Is a Laser Printer Right for You?

When laser printers first came on the market, they were ridiculously expensive and those who just had to have the latest in technology paid the price. However, now that so much time has elapsed since their debut, the prices have come down to nearly affordable.

Laser printers still are not as cheap as some of the inkjet printers, but their price tags have become more attainable for the average family rather than for only large corporations and small business owners. For some, this means splurging maybe a hundred dollars more for laser printer quality.

Deciding whether or not you need to purchase a laser printer is up to you. Many of the other printers on the market these days can produce just as smooth and seamless a printing job as a laser printer and will cost you a fraction of the price. Part of what makes that equation work however is the paper. You will need to experiment with the right kinds of paper that will enhance the quality of your print jobs.

Purchasing bright white paper is one way of enhancing the overall print quality other than actually spending money on a high-cost machine. In addition, a glossy paper will also make the print quality appear better, but only use this type of paper if it is appropriate for the situation. (Obviously, if you are writing a term paper, there is no point in printing it on slick paper.)

Additionally, something else you may want to consider before going out and buying a laser printer is what you are using the printer for. If you are using it for basic home use (e.g. basic word processing and some printing of Internet related materials), there is no point in splurging. If you know you need to produce high-quality reports and resumes all the time, then a laser printer may be something you would want to look into.

Ultimately, the point is that if you are not particularly picky about the appearance of what you are printing out because it is for your own personal use, get a regular inkjet. They serve the same purpose, are cheaper and you can afford to upgrade every few years if you want.

Plus, the upkeep of an inkjet is less expensive than a laser printer. Printer cartridges can often be found on sale and in value packs. Toner cartridges (for laser printers) tend to be more expensive.

After weighing all of the above points, if you finally do decide to get a laser printer, there are obviously several to choose from. HP makes some relatively affordable laser printers. They have a color one running for $299 (HP LaserJet 1600). The printer is capable of producing 8 pages per minute and is network ready. For $200 more you can buy the HP 2605dn which prints 12 pages per minute, can do color prints and is network ready.

Of course, $500 for a printer is a rather large investment, so you will want to make sure to go to the store to see this printer in person and also look at the quality of its printing.

If you are willing to spend over the $200 threshold most consider to be the maximum anyone should spend on a printer, Samsung also sells laser printers. The company's CLP-300N is a color laser weighing only 30 pounds and its cassette tray can hold up to 150 sheets of paper.

Whatever choice you end up making - whether you decide to go laser or not, always make sure to do your homework. Find out what you need so that you are prepared to make a wise investment that ends up satisfying your project demands.