Choosing a Printer - Inkjet or Laser?
April 10, 2009 by Inkjet Printer Reviews
Filed under About Inkjets
Choosing a printer - inkjet or laser?
The right printer is an essential part of your home or office computer set up. The buying process can be a confusing one, not least because leading manufacturers seem to release a new model of each type almost every day, and lets not forget the huge range of ink cartridges and laser toner, which seem to change on an hourly basis!
So, what is the best choice? Well, unfortunately there is no definitive answer for this question as it really depends on your individual needs. What you can do however, is clue yourself up on the advantages of each type, and make an informed decision when purchasing.
We’ve listed the two types of printer below, and included a simple list of the pro’s and con’s of each. After all, there is no sense in us waffling on when all you’re trying to do is buy the right printer!
Inkjet Printers – Pro’s
Cheap to buy. Main brand printers retail from as little as £30 (US$60).
Choice. Wide range available, from specialist photo printers to all in one printer/scanner/copier devices.
Footprint. An inkjet printer generally has smaller dimensions than a laser, often making it more suitable for the home office.
Ease of use. Designed primarily for the home and small office market, inkjets tend to be simple to use and have easily accessible features.
Paper options. Just about every printer manufacturer also offers its own range of printer paper. Depending on the desired finish you can choose anything from standard inkjet copier paper, to matt or gloss photo paper specifically designed for this type of printer.
Inkjet Printers – Con’s
Cost per copy. Despite the low initial purchase price of an inkjet printer, the cost per printed page remains high when compared to laser printing due to the higher relative cost of ink cartridges vs. laser toner. This issue however is not particularly serious for home users, who print in low volumes. It becomes more of an issue the more pages you print. Buying your ink cartridges from www.accentyourpc.co.uk could help to minimise this difference even further.
Efficiency. Since inkjet printers spray ink on to the page, the result is that much of the ink cartridge is wasted through absorption when using standard paper. High quality prints often require multiple coats of ink to ensure the correct density and therefore maximum clarity.
Print speed. Inkjet printers are much slower than laser printers in general, especially when printing in colour.
Longevity. Inkjet printers tend to be produced on the cheap in order to keep retail prices down. The quality of components can be much lower than laser printers. The fact that they spray ink to the page also means that they are liable to clogging over time. An inkjet printer will rarely outlast a laser if both are subjected to equal use.
Accuracy. Spraying ink on to a page from ink cartridges is much less accurate than the precise methods of a laser printer. This results in a slight blur effect on most printed pages.
Vibration. The movement of the ink cartridges or print nozzle across the page whilst printing can often lead to a strong vibration effect if the printer is placed on a computer desk. This can prove to be an annoyance for some people.
Ink drying time. It stands to reason that the ink is sprayed on to the page wet. Consequently, pages require a little time to dry before being picked up. Ignoring the drying requirements can see smudges appearing across your printed document. Inkjet prints also do not stand up to rain very well, which whilst not normally a problem, if you print the address on an envelope with an inkjet, postal workers may have a hard time reading it on occasion!
Inkjet Printers – Summary
If you print mainly at home and in lower volumes, consider an inkjet printer. They are versatile thanks to the range of combination devices, and the cost per copy, whilst relatively high, is probably largely irrelevant to you thanks to the low purchase price. A wide choice of paper gives you a good selection of finishes for your photo prints and the quality is likely to be more than satisfactory for framing and display.
Laser Printers – Pro’s
Cost per copy. Laser technology makes very efficient use of toner when printing resulting in a low cost per copy. Whilst toner cartridges appear expensive, you can usually print somewhere in the region of 4,000 pages before replacing your laser toner cartridge. Compared to an approximate average yield of 300 pages for a typical ink cartridge costing roughly a third of the price, the long term savings are highly apparent. Laser copier paper is also generally cheaper than the equivalent paper designed for inkjet printers.
Efficiency. These printers work by attracting the laser toner (ink) on to the page using an electronic charge. Since the printer is able to calculate the precise pattern of the print, only the exact amount of laser toner required is applied. This results in very little wastage.
