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The Differences Between Laser and Inkjet Printers
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by: James.King
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Word Count: 561
When
your household or business is about to buy a new printer, you will
need to choose between a laser printer or a inkjet printer. Your
choice of printer will primarily be based on your requirements, your
budgetary constraints, and space limitations. An inkjet printer is
usually ideal for home users who have limited text and photo printing
needs. A laser printer is best suited for larger office environments
that require higher-volume and higher-quality printing outputs. The
differences are generally categorized into a few broad segments:
speed, quality, and cost. It is essential to understand the
differences between a laser printer and inkjet printer before you
invest.
Differences
in Speed
A
laser printer is light years ahead of an inkjet printer when it comes
to differences in speed. Users who require large volumes of printing
will prefer a laser printer. Laser printers are more suited for
general office use than inkjet printers. The least expensive laser
printer can print around 10 to 15 pages a minute. Inkjet printers are
usually rated on the speed of a draft or quick printing mode, which
is usually only suitable for proofreading purposes. Inkjet printer
speeds drop off noticeably when high quality black text and
letter-sized quality photos are printed.
Differences
in Quality & Color
A
laser printer produces better quality text with a higher resolution
than an inkjet printer. High resolution also helps laser printers
create more precise fonts and graphics. However, the cost-effective
inkjet printers are usually recommended for inexpensive color
printing. An inkjet printer can print high quality text, large photo
prints, graphics, banners, and greeting cards at less than half the
price of a color laser printer. But a laser printer is capable of
producing quality prints on all types of paper where an inkjet
printer requires inkjet paper to produce quality color prints without
bleeding or fuzziness.
Differences
in Cost
The
cost can have two sub-categories – initial cost and operating cost.
An inkjet printer has a low initial cost but a higher maintenance
cost, while a laser printer has a high initial cost and low
maintenance cost. Laser printers are a better option for long-term
office use because they are designed to handle higher volumes and
have a higher capacity of ink or toner. An inkjet printer cartridge
needs to be replaced often, especially if you print a considerable
and consistent amount. The toner cartridges of laser printers are
more expensive than ink cartridges, but rarely need replacing. The
output of a laser printer is quality even on cheap paper, but an
inkjet printer requires special inkjet paper for quality output and
further depends on the grade and type of paper used. You will need to
decide if you want to speed more initially or in the long-term.
Laser
printers are definitely a better buy when the requirements are high
quality, high speed, high volume, low operating cost, and no
budgetary constraints. Inkjet printers have a low initial purchasing
cost, but the operating cost may exceed your budget. With all this in
mind, it is advisable to calculate the total cost of ownership before
purchasing a printer. When choosing your next printer, consider these
differences between inkjet printers and laser printers before buying.
About the Author
Ethan Luke. laser printer - With a singular focus on shopping, Shopping.com offers shoppers easy-to-use search tools, engaging content and time saving navigation, along with millions of unbiased product and merchant reviews from the Epinions community, all in one place.
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