Which is better to choose, laser or inkjet MFP?

I would like to ask more experienced people what is better to choose, a laser or inkjet MFP for home use? It is clear that the inkjet version is more interesting due to the price. However, as I understand it, there are pitfalls in the form of maintenance costs (read: cartridges). Explain to me what is better to buy for home use? For now I'm leaning towards an inkjet MFP.

Alek55sandr5 | 30 November 2015, 18:05
For home use, an inkjet printer is definitely better. Since an inkjet printer is several times cheaper. And the cost of a laser printer can be justified when you need to print a lot. For example, if you are buying a printer for the office. And for the home it’s definitely inkjet. Now about the cartridges. It's better to buy right away inkjet printers with refillable cartridges. Since if initially there were disposable ones, you will have to buy new ones. You can also connect a continuous ink supply system (CISS) to some printers.

Pavel | 6 March 2015, 20:52
Depends on the range of tasks that your MFP will face. The main difference between what you choose is the printing method. Let's figure out who can do what.

Laser MFP – prints with powder. Can be designed for color and black and white printing. Prints text perfectly. Has high printing speed. The cartridges are quite large and with one refill you can print many sheets of text or booklets with graphics (especially color ones).

The cost of a print is average and low for b/w devices and medium and high for color devices. However, it is absolutely not suitable for printing photographs. The maximum that can be printed is graphs, diagrams, etc. Smooth transitions between colors, which is important for photography, are not available to him with very rare exceptions (expensive printer models, not MFPs).

Another cool plus of laser MFPs is that their cartridges do not “dry out”. That is, you can print irregularly. I printed 500 sheets, and then didn’t print for six months. At the same time, the cartridge was shaken and everything worked again.

Inkjet MFP – prints with ink and pigment, or in short with liquid. They are all designed for color printing. It’s really possible to get a normal photo with them. Not all of them... there are models that have color rendering like a blind eye. However, on average, the photos they produce are a couple of orders of magnitude better than those from laser MFPs.

The initial investment is very low. Compared to laser MFPs, inkjet counterparts cost half as much. However, the prices for cartridges can be unpleasantly surprising. It depends on the model and manufacturer. There may be inexpensive cartridges, but their volume, as a rule, allows you to print half the number of sheets of text compared to laser MFPs.

The printing speed is average and low - up to the speed of “laser printers” it’s like walking to China. Cartridges tend to dry out from lack of use. Such an MFP needs to be activated at least once every couple of weeks by printing or cleaning the heads, otherwise it will dry out. It’s good if only the cartridge, or even together with the print head, which will introduce you to costs comparable to purchasing a new MFP.

The cost of a print, relative to a laser MFP, is several times higher. Comparable to the price per print from a color laser printer, but in a large percentage of cases even higher.

The quality of text printing depends very much on the model. And the quality of prints in general (text and pictures) depends on the paper and ink. Do you use non-branded consumables? Nobody guarantees you any acceptable quality.

Actually, based on the above, you should choose. If you type text a lot or irregularly, use a laser printer. If you need it for photos and once a week for reports to your child, then probably a jet.

In our article we will compare inkjet and laser printers and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both printing technologies. If you still haven’t decided which type of printer will be the preferred option in your case, then our article will certainly help you make the right choice and choose the model that best suits your requirements.

Nowadays, a printer is an important and necessary device required by almost any PC user and organization. The printer's tasks include printing documents, printing color photographs, etc. Laser and inkjet printers use different printing technologies and have different functionality. It is also worth noting that one or another type of printer is purchased depending on the tasks for which it is intended. When purchasing any printer model, it would be wise to consider your needs and financial capabilities.

Comparisons of laser and inkjet printer

In this comparison we will present some weak and strengths, as well as the differences between the two types of printers. Let's start the comparison with a little history.

Story

Remington Rand was the first company, which developed a modern printer for computers Univac in 1953. Contrary to popular belief, laser printer, preceded inkjet technology . Laser printers were developed at Xerox by a scientist named Gary Starkweather. It was thanks to his work that a breakthrough was made in printing using a laser beam and dry powder - ink (toner).

