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.

The final decision will be made easier if the end result required is taken into consideration at the outset. It's important to know if the main use will be for reproducing images, text or a combination. A need to produce a lot of print-outs, quickly and cost-effectively, requires a different train of thought than if the top priority is quality of image and the ability to use a range of stock.

Inkjet printers offer the best solution when the quality of image is all-important. Laser images, though good, can look lifeless in comparison. Lasers also tend to only print onto laser paper, unlike inkjets which have a variety of stock choices available.

Laser printers are better for larger volume printing. They're faster and cheaper to run than inkjet and good for printing professional looking documents. Lasers are generally more bulky than inkjets as they have more capacity built in for volume printing.

All-in-one inkjet printers are a good option for small home-based business use. They're bigger than standard models but extra functions include scanning, copying and possibly faxing. Their laser counterparts are even bulkier and are more suited to office environments than home use. Laser all-in-one versions are generally more expensive to buy than inkjets but the running costs are lower.

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.

Once a decision has been made about whether the inkjet or laser is the most suitable, it's possible to look more closely at individual brands to see what is available and compare prices. All lasers are not created equal and neither are inkjets. The biggest brands aren't necessarily the best choice and each manufacturer will produce several similar models, with a variety of modifications, in an attempt to suit most users.

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.

Considering the computer that the printer will be connected to is important in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly at output stage. Some printers aren't compatible with Macs and some older PC operating systems. A check should be done to find out if appropriate drivers can be downloaded from the manufacturer's site should they be required.

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