However, most of us only know inkjet to be the cheapo MFPs we buy at stores and put in our living rooms.  The printers cost next to nothing which is why the supplies are overpriced and the printers/MFPs don’t last very long.  Plus the scanners are kind of cheesy and double feed originals unless they are perfect originals.

Some inkjet companies such as Sharp have decided to go after the middle market which has long been dominated by laser based MFPs from companies such as Konica, Sharp and a handful of other copier manufacturers from Japan.  This game changing technology will shake things up because it lowers the cost of color printing by about 40% and the hardware is also less expensive.  Businesses seem to be printing less and looking for ways to cut costs and cutting the cost of color printing is a popular idea.

Sharp did a smart thing by bringing technology down from the upper end of their product line and put it in this new business class line of color MFPs.  The print heads are the kind used on the more expensive high volume printers described earlier.  To their credit, they did not just take a cheapo printer being sold at a store and speed it up and call it business class.  The way they got the cost of color printing down was to use large bags of ink instead of small cartridges.

Sharp will get some competition from other inkjet technologies eventually.  What is holding it back is that the other inkjet companies have a laser based product line which is quite profitable and they are hesitant to jeopardize that.  HP would be an example of that.  When you replace toner for an HP printer or MFP you are throwing away a perfectly good drum which is why the toner is pricey and a good deal for HP.  This has created a whole industry of remans and compatibles.  So if a company like HP goes all in on inkjet for business they are giving up a very profitable technology based on laser which uses a lot more parts and supplies.  Inkjet uses less parts and supplies.  It’s like comparing an electric car to a gas engine car.  There is no engine in an electric car.  Just the battery.   In fact, I read an article where mechanics are a little worried about their future if people start buying electric cars.

Sharp has no laser based printers/MFPs to sell so there is everything to gain and nothing to lose by going after the middle market for businesses.  In my opinion, this is the future of business printing.  All of the well known Japanese copier manufacturers have introduced inkjet products on the high end recently.  Like HP, they are hesitant to bring it down to the middle market because that is a very popular segment for them.  We sell laser based MFPs from several well known copier manufacturers and can charge more for color prints made on them because the supply items and parts are more expensive and there are some situations where laser is better than inkjet.  It depends on the customer’s application.  Inkjet isn’t for everybody but businesses trying to cut costs should look into it.

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Gone are the days when we have to rely on impact types that produce audible noise in printing documents. Today, the choice you will likely face is choosing between an inkjet printer and a laser printer. Inkjet printers spray liquid ink via microscopic nozzles to the paper. On the other hand, laser printers use a toner containing fine powders and a fuser.

While each has its own advantages, we intend to help you pick the best printer that meets your needs.

COST OF OWNING

The price for both of these printers is almost the same thanks to the advances in technology. Nonetheless, inkjet printers are also equipped with scanning and photocopying functions. On the other hand, its laser counterpart is only capable of printing documents.

The cheapest inkjet printers are available for as low as $ 60 but with a caveat. Its cartridges are not full, which forces you to buy one immediately. Entry-level laser printers are a tad expensive at $ 130 but these contain full toners.

SIZE

Laser printers are quite bulky so these are mostly used in the office. If you need to own a printer that snugs right in your home, smaller inkjet models are a better choice.

MAINTENANCE

You are also expected to use a printer over time, prompting you to buy the necessary ink cartridges or toners. Despite being pricier, laser types are cheaper to use in the long run. A toner prints more papers than ink cartridges, especially if you only need to print text documents or in grayscale. However, laser printers also require additional fuser cartridge and other replacement parts.

On the other hand, inkjet printers only need low to moderate maintenance. You only have to tinker it when you replace the ink cartridge.

PRINT SPEED AND PRINT QUALITY

If you are running a business and fast printing is a must, a laser type is for you. Even in the case of entry-level models, you can expect print speeds up to 20 pages per minute. Its inkjet counterpart lags at 6 pages per minute on its default printing quality. Text quality at font size 12 is the same for both printers. However, laser printers are better with printing smaller fonts thanks to its fuser technology.

In terms of colored printing, inkjet printers produce better images than its laser counterparts. This is due to its ability to reproduce nice color gradation in the printed photo. Laser printers lack that, as you will see obvious banding when you print a colored page.

CONCLUSION

Most consumers buy similar products according to its price. If you are on a budget and will only use printing for better-colored images, an inkjet printer is the best for you. However, also note that you need to replace cartridges often and its slow printing speed. Laser printers are suitable for printing black texts and fast printing but these cost more. These are also bulky and you need to allot a bigger space in your home.

In the end, printers have become so affordable that it is only a matter of buying one that serves your purpose.

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