Inkjet technology Printers owe their development to the efforts of many companies such as Canon, HP and Epson. They were presented for the first time On the market in 1979 and soon became a real workhorse, widely used throughout the world. After this little historical excursion, let's get down to business and start by defining some basic technology terms to understand the difference between laser and inkjet printers.

Difference in technology

Laser printer technology is genius, and here's a quick introduction to how it works. A built-in laser beam projects an image onto a digital copy of the printed page onto a selenium coating located on a rotating drum. Laser ray they project the “negative” image of the document for printing onto a charged drum according to the principle of photoconductivity. The selenium coating becomes photoconductive, meaning it loses charge, in areas where it is intended to be printed. The drum roll then attracts dry paint particles to areas where there is no charge. The drum rolls the image onto the paper.

Another technology that is being used recently and is as fast as a laser printer is led printer. The difference in technology is that a laser printer uses one beam source, while an LED printer uses a whole line of sources located along the entire length of the printing area.

Now, let's see how does a printer work using technology inkjet printing. Most inkjet printers use a piezoelectric material that has an ink cartridge responsible for atomizing the nozzles. When electrical voltage is applied to a piezoelectric material, it vibrates and changes shape and size. This creates a pulse of pressure in the ink bottle, which literally shoots droplets of ink out of the nozzle. That's why this technology is called "inkjet" because it prints jets of ink using voltage pulses.

Comparison of print speed and print quality

Laser printers print much faster than inkjet printers. The reason lies in the use of different technologies. For laser printers, it doesn't matter whether it prints text or an image, its printing speed remains the same in both cases. Jet printer applies ink to every pixel in the image. Thus, his speed slows down depending on the complexity of the image it prints.

When it comes to printing black and white pages, with complex text structures and a variety of fonts, laser printers do this much better and faster. While a laser printer is the preferred option for text and black-and-white printing, an inkjet printer is better at printing color images and photos. Although it must be admitted that speed is not his strong point.

Cartridge

Laser printer uses one big one toner cartridge with powder paint, while jet printer usually equipped with several cartridges with black and color ink. Inkjet cartridges run out faster than toner cartridges and therefore must be replaced more frequently. With inkjet printer, you will spend on buying cartridges several times more What does the printer itself cost? It is not surprising that inkjet printer manufacturers make much more money on cartridges for their model range than on the printers themselves.

If you have to print a lot of documents and they are in black and white, then laser printer will become the most smart choice in your case. Each page printed on a laser printer costs several times less than the page printed on an inkjet printer.

To reduce cartridge costs for inkjet printers, if the device is used regularly and for large volumes of printing, it will it is advisable to use CISS(continuous ink supply system). For example, by purchasing an HP A3 inkjet printer with CISS, you can significantly save on the subsequent purchase of cartridges.

Size

Laser printers and especially colored ones, are large in size compared to inkjet printers.

Laser printers can weigh up to 20 kg, while inkjet printer weight rarely exceeds 5 kg. Inkjet printers are usually more compact and are better suited for small spaces. If you have very low print volumes and don't want to purchase bulky equipment, then inkjet printers are the ideal choice for you.

Price

If we compare the cost of laser and inkjet printers, then jet printer it will cost you when you buy cheaper. However, given the cost of ownership, which includes the cost of ink and the cost of cartridges that need to be replaced periodically, a laser printer will quickly pay for itself in a very short time.

Laser printers are more expensive initially, but they do not require changing the cartridge through long time. The toner cartridges in these printers can print between 2,500 and 10,000 pages before needing to be replaced. The cost of both printers varies depending on the quality of the cartridge, brands and features.

Inkjet Printer Price Range varies on average from 2000 to 6000 rubles, while cost of laser printers may vary from 4500 to 12000 rubles. Laser printers have an average lifespan of five years. Inkjet printers have an average lifespan of 3 years.

Performance

As stated earlier, laser printing quality is the best than inkjet printers exhibit, especially when it comes to printing text, but even in the case of printing images, they have higher resolution and detail. Inkjet printers are better at printing images and photos when it comes to brightness and rich color in images.

Conclusion

If you need to print a large number of documents and you don't need a lot of color printing, then buying a laser printer is the most suitable and smart choice. If you don't need to print a lot, an inkjet printer is a good choice.