Print speed. Laser printers are able to print at very quick speeds, in some cases up to 35 pages per minute. Compared to approximately 10-15 pages per minute for an inkjet printer, this represents a significant advantage during large print runs, or when production time is critical.
Longevity. A properly maintained laser printer can last for many years and print in excess of a million copies during this time providing you use the recommended original laser toner cartridges.
Accuracy. The electrostatic technology behind laser printers ensures that the ink is applied to the toner in a highly precise manner. Since the ink is not sprayed but attracted to the page via an electronic charge there is little margin for error.
Print quality. Once the toner has been attracted on to the page it is then heated causing it to fuse with the paper. This produces a clean and clear finish which is water resistant and has a natural sheen. Photo paper can be used to give a gloss or matt finish to an image printed on a colour laser printer.
Networking features. Laser printers often have built in networking designed for environments where multiple users require the ability to print over a network.
No ink expiry. Whilst ink cartridges for inkjet printers can dry and be rendered useless if left unused for an extended period, laser toner does not suffer from this issue.
Laser Printers – Con’s
Expensive to buy. Traditionally, laser printers cost more to acquire than their inkjet counterparts. However, this trend is now changing with mono laser printers starting to appear on the market for as little as £100 (US$200). Colour laser printers however, remain relatively expensive, priced at around the £300 (US$600) for an entry level model.
Footprint. Laser printers tend to be larger in size than inkjet models, which can cause an issue for home users, yet presents less of a problem in the office environment.
Electricity requirement. Laser printers have a higher power requirement than inkjet printers which may be noticeable on your electricity bill over time.
Warm up time. If a laser printer has not been used for a while, it requires time to warm up the printing drum before a print can be output. This time varies considerably, but is extended if the printer has been switched completely off to save power.
Laser Printers – Summary
For home users who print mainly text documents a mono laser printer may be an economical choice. The initial purchase price aside, you are likely to see a better return on your investment over time. Until colour lasers reduce significantly in price, users wishing to undertake colour printing at home may be better served with an inkjet printer for the time being.
In terms of office users, the increase in print volume seen in any typical office justifies the purchase of a laser printer, colour or mono, from the outset. Choosing an inkjet for business would almost certainly be false economy unless it is required for a special task such as large format printing on paper of A3 size or above.
Don’t forget, when your cartridges do run out, visit www.accentyourpc.co.uk for the best deals on ink cartridges and laser toner.
Stay tuned for our next article!
Thanks to Charles Sutton for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:
The right printer is an essential part of your home or office computer set up. The buying process can be a confusing one, not least because leading manufacturers seem to release a new model of each type almost every day, and lets not forget the huge range of ink cartridges and laser toner, which seem to change on an hourly basis!
So, what is the best choice? Well, unfortunately there is no definitive answer for this question as it really depends on your individual needs. What you can do however, is clue yourself up on the advantages of each type, and make an informed decision when purchasing.
We’ve listed the two types of printer below, and included a simple list of the pro’s and con’s of each. After all, there is no sense in us waffling on when all you’re trying to do is buy the right printer!
Inkjet Printers – Pro’s
Cheap to buy. Main brand printers retail from as little as £30 (US$60).
Choice. Wide range available, from specialist photo printers to all in one printer/scanner/copier devices.
Footprint. An inkjet printer generally has smaller dimensions than a laser, often making it more suitable for the home office.
Ease of use. Designed primarily for the home and small office market, inkjets tend to be simple to use and have easily accessible features.
Paper options. Just about every printer manufacturer also offers its own range of printer paper. Depending on the desired finish you can choose anything from standard inkjet copier paper, to matt or gloss photo paper specifically designed for this type of printer.
Inkjet Printers – Con’s
Cost per copy. Despite the low initial purchase price of an inkjet printer, the cost per printed page remains high when compared to laser printing due to the higher relative cost of ink cartridges vs. laser toner. This issue however is not particularly serious for home users, who print in low volumes. It becomes more of an issue the more pages you print. Buying your ink cartridges from www.accentyourpc.co.uk could help to minimise this difference even further.
