The pros and cons of laser printing technology
When looking for a printer, do you go for laser or inkjet? Before deciding on which is best for you it’s important to know the difference between the two. Many people may not know how each machine works.
Simply put, inkjet printers work by putting tiny droplets of ink onto paper to create text or an image. Laser printers basically work by using the same technology as photocopiers and use toner cartridges instead of conventional ink. An electronic sensor inside the printer deciphers data and then a laser beam scans back and forth to translate the message, building up a pattern of static electricity. This then attracts the toner, which is a powdered ink, and a fuser unit bonds the toner to the paper.
So what are the pros and cons of laser printing technology and how does that compare to inkjet? Let’s take a look:
Pros:
Speed: Because it uses laser beams to produce an image this makes a laser printer quicker than inkjet. Most laser printers can produce up to 20 to 40 pages of text a minute which makes them great for use in the office or at home if you are going to be producing lots of documents at a time.
Quality: For printing text documents, laser printers excel. The font comes out crystal clear, with no need to wait for ink to dry and even tiny details are sharp and clear.
Long life: Inkjet printers are often cheaper to buy but laser printers generally have a longer durability and they do not need to be refilled as frequently.
Less messy: As toner is a dry powder it’s cleaner to replace, while changing ink cartridges can sometimes mean getting ink on your hands. There’s also no waiting for ink to dry when printing, documents can’t get smudged and ink doesn’t run.
Cons:
Price tag: Buying a laser printer is initially more expensive than buying an inkjet printer, which can put some people off. However, as toners last longer than ink cartridges and can print out more pages, overall they can work out more cost effective in the long run.
More parts to replace: Bear in mind that laser printers have parts that may need replacing from time to time, such as fuser cartridges and maintenance kits.
Limited paper allowed: Inkjets can print on textured paper and photo paper, while the recommended paper is restricted to standard or copy style paper for laser printers. It is also not advised to print using laser on anything that is heat sensitive.
Photo printing: Laser printers are superb for text printing but you get a far superior finish using an inkjet printer. Simple graphics with a few colours come out ok using laser but for high quality photo printing an inkjet is best, especially if you want to link up your digital camera to your PC to print onto glossy paper.
If deciding whether to go for laser over inkjet it really depends on what you are planning to use the printer for. A lot of offices prefer laser because of the printing speed and ability to handle a heavy workload. However, if you are choosing to print out lots of images and colour photos then inkjet is a more popular choice.