon

2. Brother HL-L2350DW — Best Budget Laser Printer

If you print mostly text documents and want a reliable workhorse that won’t let you down, the Brother HL-L2350DW is a classic choice. This monochrome laser printer is fast, reliable, and incredibly easy to set up. Its high-capacity replacement toner cartridges keep print-per-page costs minimal, making it perfect for students and professionals alike who need volume printing without the high operating expense.

→ Check the Brother HL-L2350DW price on Amazon

3. HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e — Best Wireless All-in-One

The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e is a feature-packed all-in-one with strong wireless support, making it ideal for multi-device households. It offers fast printing, automatic two-sided scanning, and seamless integration with the HP Smart app. It’s also Instant Ink eligible, which can help keep running costs predictable. A great choice for busy home offices.

→ Check the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e price on Amazon

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Where do I find a cheap ink cartridge?

By Vincent on September 22, 2015

Finding the right inkjet cartridge shouldn’t be too hard of a problem. Most printer retailers and cartridge stores provide you with huge libraries so you can get all the required information. Finding the right and cheap ink cartridge may however be a bit of a pickle.

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Nobody wants to end up with a really cheap printer but having to spend lots of money on ink. Everybody needs to be very aware of the fact that companies will make advantage of this. They come up with very cheap printers knowing that they can get a lot of money back off the ink. Those printers might not have compatible cartridges, so you’ll end up buying full sets of new cartridges instead of replacing them 1 at a time. Another possibility is that the printers might require you to have ink in every slot. So you can’t just make black and white prints when you’re out of yellow ink. Don’t let this happen to you and do your research before buying!

I want to end this blog with a last tip on how you can save out on ink. Most printers have an option to change the print quality. Depending on the documents you are going to print, you might want to turn the quality down a notch. You can end up saving yourself a lot of ink and therefore a lot of money that you don’t have to invest.

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Best printers for home use

By Vincent on September 21, 2015

One of the most common questions we get in our business: “What would be considered the best printers for home use?” Everything comes down to your own preferences. However, few things need to be thought-through. First you will have to decide your main printing goals. Will you be printing a few photos or are you planning on making thousands of prints? Or do you prefer more versatility coming from a multi-function printer? Next you can start thinking about the budget you are willing to spend.

In the first case you are probably looking for an inkjet printer. Although this isn’t set in stone anymore, inkjet printers have a better reputation regarding photos. This is because of the printing process. Producers of inkjet printers are already incorporating software to ease printing out photos. This software often contains memory card readers and PictBridge, for an easy connection between a printer and a digital camera.

HP DESKJET 2540 ALL-IN-ONE

You aren’t planning on making lots of prints. Probably you just need a few documents printed out every month. This really is the ideal printer for basic
users. The HP Deskjet 2540 all-in-one has built in wireless technologies. Making it possible for the user to connect with a pc, phone or tablet. Furthermore you can scan all your documents, making it possible for the printer to act as a stand-alone copier. Flexibility is probably the best word to describe this rather cheap, multifunction printer.

You can get this awesome printer here.

Secondly there are laser printers, those have excellent features regarding monochrome prints and lean more towards office environments. Fast, spotless and more economic printouts are qualities which most companies will be looking for. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean a laser printer won’t be any good for home usage. If you aren’t planning on making a lot of color photos then this might be what you’re looking for. Toners for laser printers yield higher quantities of prints and therefore will be more cost efficient than inkjet cartridges. Definitely keep this in mind when purchasing a printer.

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