Efficiency. Since inkjet printers spray ink on to the page, the result is that much of the ink cartridge is wasted through absorption when using standard paper. High quality prints often require multiple coats of ink to ensure the correct density and therefore maximum clarity.
Print speed. Inkjet printers are much slower than laser printers in general, especially when printing in colour.
Longevity. Inkjet printers tend to be produced on the cheap in order to keep retail prices down. The quality of components can be much lower than laser printers. The fact that they spray ink to the page also means that they are liable to clogging over time. An inkjet printer will rarely outlast a laser if both are subjected to equal use.
Accuracy. Spraying ink on to a page from ink cartridges is much less accurate than the precise methods of a laser printer. This results in a slight blur effect on most printed pages.
Vibration. The movement of the ink cartridges or print nozzle across the page whilst printing can often lead to a strong vibration effect if the printer is placed on a computer desk. This can prove to be an annoyance for some people.
Ink drying time. It stands to reason that the ink is sprayed on to the page wet. Consequently, pages require a little time to dry before being picked up. Ignoring the drying requirements can see smudges appearing across your printed document. Inkjet prints also do not stand up to rain very well, which whilst not normally a problem, if you print the address on an envelope with an inkjet, postal workers may have a hard time reading it on occasion!
Inkjet Printers – Summary
If you print mainly at home and in lower volumes, consider an inkjet printer. They are versatile thanks to the range of combination devices, and the cost per copy, whilst relatively high, is probably largely irrelevant to you thanks to the low purchase price. A wide choice of paper gives you a good selection of finishes for your photo prints and the quality is likely to be more than satisfactory for framing and display.
Laser Printers – Pro’s
Cost per copy. Laser technology makes very efficient use of toner when printing resulting in a low cost per copy. Whilst toner cartridges appear expensive, you can usually print somewhere in the region of 4,000 pages before replacing your laser toner cartridge. Compared to an approximate average yield of 300 pages for a typical ink cartridge costing roughly a third of the price, the long term savings are highly apparent. Laser copier paper is also generally cheaper than the equivalent paper designed for inkjet printers.
Efficiency. These printers work by attracting the laser toner (ink) on to the page using an electronic charge. Since the printer is able to calculate the precise pattern of the print, only the exact amount of laser toner required is applied. This results in very little wastage.
Print speed. Laser printers are able to print at very quick speeds, in some cases up to 35 pages per minute. Compared to approximately 10-15 pages per minute for an inkjet printer, this represents a significant advantage during large print runs, or when production time is critical.
Longevity. A properly maintained laser printer can last for many years and print in excess of a million copies during this time providing you use the recommended original laser toner cartridges.
Accuracy. The electrostatic technology behind laser printers ensures that the ink is applied to the toner in a highly precise manner. Since the ink is not sprayed but attracted to the page via an electronic charge there is little margin for error.
Print quality. Once the toner has been attracted on to the page it is then heated causing it to fuse with the paper. This produces a clean and clear finish which is water resistant and has a natural sheen. Photo paper can be used to give a gloss or matt finish to an image printed on a colour laser printer.
Networking features. Laser printers often have built in networking designed for environments where multiple users require the ability to print over a network.
No ink expiry. Whilst ink cartridges for inkjet printers can dry and be rendered useless if left unused for an extended period, laser toner does not suffer from this issue.
Laser Printers – Con’s
Expensive to buy. Traditionally, laser printers cost more to acquire than their inkjet counterparts. However, this trend is now changing with mono laser printers starting to appear on the market for as little as £100 (US$200). Colour laser printers however, remain relatively expensive, priced at around the £300 (US$600) for an entry level model.
Footprint. Laser printers tend to be larger in size than inkjet models, which can cause an issue for home users, yet presents less of a problem in the office environment.
Electricity requirement. Laser printers have a higher power requirement than inkjet printers which may be noticeable on your electricity bill over time.
Warm up time. If a laser printer has not been used for a while, it requires time to warm up the printing drum before a print can be output. This time varies considerably, but is extended if the printer has been switched completely off to save power.
Laser Printers – Summary
For home users who print mainly text documents a mono laser printer may be an economical choice. The initial purchase price aside, you are likely to see a better return on your investment over time. Until colour lasers reduce significantly in price, users wishing to undertake colour printing at home may be better served with an inkjet printer for the time being.