This question is also asked by managers of small offices when choosing office equipment for printing documentation. Today, manufacturers have so saturated the market of printing devices that it can be very difficult to decide which is better for printing documents - an inkjet or a laser printer. To do this, you first need to study all the advantages and disadvantages of different models.

Many users do not know the differences between these products. To quickly resolve all ambiguities, we suggest you carefully read this article, where you will find answers to numerous questions.

Before choosing a device for printing documents, you need to understand their operating principle:

1. A laser device is based on transferring content from cartridges to a sheet of paper. First, a magnetized roller applies toner to the main drum, and then the design is transferred to paper, where it firmly adheres to the surface when exposed to instantaneous heating in a special device. The whole process happens quite quickly.
2. The inkjet analogue works on special ink that enters Right place through capillary nozzles, creating text or a complex image. The printing speed is noticeably lower, but the quality is much higher.

When comparing, it is necessary to take into account all indicators, and not just the positive and negative qualities inherent in each type. For example, laser version characterized by the following advantages:

• easy to use;
• quite high printing speed;
• Duplex printing possible;
• long operation;
• low printing cost.

His opponent has his advantages:

• fairly low sound impact on others;
• high quality color printing;
• low power consumption;
• budget price of the product.

As a result: the choice of device remains purely individual, because the office needs a fast and low-maintenance option, such as a laser, and in home environment jet, and even with CISS, will be much more priority.

Features, pros and cons of each

On laser device the surface of the drum is charged with a plus sign, and the coloring powder spills out of the cartridge during rotation, focusing on the plus points - as a result, the desired pattern is created. Then a quick, specific treatment fixes it to paper.

Advantages:

• low cost per printed page;
• high speed of drawing;
• you can print voluminous text materials;
• not afraid of increased loads;
• no need to refill cartridges frequently;
• prints are resistant to moisture;
• Prints on any paper without loss of quality.

Negative qualities:

• very high cost;
• high energy consumption;
• Cartridges cannot be refilled at home;
• Toner is very harmful to health, you need to ventilate the room after printing.

The inkjet counterpart uses an ink head instead of needles, like a matrix printer, and the image is created using a set of dots.

Advantages:

• low price compared to the laser option;
• low electrical energy consumption - more than 10 times;
• all models are equipped with a card reader that allows printing directly from the camera, without a PC, and some models can receive images via Wi-Fi;
• excellent color printing quality;
• supports various digital media;
• ink is not harmful to health;
• wide range of models;
• compact sizes.

• high cost of printing each page;
• frequent replacement of cartridges during intensive use;
• it is necessary to use the device frequently, otherwise the ink will dry out;
• quite high sensitivity to print settings and the quality of paper used;
• slow speed;
• If exposed to moisture, the printed material will be damaged.

Based on the data provided, each user decides for himself which office equipment to buy for his needs.

Which one is more effective for black and white printing?

Printers come in various modifications, so choosing the best option for the home is quite a difficult matter; it is even more difficult to buy such a device for the office, where quality, speed, and most importantly, print clarity play a paramount role. The requirements for office equipment are improving and increasing every year.

Experts assure that laser analogues have a fairly high resolution, unique contrast and high brightness. To test these judgments, you need to print a document with different fonts in the text, for example, the main one is 12, and the small one is size six. The inkjet version will merge small text together, and the laser version, which belongs to electrographic technologies, will print all the text clearly, preserving all the smallest details.

Laser printing technology is based on xerography technology, which was founded in the late 30s of the last century. The main emphasis was placed on the individual properties of the photosensitive material. Go into technical nuances we will not, because there are too many specific terms that will not be clear to all readers.

The laser ensures ultra-high-speed movement of the carriage, and the resulting text is high precision and a fairly high resolution, so you can print graphics and small explanatory text on the page simultaneously. An individual PostScript programming language has been specially developed for laser devices.

The language for describing pages (Postscript) is recognized by operational Windows systems and Linux, but the American company Hewlett-Packard (HP) has created its own separate development of a language for controlling PCL printers, which gives more options for printing unique texts. Therefore, devices from HP are different best quality and reliability among a galaxy of laser products.

Color printing - what products are needed for it

Here, inkjet printing devices with CISS are undoubtedly the leaders; laser analogues in price and photo printing are far behind. If you are looking for a printer to print color photographs, simple text, so that the price is low, then you should choose the inkjet option, because in matters of color rendering it has no equal.

