What are laser printers?
Laser printers have traditionally been used for business applications because they offer higher speeds and crisper print. They tend to be more expensive than inkjet printers, although prices have dropped considerably -- you can buy a home monochrome laser printer starting at about $100. There are color laser printers as well, but they are priced above the budget of most home and small business users
More sophisticated (and costly) laser printers can include some fancy and useful add-ons, such as the ability to add more paper drawers, or to sort your documents.
How do laser printers work?
Most laser printers use a photosensitive drum or belt that picks up an electrostatic charge wherever the laser beam hits it. The charged areas then pick up toner and transfer the toner to paper. Not all printers that are called "laser printers" actually use lasers: LED printers use LED lights rather than laser light to draw the image of a page on a photosensitive drum or belt.
What costs come with laser printers?
As with inkjet printers, you are going to be buying cartridges on a regular basis. Laser printers use powered toner instead of ink; however, they tend to need changing less often than ink cartridges.
What are the advantages of laser printers?
- Fast
- High quality printing.
- Cartridges need changing less often.
- More durable; better if you're doing a great deal of continuous text printing.
Disadvantages?
- More expensive.
- Color not as good for photography or higher-quality image printing.
- Heavier.