In terms of office users, the increase in print volume seen in any typical office justifies the purchase of a laser printer, colour or mono, from the outset. Choosing an inkjet for business would almost certainly be false economy unless it is required for a special task such as large format printing on paper of A3 size or above.
Don’t forget, when your cartridges do run out, visit www.accentyourpc.co.uk for the best deals on ink cartridges and laser toner.
Stay tuned for our next article!
Thanks to Charles Sutton for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:
Everything You Need to Know About Photo Printers
March 12, 2009 by Inkjet Printer Reviews
Filed under Photo Printers
The advent of the digital camera has caused many people to choose to print their own photographs rather than going to a photo developing store to have the photos developed. This has led to printer distributing companies to launch photo printers made specifically for this purpose.
The Difference between Photo Printers and Standard Printers
Unlike standard printers, photo printers can be used without connecting it onto a computer unit. Instead, photo printers are equipped with memory card readers and USB ports. Through these, the printer can print out all the pictures stored inside a digital camera and memory card.
Another difference between standard printers and photo printers is that these printers use what is called thermal dye technology. Inkjet printers spray the ink onto the paper during the printing process through fine nozzles found on the printer head. Photo printer heads melts various dyes from a dye ribbon onto the photo paper, which is often glossy in quality. This prevents any smearing to occur while the printed photo paper is allowed to dry. The method also gives your pictures a more natural and less pixilated appearance.
Also photo printers are less flexible than standard printers. Photo printers are manufactured for the sole purpose of printing photographs. This means that you would need to use a separate standard printer for printing texts.
How do Photo Printers Work?
Instead of using ink cartridges, photo printers use a cellophane roll. These rolls contain a section for the colors cyan, magenta, yellow and black. It also contains a section for a clear overcoat which is placed after the entire picture is printed.
The photo paper goes through heated printer heads and comes into contact with the cellophane roll. The dye from the cellophane roll then vaporizes and then saturates the surface of the photo paper. The change of the temperature when the vapor comes into contact with the photo paper turns the vapors back into solid form.
Common brands of Photo Printers
The most common brands of Photo printers are:
Epson
Canon
Hewlett Packard
Kodak
Brother
Things to Remember when You Buy a Photo Printer
Many standard printers are able to print out high quality photographs very close to photo printers. However, because photo printers can only print photographs, it is best to buy a photo printer only if you would need to print out large quantities of photographs as these could be more expensive than standard printers.
Check the features of the photo printer before you make a purchase. To get the optimum photo printer for your needs, it is best to get one that would allow you to print different sizes of pictures, able to print high quality colored and black and white pictures and compact so you could be able to bring this along with you to easily print out your pictures.
Thanks to John C. Arkin for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:
The Difference between Photo Printers and Standard Printers
Unlike standard printers, photo printers can be used without connecting it onto a computer unit. Instead, photo printers are equipped with memory card readers and USB ports. Through these, the printer can print out all the pictures stored inside a digital camera and memory card.
Another difference between standard printers and photo printers is that these printers use what is called thermal dye technology. Inkjet printers spray the ink onto the paper during the printing process through fine nozzles found on the printer head. Photo printer heads melts various dyes from a dye ribbon onto the photo paper, which is often glossy in quality. This prevents any smearing to occur while the printed photo paper is allowed to dry. The method also gives your pictures a more natural and less pixilated appearance.
Also photo printers are less flexible than standard printers. Photo printers are manufactured for the sole purpose of printing photographs. This means that you would need to use a separate standard printer for printing texts.
How do Photo Printers Work?
Instead of using ink cartridges, photo printers use a cellophane roll. These rolls contain a section for the colors cyan, magenta, yellow and black. It also contains a section for a clear overcoat which is placed after the entire picture is printed.
The photo paper goes through heated printer heads and comes into contact with the cellophane roll. The dye from the cellophane roll then vaporizes and then saturates the surface of the photo paper. The change of the temperature when the vapor comes into contact with the photo paper turns the vapors back into solid form.
