When purchasing a laser printer, consider monochrome vs color, toner cost, printable paper size, resolution, speed, memory, and network capabilities. Monochrome is cheaper, color is for high-quality graphics. Toner replacement cost varies, check if the printer has a separate toner and drum unit. Paper size and weight should also be considered. Resolution affects print quality, and memory affects speed. Check network capabilities for multiple computer access. Evaluate each option to find the best printer for your needs.
Purchasing a laser printer for your specific printing needs requires you to consider a number of factors. Some important considerations are: monochrome versus color, cost of toner replacement, printable paper size, resolution, speed, memory, and network capabilities. By evaluating each option, you can easily find the best laser printer to fit your home or office printing needs.
If you print primarily in black and white, purchasing a monochrome laser printer is probably the best and least expensive option. While a monochrome laserjet printer can be purchased fairly cheaply, a color laserjet will cost significantly more. Color laser printers are typically used by businesses and individuals who print a lot of high-quality graphics, advertising, and other promotional materials. If you need to print high-quality color documents frequently, a color laser printer may be the right option for you.
Another consideration when buying a laser printer is the cost of the printer toner cartridges. The major cost of a laser jet printer often lies in toner replacement. Toner cartridge prices vary widely, and finding a printer with a lower cost for toner can save you money over time.
When buying a laser printer, it’s also worth considering whether or not the printer has a separate toner and drum unit. Some printers allow you to replace the toner only, while others require you to replace both the toner and the drum. Having to replace the drum and toner can get expensive.
The type of paper you can print on should be another consideration when purchasing this type of printer. Many of the less expensive laser printers can only print on standard-sized, medium-weight paper. If that’s all you’ll need to print, a less expensive laser printer will probably meet your printing needs. However, if you need to print on larger or heavier format paper, you’ll need to make sure the specifications of your prospective printer. This need may require the purchase of a larger and more expensive model.
Resolution refers to the number of dots per inch (DPI) a printer can print. The higher the DPI speed, the higher the resolution. For lower resolution, text-only printing, a printer with a 600 x 600 DPI rating is generally thought to be fine. Purchasing a laser printer with a resolution of 1200 x 1200 DPI is a perfectly acceptable resolution for most printing needs. A higher resolution printer such as one with 2400 x 2400 DPI is probably the best option if you plan on printing a lot of graphics.
like computers, laser printers have internal memory chips. The amount of memory in a printer affects the resolution and speed of printing. A laser printer with at least 4 megabytes (MB) of memory and a speed of 20 pages per minute (PPM) should meet most printing needs. If you want to print very large documents or lots of graphics, at high speed, then you’ll want a printer with a higher PPM speed.
If you need multiple computers to access a single printer, another consideration when buying a laser printer is to check its network capabilities. Some low-cost printer models can only be connected to one computer at a time. Many higher-cost models, however, come with internal network cards, making them “network-ready” printers.
With these considerations in mind, you’ll be able to more easily determine the best printer based on your printing needs and pricing requirements.
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