To really save on very expensive ink, install CISS, after which you can safely print any documents and color photos. The Epson XP-420 MFP is suitable for working at home with text documents, and the multifunctional XP-620 model is ideal for photo prints.

The Epson WorkForce WF-7610 or WF-7110 MFP with a maximum print format of A3+ is suitable for office work. For professional photographers, the Epson 1500W, Stylus Photo R2000 or R3000 models are needed.

Which MFP is better - color or laser?

Experts in this complex field of activity give the following recommendations:

1. If you have a small office, then you need to purchase the Ricoh SP 3600SF model; it also scans documents well.
2. The Ricoh MP 305+SP is a little worse at digitizing documents; it is a fairly advanced laser printer, but it cannot print color copies.
3. If you need a laser unit for black and white printing at home, then the Brother DCP-L2520DWR is what schoolchildren, students, and those who work on the Internet remotely need.
4. To place an MFP-class color product in a large office, you will need the OKI MC853dn model - it uses LED-type printing.
5. The OKI MC342dnw color printer with a Wi-Fi text reception system will be suitable for installation in a small office.
6. The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M177fw is suitable for home and small office work, but it is not recommended to load it heavily.

Each manager or user makes his own decision, but we only suggest considering the best models for different uses.

How to make a choice

The basic selection criteria are the same, no matter what type of printer you like best:

1. Choose a brand that has been proven over the years of operation, which has long proven itself on the international market only on the positive side.
2. Carefully read the manufacturer’s warranties, and also find your city in the list of service centers so as not to travel far away if the equipment fails during the warranty period.
3. Find out the cost of spare parts and consumables so that it is not burdensome for your financial capabilities.
4. Manufacturers indicate on the packaging maximum amount impressions within a month, so it’s quite easy to navigate when purchasing, for example, if you need about 6 thousand pages per month, then purchase a device with a maximum of up to 7 thousand to create the necessary supply.
5. Functionality. You should buy a device only with those functions that you will use regularly, so as not to overpay for unnecessary options.
6. Service. There is no need to constantly spend money on refilling cartridges or purchasing them; buy models where you can change them yourself or install CISS right away.

No one can answer your question for sure which printer is better - laser or inkjet: it depends only on personal preferences and the characteristics of the product.

conclusions

If you want to choose an excellent printer, then first decide what you need it for printing: if only black and white options, then feel free to take the laser option, and for color photographs - only an inkjet unit with high print quality.

Very often, before purchasing a universal printer, many begin to get confused in the large assortment of equipment, not knowing exactly which model and with what capabilities they should choose. No wonder: today's printing market offers a huge number of printers with different functions and printing technologies. As you explore all the different models, you are likely to wonder: which printer is better, laser or inkjet? To begin with, we recommend that you understand the operating principle of these devices and find out all the advantages and disadvantages of both technologies.

People buy a printer or MFP for different purposes. Professional photographers prefer models focused on high quality photo printing, the same applies to photo laboratories, photo studios and design agencies. Office printers are purchased by managers based on their own criteria - cartridge capabilities, availability of CISS function, printing speed. But most buyers choose printer for universal needs. It is important for them that the device combines basic functions: printing text files, documents, photographs of various formats and quality.

If everything is very clear with a printer for narrow tasks (after all, the choice is made based on a specific criterion), then you will have to look for a universal model that meets all the parameters. You can, of course, pay attention to ready-made multifunctional devices, but they are not cheap, and you may not need a photocopier with a scanner. However, we advise you to determine what exactly you will need a printer for:

• for home – printing documents, text files, books, magazines;
• office needs;
• photo printing (amateur or professional);
• for study (printing of diploma and term papers, essays, tests, notes, etc.).

Are the purposes of the purchase more or less clear? Then we choose the appropriate printing technology, carefully weighing all the pros and cons.

How do inkjet printers work?

Inkjet printing is considered the most common in the world. At one time, inkjet printers noticeably replaced matrix printers. In addition, it was with inkjet printers that color printing and photo printing “without leaving home” became firmly established in our daily lives. It's cheaper, more practical and convenient.