Common brands of Photo Printers
The most common brands of Photo printers are:
Epson
Canon
Hewlett Packard
Kodak
Brother
Things to Remember when You Buy a Photo Printer
Many standard printers are able to print out high quality photographs very close to photo printers. However, because photo printers can only print photographs, it is best to buy a photo printer only if you would need to print out large quantities of photographs as these could be more expensive than standard printers.
Check the features of the photo printer before you make a purchase. To get the optimum photo printer for your needs, it is best to get one that would allow you to print different sizes of pictures, able to print high quality colored and black and white pictures and compact so you could be able to bring this along with you to easily print out your pictures.
Thanks to John C. Arkin for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:
This Article is written by John C Arkin from MyOfficePortal.org the contributor of Office Supplies Information & Resources. More information on the subject is at Everything You Need To Know About Photo Printers, and related resources can be found at Best Photo Printers for Small Business.
Color Your Life With Photo Printers
February 23, 2009 by Inkjet Printer Reviews
Filed under Photo Printers
A printer that is specially designed to produce very high quality digital images on photo paper is called a photo printer. These types of printers generally have several number of nozzles and have the functionality of printing droplets as small as 1 picoliter.
During the early years of photo printers, it was marketed as a high-end device and mostly patronize by professionals. The popularity of photo printers coincide with the rising number of digital cameras enthusiasts. Soon after manufacturers like Epson, Canon and HP began offering cheaper models. Epson initiated the trend by offering to consumers their Stylus Photo line. Newer models like compact photo printers have begun penetrating the market in the recent years. These units print 4”x6” images and do not need a computer. Some other units of photo printers can handle bigger photo papers with sizes of 8”x11”, 10”x14” and much larger dimensions.
I know a lot people who have trouble in differentiating photo and standard inkjet printers. The major distinction of photo printers over inkjet printers is their usage of extra cartridges. Photo printers make use of colors such as cyan, yellow, light magenta and light black to print more vibrant and realistic images. Some photo printers are also equipped with digital media readers like memory cards to produce pictures without using a computer. Latest models can also produce pictures directly from a camera which supports the PictBridge system. Many standard inkjet printers are frequently labeled as “photo printers” to make it more appealing to customers.
Thanks to Ronaldo Fisher for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:
During the early years of photo printers, it was marketed as a high-end device and mostly patronize by professionals. The popularity of photo printers coincide with the rising number of digital cameras enthusiasts. Soon after manufacturers like Epson, Canon and HP began offering cheaper models. Epson initiated the trend by offering to consumers their Stylus Photo line. Newer models like compact photo printers have begun penetrating the market in the recent years. These units print 4”x6” images and do not need a computer. Some other units of photo printers can handle bigger photo papers with sizes of 8”x11”, 10”x14” and much larger dimensions.
I know a lot people who have trouble in differentiating photo and standard inkjet printers. The major distinction of photo printers over inkjet printers is their usage of extra cartridges. Photo printers make use of colors such as cyan, yellow, light magenta and light black to print more vibrant and realistic images. Some photo printers are also equipped with digital media readers like memory cards to produce pictures without using a computer. Latest models can also produce pictures directly from a camera which supports the PictBridge system. Many standard inkjet printers are frequently labeled as “photo printers” to make it more appealing to customers.
Thanks to Ronaldo Fisher for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:
A website where you can find the instructions about the branded Photo Printers like Epson , Canon, Kodak, Panasonic, HP and many more.
Photo Printers- Things You Need to Know Before Buying
February 16, 2009 by Inkjet Printer Reviews
Filed under Photo Printers
Printing your perfectly captured digital image requires high quality photo printer in order not to jeopardize the quality of the image. High quality photo printer need not be expensive. With the popularity of digital cameras, widespread use of photo printer is also becoming popular. Latest digital designs of these printers are capable of producing images without the need of a computer.
Before, due to the high prices of these specialized printers only few establishments and households were able to take advantage of the benefit of the product. But today as more companies are competing in the market, buyers can expect affordable yet reliable photo printers. Let us try to examine the essential components composing a photo printer to make the most out of it.
