Laser vs inkjet: which printer should you choose?

These days, having a computer is almost a foregone conclusion as is having a printer to go along with it. Having a good machine at home can really come in handy for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you have kids and want to print out learning materials or activity sheets. Maybe you work from home and need to print out work documents. Whatever the reason, choosing the right printer is key. For the experienced techie, it’s a no-brainer; they know about all the latest models and can easily deduce what they need. For those who are new to the computer and printer scene or those who just aren’t quite as experienced, it can be a bit tougher to make the right choice.

You might be thinking that a laser printer sounds nicer and that maybe it will print pretty quickly, and you’d be right. Laser printers typically dwarf the speed of inkjets, depending upon which brands and models you’re comparing. They produce high quality prints, and they don’t have any issues with ink needing to dry before being touched. However, they are considerably more expensive than inkjet machines. This is largely due to the toner cartridges they use. They last many pages before needing to be replaced, but they can cost two or three times what an inkjet cartridge would. Also, having a colour laser printer is a bit difficult as you need a black toner and three colour toners (red, yellow, and blue). Still, for business use, its hard to beat the quality of a black and white laser printer.

Inkjets are on the more affordable end of the spectrum. Unlike the older models of years past, they tend to print at a reasonably quick rate, and the inks don’t run or bleed through the paper nearly as much as they used to. Depending on what brand you choose, the style of ink cartridges will vary, so it’s important to choose the correct ones for your printer. They don’t last as long as laser toners do, so you’ll replace them more often. Still, the price is much lower so it won’t be as painful on your wallet. Inkjets make great printers for casual use, especially for those mums and dads printing colourful activity sheets for the little ones.

Regardless of which printer you choose, carefully consider how much and how often you need to use it as well as the types of things you need to print. You can also consult a professional to get more detailed info on the different makes and models out there so that you can be sure you get the best value for your money.