When desktop printers were first introduced to the computer market scene, they were rather large in size and quite expensive.  Nowadays, desktop printers come in very compact sizes.  This means that they have increased practicality and portability.  Though the prices of desktop printers tend to vary, they are generally very affordable.  In fact, many computer retailers sell them at discounts along with their desktop computer packages.  The amount you pay for a desktop printer will largely depend on its speed, print quality, model, reliability and size.

The most expensive desktop printers will normally be those which have the most functions.  Technological advancements has meant that these days, desktop printers can do more than just print.  For example, there are up market desktop printers which can print, scan, copy and fax.  When searching for a desktop printer to buy it is important to bear in mind that new models are always getting introduced into the market. 

This means that desktop printers become more or less obsolete within a very short space of time.  Hence, prospective buyers of desktop printers need to make sure that they can obtain current hardware and software support for any desktop printer they purchase.