There are three major types of photo printer and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is very important to know these types before buying a photo printer. Inkjet printers are known to be the most affordable of all types and consumables are easy to maintain, but quality is not as good as other printers. Dye-sublimation printers offer better quality prints, but the price and consumable cost are bit expensive than Inkjet. Fujifilm PG-series is the best among other types with its crisp and smooth. Paper and other consumables of this type are expensive.
When buying a printer, consider first the demand that you need. Choose from among the three types what will best suit your requirement of quality prints. For basic photo printing, one can get hold of the Inkjet printers and produce quality results while spending less on the item itself and the consumables. For higher demand in photo printing, it is recommended to use either the Dye-sublimation type or Fujufilm PG-series type. Paper required for both printers are not the same as with Inkjet printers. These printers use more expensive papers compared to what Inkjet can support.
Another thing to consider in buying a photo printer is the dot-per-inch (DPI) support. These are not the actual resolution of the image on the screen, but how printers label dots on a measure of inches or centimeters on the paper. Meaning a 250 dpi printer can print 250 dots within an inch providing better interpretation to the image through color combinations. Newer models of printers are often released with higher DPI support. The higher the DPI of a printer, the clearer the image is and the lesser tendency to determine the actual dots.
Lastly, in buying photo printers it is a must to consider the support and availability of consumables. Printers run out of consumables as you continue using them. To be prepared, it is best to inquire for the availability of these items and how you can get them the easiest way. Consumables for discontinued printers are less seen in the market. So to make the most of your photo printer, make sure to have a longer supply and support the consumables.
Thanks to Roberta Groche for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:
Before, due to the high prices of these specialized printers only few establishments and households were able to take advantage of the benefit of the product. But today as more companies are competing in the market, buyers can expect affordable yet reliable photo printers. Let us try to examine the essential components composing a photo printer to make the most out of it.
There are three major types of photo printer and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is very important to know these types before buying a photo printer. Inkjet printers are known to be the most affordable of all types and consumables are easy to maintain, but quality is not as good as other printers. Dye-sublimation printers offer better quality prints, but the price and consumable cost are bit expensive than Inkjet. Fujifilm PG-series is the best among other types with its crisp and smooth. Paper and other consumables of this type are expensive.
When buying a printer, consider first the demand that you need. Choose from among the three types what will best suit your requirement of quality prints. For basic photo printing, one can get hold of the Inkjet printers and produce quality results while spending less on the item itself and the consumables. For higher demand in photo printing, it is recommended to use either the Dye-sublimation type or Fujufilm PG-series type. Paper required for both printers are not the same as with Inkjet printers. These printers use more expensive papers compared to what Inkjet can support.
Another thing to consider in buying a photo printer is the dot-per-inch (DPI) support. These are not the actual resolution of the image on the screen, but how printers label dots on a measure of inches or centimeters on the paper. Meaning a 250 dpi printer can print 250 dots within an inch providing better interpretation to the image through color combinations. Newer models of printers are often released with higher DPI support. The higher the DPI of a printer, the clearer the image is and the lesser tendency to determine the actual dots.
Lastly, in buying photo printers it is a must to consider the support and availability of consumables. Printers run out of consumables as you continue using them. To be prepared, it is best to inquire for the availability of these items and how you can get them the easiest way. Consumables for discontinued printers are less seen in the market. So to make the most of your photo printer, make sure to have a longer supply and support the consumables.
Thanks to Roberta Groche for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:
If you want to know more about photo printers then please feel free to visit printer supplies at Superwarehouse.com.
Let’s get this Inkjet blog rolling!
February 12, 2009 by Inkjet Printer Reviews
Filed under Inkjet Updates
In this Inkjet blog we will talk about all kinds of Inkjet topics — Inkjet Printers, Deskjet Printers, Inkjet Cartridges, Inkjet Refills, Inkjet Ink and Inkjet Paper. We will also talk about Multifunction Printers, Photo Printers and Photo Paper .
If you would like to ask a specific question about Inkjeta, please leave your questions in the comments below. Visitors to this blog and myself will help you get answers.
Ike Engels, Editor
