Things have changed.
These days, you can pick up a solid laser printer for about $150 (there are even some that can be found for under $100) that will print more quickly than an inkjet, and probably have better text quality than an inkjet of an equivalent price. (This does not go for graphic quality, however.)
There are essentially two reasons for preferring a monochrome laser printer to an inkjet. First, speed -- businesses that pump out several hundred sheets a day will want better performance than most lower-cost inkjets and/or multifunctions can offer. A low-cost laser printer can push out the pages at a much more efficient rate.
Second, and perhaps surprisingly, cost. If you do produce a great deal of black text hardcopy, then you're going to use a lot of ink. While toner cartridges tend to cost more than inkjet cartridges, they do last a great deal longer, and will provide considerable savings over the long run. (By the way, the term "laser printer" often includes something called an "LED printer," which uses a slightly different technology for essentially the same results. For more information, check out .
Color laser printers have also come down radically in price, although they are still more expensive than monochrome lasers and most color inkjets. Keep in mind, however, that while color laser printing has improved vastly, the lower-cost color lasers don't come near the brightness, clarity, and general quality of a good photo inkjet printer. While this may suit a business that needs the occasional color chart, if you're part of a home or small business, and want to print brochures, photographs, or other high-quality images, you're probably better off having an inkjet multifunction for color printing, and a monochrome laser for the day-to-day documents.
Incidentally, if you are working with several employees, be aware that laser printers are more likely to have their own built-in network interface, called a network interface card (NIC). The NIC usually supplies an Ethernet connection. While these will usually be an option, the additional cost will be worth it in time and efficiency. (Note: You can usually find networkable printers by the letter "n" added to the model number. So, for example, the Oki C5150 will not come with networking, while the Oki C5150n will.)
Features
- Print speed of 15ppm and more
- Capacity for heavy-duty output
- Less cost over the long run
Nice Extras
- Network interface card (NIC)
- Duplexing (double-sided printing)
- Additional print tray
Price Range
- $100 up
Some Examples
