Everyone who has ever printed a document will agree that printing through network on a shared device can be frustrating to say the least. These printers are unavailable when the computer they’re connected to is turned off and even if it’s on, they keep disconnecting from the network or disappearing from the printer list. Network printers cater to fix that problem by cutting out the computer from between the actual unit and the network by using a built in network interface, that takes jobs on ethernet or wireless connection from all authorized computers.

A normal printer connects to a computer through USB or other means and is shared by the computer’s operating system through it’s connection to the LAN, whereas a network printer is hooked up with net network directly, without the help of another computer. It makes the printer available every time it is turned on and there is no need to keep a computer on as well, which saves considerable amount of electricity, time and frustration.

Every office with more than one computer should invest in one, however larger enterprises may want to buy more. It’s advised to put a network printer where everyone who is authorized to print can easily reach it therefore having one each floor or room with multiple computers is a good idea.

Big companies with dozens or hundreds of computers will have to buy models that can read smart cards or enables password protected printing, that way nobody can grab the printouts before the person sending the job could pick it up, as the actual print starts when the person enters their password and hit OK.

I’ve come across a question a few times that if a non-network printer can be modified or upgraded to have similar features. Some models are already capable of taking an extra module that enables network printing, some of the older products are not. There are printer servers on the market that will take the place of a computer and act like one despite of being a chip, an USB and an ethernet connector stuffed into a box.
A print server costs some money to buy, but in my opinion it definitely worth its price for helping to cut down on electricity bills.
A network printer is basically the same price as other printers, the integrated modules don’t cost much. Wireless models may be a bit more pricey.
The actual price depends greatly on model but expect to pay up to $200 for non wireless color printers and $300 for the ones with wireless capabilities.

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