Color Laser Printer Vs. Inkjet Printer
There are a wide variety of printers available. The two main types of printer are laser and inkjet; each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The intended use of the printer must also be taken into consideration when selecting a printer, particularly for specialty applications.
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History
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Computer printers were invented well before personal computers. Remington Rand developed the first printer in 1953 for the Univac computer. Laser printers appeared on the scene in 1975 courtesy of IBM. Since then they have remained a high-end printer generally used for business applications, mainly due to cost considerations. Inkjet printers were invented by HP in 1979 and are the most common type of printer used by consumers as of 2009.
Laser
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Laser printers have several features that make them suitable for a business environment. The media used in a laser printer to print black and white or color documents is called toner. It's more expensive on a per package basis, but the per-page cost of documents printed is significantly lower than an inkjet printer and the toner cartridge itself lasts longer. A laser printer can also print documents faster and at a higher volume than an inkjet printer.
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Inkjet
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Inkjet printers are the most commonly used consumer printer for a reason. Both the printer and the ink cartridges are inexpensive, making them popular with users that have minimal printing needs. The disadvantage is that the cartridges run out faster, making the per page cost higher on an inkjet printer. A lower printing workload capacity points out the final limitation of an inkjet printer when compared with a laser printer.
Practical Application
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It may seem that the obvious choice is a laser printer, however that is not the case. The printer chosen will depend on the purpose in mind. The high volume capacity of a laser printer is a necessity for a busy workplace. The device will quickly pay for itself. However, a home user with modest printing needs, for example less than 50 pages a month, will normally be quite pleased with an inkjet printer.
Considerations
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Prices in the technology sector are continually falling; this is true of printers, as well. As of 2009, entry-level color laser printers start at a price of $150, bringing them into a reasonable price range for nearly any user. There are also specialized printers for different applications. Photo printers that are used to print out digital photographs and multifunction printers with capabilities such as copying and faxing are two examples of specialized printers.
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