Suggest me a Printer

What this tool does

You need a printer, the cheap ones look like a steal, and you are about to walk into one of the oldest traps in tech. This tool gives you a sensible place to start. It hands you a real printer model at random, so you have a concrete name to research instead of a blank, and the sections below make sure you look at the right things before you buy.

Press the button for a model. Press it again for another. Ask for a few at once to build a quick shortlist. It is a starting point rather than a recommendation, so treat each pick as a name to look into, not a verdict.

How to use it

1. Number / Quantity. How many models to pull at once, from 1 to 100.
2. Generate. Pulls a fresh model, or a set of them if you asked for several.
3. Starts with, Contains, Ends with. Optional filters that narrow the list before it picks. Leave them blank to draw from everything.
4. Copy. Drops the model, or your shortlist, onto the clipboard as plain text for your notes.

A model is on screen as soon as the page opens, so there is always something to look into.

How it works

The list is a fixed set of printer models, and each press draws one at random, with no repeats inside a single set when you ask for several.

The filters let you aim. Contains keeps any model with your text in it, so typing canon brings up its PIXMA range and more, while another brand narrows it the same way. Starts with keys off the first letter and ends with off the last.

What is on the list

It is a set of around seventy printers spanning the main kinds. There are everyday inkjets like the Canon PIXMA line, refillable-tank models like the Epson EcoTank, compact laser printers like the Brother and HP LaserJet machines, and plenty of all-in-ones that scan and copy as well as print.

The usual caveat holds, that it is a curated selection and some entries are a generation behind. But printers age more slowly than most gadgets, so a pick is a fine name to start from. Still, check for the current model and recent reviews, and read the running-cost note below before you commit.

Why printer shopping is a headache

Printers are a strangely annoying thing to buy. There are many models, the differences are dull and technical, and the pricing is built to mislead, so it is easy to grab whatever is cheapest and regret it. That stall in the face of too many dreary options is the effect Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper put on record in a 2000 study: a tasting stand offering twenty-four jams drew a bigger crowd than one offering six, yet sold to far fewer of them.

Barry Schwartz called the broader pattern the paradox of choice, where abundance leaves us stuck and second-guessing. A random model gives you a real name to research, which beats a shelf of near-identical boxes. The crucial thing with printers, though, is a cost the sticker price hides, and the next section is about exactly that.

What actually matters, starting with running cost

The price on the box is not what a printer costs you. The real cost is the ink or toner over its life, and this is where cheap printers punish you, since a bargain inkjet can burn through pricey cartridges and cost far more in a year than a dearer machine. So look at the cost per page, not just the upfront price. A refillable-tank printer like an EcoTank costs more at first but far less to run if you print a lot, and a laser printer is cheaper per page and faster for black text, while a basic inkjet only makes sense for light or occasional use. Then match the type to your use, decide whether you need an all-in-one that scans and copies, check it connects wirelessly, and judge the budget over a couple of years rather than on day one.

Questions people ask

Is it free, and does it save anything?

The tool is free with no sign-up, and nothing is stored. The picks run in your browser, so copy a shortlist for your research before you leave.

Can I get a few options at once?

Yes. Set the quantity to the number you want, up to 100, and press Generate for that many different models in one pull.

Why does the cheap printer cost more in the end?

Because the money is in the ink. A low sticker price often comes with expensive cartridges, so a cheap inkjet can cost far more to run than a pricier tank or laser printer. The section above explains how to compare cost per page.

Are these the newest models?

Not always, though printers age slowly. Use a pick as a starting point and check for the current version and recent reviews before buying.

References

1. Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper, "When Choice Is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing?", Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000, the study behind choice overload. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11138768/
2. Barry Schwartz, "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less", his talk on how more options can lower satisfaction. https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_paradox_of_choice