Tool Reviews

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A printer is the most popular external computer accessory that transfers computer text or photos to paper. No office or home of a person working with paperwork or studying is unthinkable without this accessory. If you don’t have a printer yet, the large selection is definitely a headache – how do you choose from such an abundance? Will a laser or inkjet printer best meet your needs? We have distinguished the advantages, disadvantages and differences between these types of printers to help you decide and choose a device that will serve you for a long time and with quality.

The main differences

Let’s discuss the main differences between the two types of printers – printing purpose, printing method, usage time, cost, cartridge prices and printing sound. The key differences will help you decide whether a laser or inkjet printer is right for you.

Laser printer

• Printing purpose. Laser printers create text for printing. Laser printers are not recommended for those who frequently print images – their quality is lower, so in this case, choose an inkjet printer. Of course, if you rarely print photos and do not seek special quality, this type of printer will definitely meet all expectations. True, color laser printers are very expensive, so consider this aspect as well.
• Printing method. Laser printers use toner to print, which is a cost-effective way to save a lot of money as printing requires very little toner. This method is more accurate.

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• Time of use. If the laser printer is not used for a long time, no additional work is required – nothing will happen to the powder in the cartridge.
• Costs. Laser printers are much more economical and economical – cartridges last longer.
• The price of the cartridge. The price of cartridges varies depending on the printer model and the quality of the cartridge, but it is not high.
• Sound. Laser printers operate quietly.

Inkjet printer

• Printing purpose. Inkjet printers are designed for printing photos, color details. Nevertheless, the inks will work for both those who print photos and those who print text, but the costs will be higher.
• Printing method. An inkjet printer, as the name suggests, prints with ink. This is a much more expensive option.
• Time of use. If the inkjet printer is not used for a long time, the ink in the cartridge may dry out.
• Costs. Inkjet printing uses much more media than inkjet printing.
• The price of the cartridge. Inkjet cartridges are extremely expensive – they can cost as much as a laser printer.
• Sound. Inkjet printers are very loud.

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Printer parameters

• Resolution. The resolution of printers is different, so you should choose it according to your needs. Typically, laser printers have a much lower resolution than inkjet printers – 600 x 600. Of course, there are worse and better ones, but the optimal average will fully satisfy the needs of people who print texts. Meanwhile, inkjet printers designed for photo printing are of much higher quality and can print photos as high as 9600 x 2400 dpi, which is many times the quality of the image.
• Print speed. When choosing a laser or inkjet printer, consider the printing speed. It is measured in pages printed per minute. If you often print a large number of sheets at once, choose a faster printing device – a laser printer.
• Formats. The most popular printing format is A4. Many printers have smaller formats as well, but if you’ll be printing labels, photos, or larger format materials, choose a device that can meet your needs.

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• Connectors. There are three types of connections available on the market: USB 2.0 or USB 3.0, Wi-Fi or a network card:

2. Wi-Fi connection. If the laser or inkjet printer you choose has the ability to connect via Wi-Fi, you won’t need cables – it’s enough to be within a sufficient radius of the printer.

3 Network card. This method is used in offices and homes where at least several people use the printer. Using a network card, a wired connection is made to a modem, through which the printed information is transmitted to the printer via wires.

• Page magazine. Page trays are different for each printer, so if you are printing larger documents, consider the tray size. There are printers that only hold 50 sheets, and there are those that hold 250 or even more.
• Memory. A question may arise – what is the need for printer memory? Printer memory is required for increased speed and convenience. If your laser or inkjet printer of choice only has 8MB of memory, and you want to print 32MB documents, it will take much longer because the printer will need to access the information to be printed four times.
• Multifunction printer. It doesn’t matter if you have decided that your home will have a laser or inkjet printer, take a look at the additional functions – scanning and copying. These functions are often as useful as printing – we now sign and scan many documents at home, and copy at least some information at home for work or studies.
• Printing on both sides. There are printers that can be set to print on both sides. This is much more convenient than having to think about the order in which to put the pages so that the information is printed evenly, without skipping or mixing pages. If you use this feature and it is relevant to you, please pay attention to it.

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Printer – it’s a device that everyone needs at least once in a while. Some need documents for printing, others for capturing moments on paper, others for scanning or copying. It’s good to have a device at home that you usually need at the last minute, so when you decide to buy it, all you have to do is choose a laser or inkjet printer that will best meet your daily needs. Share these tips with your friends!