So many times, especially because we don’t sell printers, people are more comfortable asking us what we recommend when the time comes to buy another printer. Maybe you’re considering putting one under the tree this year.
Maybe you’re just setting up your home office, or perhaps your old printer went belly-up and it’s time to replace it. Either way, the range of printers available to the general public has changed significantly in recent years, so it’s definitely a good idea to do some research before you pull out your wallet.
What will you be printing?
The first and most important question you should ask yourself is what and how you will be printing. This is the biggest determining factor in whether you’d be better off with an inkjet or laser printer, because each type of printer has different strengths and weaknesses.
Will you be printing mostly black and white text pages or color photographs? Hundreds of pages a week, or just a few? Is it more important that your black text is crisp and clear, or that the colors on your photograph be true and rich? Will you be using your printer mostly to print out web pages and simple spreadsheets, or high-quality documents for clients?
You will also need to decide whether you’d rather spend more money up front, or more money later on for ongoing supplies like ink.
Advantage: Inkjet
You mostly want to print lab-quality photographs. Inkjet printers generally produce richer, truer colors, and higher-quality photographs. There are also many inkjet printers on the market specifically designed to print photographs.
You don’t print very much, but want what you do print to be high quality. In this scenario, an inkjet will be more cost effective than a laser printer.
Lower startup costs are important. Though laser printers have come down in price a great deal in recent years, inkjets still tend to be cheaper. The ink cartridge refills also cost less than laser toner cartridges, so while a laser printer will have a lower per-page cost because you can print more pages with one toner cartridge, inkjets require less up front.
Size is an issue. Inkjets tend to be much smaller and lighter than laser printers, so if you don’t have a lot of room in your office, an inkjet is your best bet.
Lower ongoing cost for supplies. We like the inkjet printers that have multiple cartridges (one for each color, plus black). Those old “tri-color” cartridges which use three colors in one cartridge are not very economical if you print a bunch of Valentine’s Day cards and run out of red … you’d have to buy a whole new cartridge just because one color is out! Singular cartridges allow you to buy only the color that you need.
Advantage: Laser
You print a large quantity of mostly black-and-white text pages. Laser printers are much cheaper per page than inkjet printers and print faster. If you don’t need to print in color, then a monochrome laser printer is an excellent choice.
You want very crisp and clear text and images that won’t blur or smudge if they get wet. Inkjet printers spray ink onto the page, whereas laser printers actually burn the image onto the paper, resulting in clearer lines that won’t smudge.
Startup costs aren’t an issue, but ongoing costs are. Laser printers tend to be more expensive than inkjets, and the toner cartridges are more expensive than inkjet ink cartridges, but the cost per page is much cheaper because you can print far more pages from one toner cartridge than you can from one set of ink cartridges.
You’ll be printing a lot of large files and want to print them quickly. Many laser printers have as much memory as a computer itself, which allows them to store large files in their memory. This means that they will print these files more quickly, since they don’t have to process the image as it’s printing.
Other considerations:
There are a few other things you should bear in mind as you’re comparing models and making your printer buying decision.
Digital camera memory cards
Does the printer need to have built-in slots for these devices? Most of the newer inkjet printers do, while most laser printers do not.
PostScript fonts
Most inkjet printers are not PostScript-compatible. If you need to print PostScript graphics or fonts, consider a laser printer.
Network- and/or bluetooth-enabled
Will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office network? Most laser printers are network-enabled, verify whether that means connecting to your network with a wire, or wirelessly. Generally, the newer the printer, the more likely it is that it will have wireless functionality. Newer inkjet “multi-function” printers are now mostly wireless network capable, allowing you to print directly to it from virtually anywhere in the house from any computer or laptop. Note: If you use Apple products like i-Pad and want to print from them, make sure the printer you select is Apple-Friendly.
Ease of use
How easy is the printer setup process? Inkjet printers tend to be a bit more plug-and-play than laser printers, though how simple the setup process is will depend a great deal on the specific printer. If you’re not comfortable dealing with the inner workings of your computer, look for a printer that will be easier to install and use.
The final verdict
Generally speaking, where printers are concerned, you get what you pay for. If you want high-quality prints from a machine that will last a while and are willing to spend some money, you probably won’t go wrong with either an inkjet or a laser printer. Consider that if you don’t really need all the “bells and whistles”, it may be a better investment to go for the lowest cost … and if it only lasts a couple of years, you will have saved the extra expense and will be replacing it again by the time the next newest technology rolls around (or the next computer operating system is introduced).
If you’re looking for high-quality photo output, you won’t be printing very many pages, or you’re concerned about initial cost, then an inkjet printer is probably right for you. If you’d rather spend a bit more money at the outset but less on an ongoing basis, you’re going to be printing high volumes, and you’d like crisp, sharp text, then look for a laser printer.
Either way you go, we are here to save you money on the supplies. Our cartridges do NOT void any manufacturer warranties. We can bring them to you, or you can come see us at the store. You don’t need to bring in empty cartridges to do business with us … we have plenty of empties that we’ve already collected and refilled for you. Your cartridges at some point will go empty. Do you throw out your car when it runs out of gas? Of course not. The same logic applies towards these little bundles of print stuff. They’re not broken, they’re just empty! If you want to come and see us, here’s a map:
Freehold, NJ