How do they work? If in traditional matrix devices the image was methodically applied to the ink ribbon using the finest needles, here the principle of operation is slightly different. To obtain the finished image, inkjet printers have special elements called nozzles (or nozzles). These are small holes that are extremely difficult to see with the naked eye. They are located directly in the print head of the printer, where the ink container is also located. It is through the nozzles that ink is transferred to the paper. Each ink droplet has a volume of only a few picoliters. The diameter of the nozzles and, accordingly, the colored drop is negligible, comparable to the thickness human hair! Try placing a picture printed on an inkjet printer under a microscope and you will notice that it is composed of huge amount tiny drop dots.

The number of nozzles varies - from 12 to 256 pieces, it all depends on the purpose and class of the printer model, as well as the manufacturer.

There are small cavities under the holes (nozzles) where drops of paint from the main reservoir are directed. The paint is squeezed out using two methods.

Exists two ink storage options in an inkjet printer.

How laser printers work

Laser printing can be done in either color or black and white. Coloring matter - toner– resembles in its composition not liquid, but powder ink. The key element in the design of a laser printer is photosensitive drum. It looks like a metal cylinder with a semiconductor coating. The semiconductor is sensitive to light, and it is on this property that the entire operating principle of a laser device is based.

The image drum has either a positive or negative charge. Charge depends on coronator– tungsten wire coated with gold or platinum. Under the influence of current, an electric charge arises, forming an electromagnetic field, which is reflected on the photodrum. Instead of a corona wire, a device that creates an electromagnetic field can be charging shaft. It looks like a metal rod coated with excellent conductors - for example, rubber or foam rubber.

Inkjet vs Laser: Pros and Cons

So laser or inkjet printer? Both have their own positive and negative sides. Let's compare both types according to several basic criteria to understand the difference and find out which is better.

Price characteristics

If we compare the cost of an inkjet and laser printer, the answer will be obvious: even a high-end inkjet printer with a bunch of features will cost less than an average laser printer. However, not everything is so rosy. The fact is that servicing an inkjet printer will cost a pretty penny. You will regularly have to purchase a set of cartridges, and the cost of one standard set of ink cartridges for one and a half to two years will exceed the initial cost of the printer itself.

The cost of one print on a laser printer is much cheaper.

Another important point: models with inkjet printing are very demanding on the quality of loaded paper. To make a print (for example, a document or photo) as clear and colorful as possible, you will have to use paper best class, which will also lead to further expenses. “Laser printers” are not so sensitive to the quality of paper media and are able to realize their full printing potential on the most ordinary paper in the office.

Print quality

The difference between the print quality of both types of printers is not very clear. However, it counts. that the inkjet machine prints text, photographs, banners, labels, postcards, etc. equally well in high quality and high resolution. But photo printing with laser printers is implemented much worse: the color toner is less well applied to the surface, and as a result, the images are not so rich and juicy. All in all, color rendering is lame. But the undoubted advantage of a laser device is the excellent resistance of printed images to light and water. The laser also prints text documents in excellent quality at high speed.

Print speed

According to this criterion, the comparison is clearly in favor of laser printers. A mid-range laser printer prints about 15 pages in one minute. The speed of the inkjet depends on a number of factors: mode, print volume, resolution. If you need to print a text document in excellent quality or a photo in maximum resolution, the speed of an inkjet printer is quite low. In addition, the laser device is designed for larger print volumes and less frequent changes. Supplies.

Consumables and cartridge refills

The main consumable material for laser devices is toner. Powder toner cartridge recharges three to four times at most, after which it is recommended to replace the entire drum. The obvious disadvantage of toner is that it is toxic, and during operation it also releases ozone into the atmosphere. Toner is usually refilled by specialists, so if the next toner runs out, you will have to go to a store or service center for a new one or for refilling.

Inkjet printers, in turn, work with ink cartridges. They are easy to purchase and refill. However, the refilling process itself is quite tedious: syringes, cans of ink, numerous paint stains. Considering the small volume of the cartridge, you will have to repeat the procedure quite often. The best option is a continuous ink supply system. Its main advantage is the low cost of prints and a huge ink resource without the need to purchase cartridges.

