When it comes to selecting a printer, there are a number of factors to consider. Is the printer for home or office use? Will it primarily be used for printing black text or color charts and photos? Will it be used for high volume printing? What is the operating cost of the printer? Answering these questions will help make one important decision; to go with a printer that uses ink cartridges or one that uses toner.
Ink and toner are the lifeblood of printers without which a printer is an expensive desk ornament. The cost of ink and toner can add up quickly too. This is why it is important to assess printing needs before deciding on which type of printer to buy. Before discussing the pros and cons of each, it is important to understand how each works.
The biggest difference between a printer that uses ink and one that uses toner is how they print. An ink based printer uses a cartridge filled with ink to scan back and forth across the paper spraying ink onto the paper to create the text or image. Printers that uses toner are more commonly called laser printers. They are a bit more complicated than an ink printer. A laser printer uses two primary components to work; the toner cartridge and the drum unit. In short, a laser etches the document or image onto the drum unit. Next, the toner cartridge applies powdered ink onto the drum unit and the ink adheres to the laser etching via static electricity. The drum unit then presses onto the paper transferring the ink to it.
Typically speaking, toner cartridges have longer life expectancies than ink cartridges. This results in lower per page printing costs. Laser printers operate much faster and require less maintenance than ink based printers too. This makes them ideal to meet high printing needs. However, just because ink cartridges don’t last as long as toner cartridges doesn’t mean they should be entirely discounted. Due to the high initial cost of laser printers, it might be more cost-effective to use an ink based printer to meet low volume printing needs. Yes, laser printers have a lower operating cost, but this only saves money if the toner needs frequent replacement. Home photographers are better off sticking with ink printers as well. They produce higher quality images and suffer from fewer problems printing color than laser printers.
Should a person go with an ink or laser printer? To sum it up, laser printers do a better job of meeting high printing volume needs. They are ideal for printing black text and occasional color graphics. They offer a lower per page printing cost that will add up to savings over time despite their higher initial cost. Ink cartridge printers are ideal for low volume operations and printing photos. They offer a lower initial cost and don’t suffer from some of the same problems printing color that laser printers do.