When it comes to hooking up your printer to your computer, there are three ways, although not all printers give you all three options.

USB Cord

With this method, a USB cord is hooked up between your printer and your computer.  This is the most direct way of being able to print but it also has some limitations.  For instance, if someone else on your network wants to print, the computer with the USB cord must be on.  If you turn the computer off, no one else can print.  Additionally, the printer has to be within cord reach of the computer.

Ethernet Cord

An Ethernet cord connects between your modem/router combo (or just your router) and your printer.  Like the USB connection, since a wire is in use, printing will happen faster than if the printer is wireless.  A plus with using the Ethernet connection is that no computer has to stay on so that others can print.  The downside is that not all printers have an Ethernet port, so those can’t connect this way.

Wireless

People love wireless printers because, except for the power cord, there are no cables; no cords from the printer to a computer or to a modem.  Fewer wires, less stress!  On the downside, though, wireless printers do not always stay on the Wi-Fi network.  When that happens, you can’t print.  If you’re a Remote Technical Support customers of ours, we can’t always get your printer back online remotely.  However, if you have a USB cord available and can connect from the printer to the computer, we can usually get your wireless back up and running.