Epson has implemented the CISS function in the form of ink tanks built into the design. Ink tanks are much cheaper than replacement cartridges, have a longer lifespan, are convenient to use and do not stain your hands with ink.

EPSON L132 Inkjet Printer with Removable Ink

Environmental friendliness

When wondering which printer to buy, laser or inkjet, think about such an important aspect as environmental friendliness. The fact is that the heating elements in the laser device interact with the toner when current is supplied. Toner, as noted above, is toxic, and its microparticles should not be inhaled. Also when printing from a laser printer ozone is released in considerable quantities, which negatively affects the environment.

Possibilities

If you need a printer with universal functions, you want to print documents for school or home use (website printouts, term papers, abstracts, documents) and are not ready to spend a lot of money, then choose an inkjet printer. With a light load, you won't spend a lot of money, but the device will last for a long time and will delight you with the quality and stability of work. In addition, the inkjet works well in photo printing. A high-quality inkjet printer prints perfectly in high resolution color photographs, maximizing detail and rich color. Of course, color cartridges will have to be changed very often, but this will more than pay for the excellent color quality of the images. Laser models, alas, are not so good at this. Inkjet devices also allow you to print photos on a variety of media, such as rolls, banners, envelopes and labels. What's not a good reason to open a home photo lab?

Summary: An inkjet printer is ideal for both home and office use. A professional color inkjet will be absolutely indispensable in a photo studio.

Laser monochrome printer useful in the office or at home. Everything here is ideal for standard office needs: high printing speed to produce a plump stack of papers with documents, contracts, orders, books and scientific works. Ability to print large volumes and stable operation of the device. The record low cost per print also looks attractive. By refilling the cartridge once, you can print a large number of sheets in excellent quality.

Summary: the use of black-and-white and color lasers is more justified in the office space than at home. It prints photos very mediocre, and the maintenance and cost of the printer itself are quite high.

So laser or inkjet printer? As you can see, there is no clear answer to this question. We found out how these printing technologies differ from each other and figured out some of the nuances. Both types of devices have their pros and cons. All you have to do is decide for what purposes you will use the printing equipment and, after analyzing all the pros and cons, choose the ideal option.

Inkjet or laser? You have already faced this question if you decided to buy a printer. Or you will collide when the time will come choice.

Here we look at the types of printing: each solution has obvious advantages and hidden disadvantages, undeniable advantages and debatable disadvantages.

Choosing a printer using the example of a company Epson, which has options for home and office use: long-life black and white, four-color and multifunctional devices, photo printers and so on.

Two different printing principles:

How laser printers work

The laser beam creates areas with an electrical charge on the surface of a rotating photodrum filled with a special powder.

It is these areas that attract toner, which acts as paint.

A sheet of paper is pulled through the printer shaft, to which the toner collected into a specific image is attached. And a special oven bakes the powder at a temperature of 200 degrees so that it simply does not crumble.

How do inkjet printers work?

Inkjet printers print using ink, which can be applied to paper, fabric, film, or other surfaces.

This happens using a special print head that moves across the material. On its surface there are microscopic holes (nozzles), through which the paint enters the paper and is absorbed into its top layer.

Act as paint special ink, which are now available in cartridges, bottles and other containers.

Which is cheaper?

Printers

Today there is not much difference between the cost of laser and inkjet printers. The price of the device itself depends only on the brand and set technical characteristics. Of course, laser color devices are many times more expensive than inkjet ones.

By the way, only in 2009 Supreme Court canceled the mandatory registration of color copiers and printers with the police. Did not know? In 1994, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin signed a decree to combat counterfeiters and other scammers.

Interestingly, owners of color printing devices were required to keep records of all copies and printouts indicating their summary. And the police could freely enter even residential premises where “dangerous equipment” was located.

Therefore, buying a color printer in addition to high cost was still fraught with additional difficulties.

Paint and consumables

Most modern printers (both inkjet and laser) are sold with installation cartridges. The resource of such a cartridge is strikingly different from those sold separately.

It is assumed that the resource of such a cartridge is quite enough to show the quality of printing. But an additional set of cartridges will definitely cost a pretty penny. It is not for nothing that ink for inkjet printers was considered one of the most expensive liquids in the world. Moreover, even a “full-size” cartridge was enough for a couple of hundred pages.

