If you are thinking of investing in a new machine or replacing your existing home printer there are a number of things you might like to consider before you research and buy. These days the majority of printers produced for the domestic market can perform more than one function. Indeed it is likely that many printers you look at will have at least one extra feature in addition to printing.

Many modern printers are marketed as "all-in-one" meaning they will print, fax, scan and copy all from the same machine. This is ideal if you are looking for a home office machine, but don't underestimate the usefulness of a copier or scanner at home. Perhaps you need to send off an original receipt or a bank statement and want to keep a copy. Maybe you need to email a document you only have in hard copy. An all-in-one will allow you the option. If you need a machine with a fax function but only have one phone line at home, check out whether the all-in-one has a n "auto answer" setting. This will allow you to receive incoming faxes whilst you are away from your machine.

Do you want a printer that can print in color or will black and white be sufficient for your needs? Are you thinking about using your new machine to print photos? Obviously you will need a color printer for this (unless of course you are an enthusiastic black and white photographer!) but do think about other options also. A growing number of printers are optimised for photo printing with six color ink cartridges as opposed to the traditional three, giving a wider range and more sophisticated color rendition on paper.

If you will be printing a lot of photos you may like to consider a printer with multiple paper trays, enabling you to switch easily between plain and photo papers without having to physically change the paper in the tray. Many reasonably priced domestic printers are available with two or three trays, and once you have experienced the convenience you'll find it difficult to go back to a single tray again. Some printers will have a higher bin capacity than others (the amount of unused paper that can be kept in the tray) and this could be a consideration if you regularly print high volumes and do not want to keep refilling the printer with paper.

Another useful option for the enthusiastic digital photographer to consider is a built in card reader. Many printers will have slots for the most popular types of digital memory cards, allowing you to print directly from the card rather than via your PC. Similarly check out whether your all-in-one has a USB port. This can come in handy if you want to scan a document or photo directly to a portable memory stick. Simply plug the stick in, scan and go.

Even as few as five years ago, printers with duplexers and fast scan feeder attachments were the preserve of the ten thousand dollar office machine. Now you too can print automatically on both sides of the paper at home or scan multiple pages without laboriously lifting and replacing each one. Many printer models are available with optional duplexers and scan feeders, so if your budget won't stretch at the moment you could consider an option upgrade at a later date.

Another serious consideration is wireless printing. Particularly useful if you have only one printer with several family members accessing it, a wireless-capable machine will enable you to print remotely. Providing your laptop or desktop is itself wireless enabled you do not need to be physically connected to the printer. Also check out whether the machine has a wired Ethernet port for physically connecting the printer to your network.

Some brands (notably HP & Epson) are well known for being economical on ink, with reasonably priced refills. Many printer brands, especially those priced at seem like unfeasibly low prices, are loss leaders, with the manufacturer making their profit on ink refill cartridges. It is a good idea to check out the cost and longevity of the ink before you buy.