Laser printers have long been dominant in enterprise environments but not the go-to pick for home users with color printing needs.
Now that many color laser printers are priced under $500, you can choose between inkjet or laser printers without breaking the bank. But bear in mind that inkjets and lasers are suited for different purposes because of the way they work.
The difference comes in the way the technologies adhere ink to the page. Inkjets spray ink onto the page through tiny nozzles, creating microscopic dots. Uncoated paper—everyday white paper—absorbs ink, which causes bleeding, blurring the edges of everyday text. Specialized photo paper can prevent the bleeds and control drying times, allowing for professional-quality color prints. However, everyday text will not look as sharp on an inkjet as on a laser because of the bleed factor.
Laser printers work by using high heat to fuse powdered ink to paper. There is no bleeding effect, because laser toner does not absorb into paper. Prints are smudge-proof, need no drying time, and rarely require specialized paper. However, the sharp, crisp edges from a laser don’t allow for the same subtle gradients of color that an inkjet can produce. Color lasers must lay down colors one at a time, and toner has a bit of opacity, unlike wet inkjet inks. Although color lasers aren’t the preferred choice for maximum photo-quality prints, they can produce speedy and crisp results with solid image quality and perfect text.
If it seems both types have their advantages, you’re right. To make the best choice, first consider your printing needs, and then dig into the tech specs.
What Will You Be Printing?
The primary factor in choosing a printer is what you’ll be printing on a regular basis. If you’ll be printing a lot of business documents, consider a crisp and speedy monochrome laser printer like the Brother HL-5340D High-Speed Monochrome Laser (right). Monochrome laser printers’ sharp text and quick output make them ideal for high-volume document printing when readability is a priority. And because they’re an older technology, they’re cheaper than ever.
If you’ll be printing a wide mix of images and documents in your home or small business, consider a general-purpose inkjet printer. Even the cheapest inkjets can now produce photo-quality color. Not surprisingly, inkjet models labeled for office use, like the HP OfficeJet Pro 8000 (below), emphasize speedy output and cost savings, but they can still turn out quality graphics.
High-volume document printing, infrequent color needs, and the need for speed: If that describes you, a color laser printer makes a good choice. A small office without a need for photo-style prints can produce office presentation packets and newsletters that look great and print quickly. The Konica Minolta 4650EN Magicolor gets a solid rating from CNET.
If photos are your focus and you don’t need to print larger documents, consider a specialized inkjet photo printer. Inkjet photo printers typically pack ultra-high resolution into a small package and often allow you to plug your camera directly into them, bypassing your computer entirely. The Epson PM 290 PictureMate Zoom (left) gets rave reviews from Macworld.
Out of Pocket Now—and Later
When purchasing a printer, consider initial cost versus long-term cost. Although laser printers are initially more expensive, they tend to need ink replacement less often than inkjets do. On average, black-and-white laser printers require infrequent replacement of more expensive ink, and inkjets need frequent infusions of cheaper ink. Color lasers may be the most expensive option for ink, despite the toner cartridge’s longevity, according to Consumer Reports. Factory specs give a printer’s rate of ink consumption, and you can double-check that number against online owner reviews.
Besides the cost of consumables, be prepared for the worst—a breakdown. Laser printers have more moving parts and greater complexity. But because they’re primarily aimed at office users, repair options and warranties tend to be strong. On the flipside, inkjet printers have fewer moving parts. But when they break, it’s usually—though not always—cheaper to replace them than to repair them. Keep those factors in mind when considering the initial cost of a printer.
Stop the Presses
Do you prefer to print on photo-sized paper or 8.5” × 11” paper? Inkjets and laser printers both have unique paper requirements. Because of the high heat used in fusing laser toner with the page, laser toner will not bond with photo printing paper, and small stock tends to curve with the fusing rollers.
Many laser printers offer multiple paper size capability. But if you need wide-ranging size capabilities, inkjets are more flexible. If you want to feed in photo-sized paper and collect finished professional-quality prints from the tray, choose either an inkjet with borderless printing capability or a designated photo printer. If you have limited need for unusual paper sizes, a laser printer could work for you.
Marketing Markups
Printer specifications usually include maximum dots per inch (dpi). This measurement is shown as maximum horizontal resolution by max vertical resolution, as in 1200 × 1200 dpi. Generally speaking, printers with higher dpi numbers can produce higher-quality prints. The minimum dpi guidelines for different applications have increased as printer capabilities improve. A dpi of 300 will suffice for good quality, while 600 dpi might be used for presentations. Photo-quality image resolution starts at 1200 dpi, and 2400 dpi is considered professional photo quality. One high-resolution option is the Epson Stylus Photo R1900 (below), which prints at up to 5760 × 1440 dpi.
Another number that manufacturers might inflate is print speed, which is measured in pages per minute (ppm). No two manufacturers use the same standard print procedure for measuring ppm. Some might print text on the lowest quality setting, while others might print a single small graphic. Expect to see no more than half of the manufacturers’ promised print speed, according to CNET. To speed up graphic-intensive prints, look for printers with lots of internal memory.
Ultimately, start by considering your most frequently-printed items. Don’t be distracted by the dizzying array of options—focus on cost of ownership, resolution, and print speed. Happy hunting!
