What are the differences between inkjet and laser printers?

Inkjet printers use liquid ink distributed onto a page using droplets or bubbles.  They generally have lower resolution than laser (toner based) printers.  The ink cartridge for an inkjet printer can be much cheaper but the cost per page is higher, making ink jet prints more expensive in the long term.  Also, as one increases the resolution on the prints, the faster the cartridge will empty.  One simple trick to extending inkjet cartridge life is to lower the resolution.  Generally 600-720dpi is a good setting for day to day printing.

Maintaining an inkjet printer is fairly simple.  There is usually a maintenance option that will clean and align the print heads.  This should be done every so often depending on how much/often the printer is used (see your printer manual for detail).  Maintenance should be run about every month or so in order to keep the printer working properly and to keep the ink cartridges from clogging.

Price range for black ink cartridges are $5-$30 which print 200-700 pages, about 2¢-4¢ per page. Color ink cartridges are $25-$60 for 100-700 pages, about 8¢-25¢ per page.  The price of an inkjet printer can range from $30-$300.  One should also consider purchasing inkjet paper when printing high resolution.  Regular paper can soak the ink and make the prints look poor, also known as “Bleeding”.  Inkjet paper may have a matte or gloss finish which helps prevent bleeding.

Laser printers use static electricity and a powder called toner to create images on paper.  These printers are typically used for a high volume black and white printing.  Toner cartridges are more expensive than ink cartridges but will last much longer.

Maintaining a laser printer can be as simple as replacing a toner cartridge and wiping away residue from roller and trays, but can also be as complicated as disassembling a large portion of the device to replace a fuser roller.  Laser printers are better for businesses that print a high volume of documents and need something that will last longer than an inkjet printer.  Repairing a laser printer is usually worth the cost since they tend to have a much longer life than an inkjet printer.

A black toner cartridge costs about $40-$180 for 1200-8000 pages, about 1¢-3¢ per page.  A color toner cartridge costs about $100-$300 for 1000-2800 pages, about 5¢-10¢ per page.  The price of a laser printer can range from $90-$1200 with business class color laser printers costing much more.

If you have any questions regarding this article, or any computer related issue, feel free to contact us.