Many offices rely heavily on their printers to complete their work. If your business prints very frequently, weighing your printer options is a must when it comes to optimizing your hardware. Deciding between inkjet vs laser can be a tough choice. Generally, inkjet printers are considered to be ideal for home use, while laser printers seem to dominate the corporate world. However, many still claim that inkjet printers offer better quality when it comes to color printing.
Technology has evolved over the years, improving the performance of both types of printers. When choosing between inkjet vs laser printers, businesses need to explore what each product has to offer in order to make an informed decision. The printing experts at Braden Business Systems are here to help you pick the right printer for your business.
What’s The Difference Between Inkjet and Laser Printers?
It’s important to know how these different printers work to understand why one might fit your needs better than the other.
Inkjet printers use small nozzles to place ink droplets directly onto paper. These printers are common in homes and can provide vibrant color to printed documents.
Laser printers use toner powder instead of dye or ink. Laser printers produce electrostatically charged dots on a light-sensitive drum which attracts toner powder. The toner is transferred to the paper and fixed by a heating process. You’ll notice crisp black and white lines when you print with a laser printer.
When purchasing a new printer, you may also want to consider additional features like the ability to fax, copy and scan.
The Pros and Cons of Inkjet Vs Laser Printers?
Each type of printer has its pros and cons. If your office prints lots of contracts and legal documents, sacrificing image quality when printing is probably a smart idea to save on ink. Printing companies or businesses that do their own in-house marketing, would probably benefit from a printer that can print crisp images for proposals and advertisements.
We’ve laid out the pros and cons of inkjets and laser printers so you can weigh them side-by-side to figure out which will be best for your office.
Cost Efficiency
Businesses have to print numerous documents in a day which may include internal reports and marketing materials. Compared to inkjet printers, laser printers are economical and cost-efficient because they have a lower cost of printing per page. While a laser printer costs slightly more than an inkjet printer, businesses can save costs in terms of printing in the long run. Entrepreneurs need to understand that reducing long-term costs is imperative for increasing profit margins, which is why laser printers are a better choice. Sometimes spending more money upfront means saving money in the long run.
Speed Efficiency
Laser printers are superior to inkjet printers when it comes to speed. Depending on the size of printer, laser printers can print up to 100 pages per minute (ppm) while inkjet printers can achieve a maximum of 20 pages at best. Inkjet printers create digital images by dropping ink on paper. Laser printers produce the same digital images by scanning a laser beam across its photoreceptors. The application procedure in color laser printers is the same as in laser printers; both fuse toner powder on the paper using heat.
Quality of the Prints
In black text printing, laser printers are unbeatable. Inkjet printers are superior in color prints, offering better tone and higher resolution. However, technological advancements have enhanced color laser printer quality and offer decent color prints for normal use. Inkjet printers are only recommended for printing pictures in high resolution.
Product Life
Laser printers last longer than inkjet printers in terms of their shelf life. Even when left idle, laser printers are able to operate seamlessly without the need for regular maintenance. Inkjet printers left idle for a few days can dry up the ink nozzle which would require cleaning.
Braden Business Systems Can Help You Make a Decision on a New Printer
The printing experts at Braden Business Systems can assess your printing needs and help you find the best printer for your business. Give us a call today to see how we can help.