Laser Printer vs Inkjet Printer - What's The Difference?
Advantages of Laser Printers
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Operation costs are cheaper than with an Inkjet printer. Due to the
laser technology, they use less ink which makes them cheaper to run over
time. If you will be doing heavy printing jobs, you should probably lean
towards a Laser printer.
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Faster print speeds. Laser technology makes your printing extremely
sharp and much faster than most Inkjet printers. If you need to make
multiple copies of certain items, this is the type of printer you should
get.
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Copies come off the printer dry to the touch. This eliminates annoying
smearing that can occur with Inkjet printer technology.
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Great for larger offices or offices that have heavy use. These printers
use toner rather than ink. Toner is a dry plastic powder that is
combined with both carbon black and with coloring agents.
Disadvantages of Laser Printers
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Initial cost of the device is perhaps the biggest disadvantage of a
laser printer. However, there are several good deals online which
mitigate this to some degree.
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Size of the printer. In most cases, laser printers are a lot bigger than
their counterpart Inkjet printers. If you are confined to a small
office, this can become a huge disadvantage as they can take up more
space. However, if you have plenty of space, then this is not an issue.
·
Weight of the printer might be a concern if you don’t have a sturdy base
to set the printer on. This is because Laser printers are much heavier
than Inkjets are.
Now it is time to look at the advantages
and disadvantages of Inkjet printer technology. These printers contain
small ink cartridges, both black and color cartridges. Ink droplets are
propelled onto the paper.
Advantages of Inkjet Printers
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Inkjet printers are normally a great solution for small offices. In most
cases, they are much smaller than laser printers, saving you valuable
office space. You don’t always need a designated spot as often times
these are small enough to fit on a desk without taking up too much room.
Inkjets are also normally quieter than their laser printer counterparts.
This might be important if you are in a tight office space which causes
noise to echo off the walls.
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Inkjet printers have a lower initial cost at the point of purchase. If
you only are planning low to moderate use for your printer, an Inkjet
can handle the most common printing tasks with good quality.
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High quality photos can be produced with high end Inkjet printers. You
will also need the proper photo paper. If you are planning to use your
Inkjet for printing pictures and photographs, be sure to get a letter
size printer. Also, be careful after it prints, giving the picture ample
time to dry.
Disadvantages of Inkjet Printers
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Inkjet cartridges can be extremely expensive to replace. In fact, it
won’t take you long to spend more money on ink than you did on your
printer if you are a heavy user. There are some ways to mitigate these
costs. You might consider refilling your ink cartridges or buying
refurbished cartridges. This is frowned upon by most printer
manufacturers and in many cases may void your printer warranty. However,
with the low cost of Inkjet printers, you might not care.
·
Smearing and smudging can be a big problem with Inkjets. You need to be
very careful handling prints and you should let them dry before doing
much handling. Even when you take all the right precautions, smearing
can still happen. If you need crisp, laser quality prints, you might not
want an Inkjet printer.
·
Inkjet cartridge clogging can happen, although it happens infrequently
with most models. This can cause messy prints and can use up valuable
ink during the cleaning process to stop this.
Let’s recap the major differences and
advantages of each type of printer when comparing Inkjet vs Laser
printers. Here are the key takeaways.
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Inkjets are great for small offices with low usage. They are cheaper at
the point of purchase, but can cost you more in the long run because of
the high cost of ink.
·
Laser Printers are great if you have enough room in your office. They
print faster and in higher quality which makes them great for high
printing users. Although they are more expensive at the point of
purchase, they are probably cheaper over the long haul because they use
less ink.
We hope we have been helpful as you
pursue the adventure of purchasing a new printer. Your needs will
determine which type of printer you choose. Laser vs Inkjet is just the
start. You also will need to decide if you want an all in one printer, a
wireless printer, do you need color or just black and white? In any
event, we believe we should have helped you answer the following
questions.
·
What is the difference between Inkjet and Laser Jet Printers?
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Laser Printers vs Inkjets – which is better for me?
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What should I consider before buying an Inkjet or Laser printer?