This was the case until large companies began to equip CISS inkjet printers instead of conventional cartridges. A continuous ink supply system is a container into which ink is poured, and through a system of loops it reaches the print head. Epson was the first to release such a solution in 2011 and called these printers “Print Factory”.

“Print Factories” are sold complete with a set of full-size ink bottles – 70 ml each. By the way, the average volume of a standard cartridge is about 7 ml.

At a cost of 989 rubles (per jar for the 6-color “Factory”) and 495 rubles. (for a 4-color “Factory”) for 70 ml - one ml of ink costs 14 and 7 rubles. respectively. The price for 1 ml of ink in cartridges ranges from 195 to 268 rubles. These 70 ml are enough for 11 thousand pages.

Consumables for laser printers are a little more complicated: a toner cartridge for a laser printer lasts from 1500 to 3-4 thousand copies. And although this is also not small, in addition to the toner cartridge, you need to periodically change the expensive photoconductor, oven, etc.

Officially, toner cartridges are not refilled, but a couple of times craftsmen can do this using a makeshift method. After this, you will still have to buy a new entire cartridge or at least a drum to replace the worn one.

Result: Since inkjet printers do not have photoconductors or other expensive components, their maintenance will cost up to two times less than laser solutions. Of course, only if we are talking about devices with CISS.

Who is faster and who has better quality?

Speed: marketing versus reality

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question - which printer prints faster: laser or inkjet.

The fact is that the direct printing process is faster with laser printers. However, they take a very long time to “start” - to do this, they first need to preheat the toner baking oven.

Statistics say that most documents when printed do not exceed three pages. An inkjet solution can handle this amount faster. If more - laser.

Quality: text, pictures and photos

If we are talking about printing diagrams and drawings, both laser and inkjet solutions can handle them equally well.

With black and white and color images it is more difficult. For laser printers, the resolution does not exceed 2400 DPI, while for inkjet printers it reaches 5760 DPI and higher.

On the left is laser. On the right is inkjet.

Moreover, the former usually use only four colors (don’t forget about the cost of consumables for laser printing and their service life), while the latter can have six or more - this affects the quality of the rendering of shades and halftones.

You should also note that standard photo paper for printing pictures, which is sold on almost every corner, is not suitable for laser printers. Due to the high heat, it will simply melt. Therefore, you need to look for a special one.

Does it dry or not?

It's no secret that one of the main concerns when buying an inkjet printer is the drying of ink on the print head. Fortunately, as is the case with mobile phones, modern inkjet printers are not what they were ten years ago. Down with the wires, give us a touch screen.

The same applies to the technology itself - if light stripes appear on the print, in printers of the “Print Factory” series, just run “Print Head Cleaning” through the menu, the printer itself will perform the necessary procedures.

Although still: placing the printer near the battery is not recommended. But printing one page at least once a month is really necessary.

Say a word about the benefits and harm!

When using laser printers, many users feel bad smell, because when the toner bakes on the paper, harmful substances are released into the air.

If you print rarely, then there is nothing wrong with that. But in order not to encounter nausea, dizziness and other negative consequences for the body, it is better to work with laser printers in well-ventilated office areas.

But if there are schoolchildren and students in the family who often have to print, it is better to choose an inkjet printer with environmentally friendly inks. The only danger here is in their use - if you drink them, you may experience an upset stomach with all the ensuing consequences. Therefore, it is better to keep them out of the reach of children and not experiment with them yourself.

Choosing a printer for home and...office

I advise you to throw away prejudices from the past and look at inkjet printers...

Why inkjet printers with CISS are better:

• service price is up to two times lower
• safe to use
• you can print photos (resolution 5760 DPI versus 2400 DPI)
• The first page prints faster
• versatility: text, pictures, photos and so on

...or the same multifunctional devices (printer-scanner-copier).

So, if you are not going to print photos or are simply choosing an assistant for the office, take a closer look at monochrome "Factory". The starter ink set is enough for 11,000 pages. And if necessary, the black and white photos on it will turn out quite good, the print resolution is not bad.

If you choose only color solutions, the “Print Factory” series has 4 and 6 color printers. Four-color ones are suitable for printing documents and photographs; six-color ones are better for printing halftones and shades in photographs.