subject: Choosing Between Inkjet And Laser Printers [print this page] Choosing Between Inkjet And Laser Printers
There are many decisions to be made before purchasing a printer and they're not made easier by the volume of printers available to choose from. One of the first decisions revolves around the differences between laser and inkjet, but now there is a further choice of standard printer or multi-purpose model.Everything depends on the main use of the printer. With this function in mind, it becomes easier to decide which combination of features is going to be the most useful. The final choice for some will revolve around the need for the best reproduction of images and range of stock available. For others, the overall cost of keeping the printer running at reasonable speed and capacity will be the biggest deciding factors.If image quality is top priority, inkjet printers are considered the best option, as they offer a photographic quality print that isn't achievable with laser. Another benefit to inkjet is that it's possible to print onto a larger range of stock than with laser.Volume, speed and cost-effectiveness are where laser printers come into their own. However, these features tend to make them considerably larger than inkjets and can eliminate them from the running, if space is a problem.Where space is an issue, multi-functional inkjet printers are a good buy. They may be a bit bigger than average inkjet printers but this is compensated by the fact that they have built-in scan and copying capabilities and some are able to send faxes too. Laser versions are too big for most home uses and more costly too.The price of the printer is important but not as relevant as the cost of the consumables to keep the printer running. It's often the case that the cheapest printers to buy are the most expensive to run. How many prints you can expect to get from a single set of ink or toner cartridge is usually a lot less than advertised and, similarly, print speeds are much slower, which just adds to the confusion.Within each make of printer there will be a range of similar models to choose from and it doesn't always work out that a big name means a better product. On paper the modifications to each model can look slight but they can make a lot of difference to the printer's output capabilities.Such a broad choices means there is likely to be a model of printer that's just right for the task required. If photo-quality pictures and diverse stock are important features then inkjet is probably the answer and it's time to look at the slight differences between similar models. If larger volume runs are needed then the speed of output laser offers is probably essential too. As different models of laser handle paper differently, further investigations need to take place.Compatibility is something that needs to be considered too, especially when printers are going to be connected to Macs or even older style PCs. Before making the purchase it's worth checking that the printer is going to work with the existing operating system. If not, it should be possible to download and install the appropriate driver form the manufacturer's site.I have more reviews and information about inkjet printers at The Printer Guide.
