There’s perhaps no device that’s seen more interest from professionals in recent years than the home office printer.
While printers are mainstays of most work environments, especially on the administrative side, they’re quickly becoming a fixture of home offices as well.
Being able to print, scan, and copy on the fly is crucial – and when a person has their own device right by their side, it’s even better. The era of remote work has shown professionals the importance of having the necessary hardware at their fingertips – but it’s also shown us that no two printers are alike.
When buying a home office printer, there are many decisions to make. But one of the main question comes down to which option is superior between laser and inkjet. Let’s discuss the main differences between these two printer types.
Pros and Cons of Inkjet Printers
As its name suggests, an inkjet printer creates imagines by dropping spots of ink onto paper. But what are the top functions for this type of device? Is it right for every home office out there?
Inkjet Printers Are Colorful, Affordable, and Versatile
Inkjet printers are made for images and graphic-heavy content. Their capability of blending colors smoothly is unmatched, making them ideal for creating gorgeous prints of high quality.
These printers also come with a low price tag, especially when compared to their laser alternatives. In addition to this affordable price, the inkjet printer uses refillable cartridges. This option greatly cuts down on ink costs and also aids in making any home office more sustainable.
Inkjet printers work on a variety of paper types including glossy and textured sheets, as well as some fabrics. They’re also very easy to use – they are typically smaller and lighter than laser models, making them easy to move. In addition, they have virtually no warm-up time before they’re ready to print.
Inkjet Models Requires Extra Patience and Maintenance
While these models can make some dazzling color combinations and graphics, they’re slower than other printers and sometimes struggle with high volumes. Their reusable cartridges must be cleaned frequently, and though some machines do this automatically it can waste ink.
Inkjet printers’ water-based prints could fade if not maintained properly, or appear fuzzy on low-quality paper. Finally, ink costs can be high especially for those who print often.
Pros and Cons of Laser Printers
Laser printers live up to their name by creating images via scanning lasers across photoreceptors. What benefits do they offer? What type of home office setting would they fit well into?
Laser Printers Are Precise, Quick, and Reliable
Laser printers are known for their precise, sharp black text. For those who typically print documents and text-heavy jobs, laser printers are equipped to offer the clarity that makes reading easy.
Speed is also a factor for many people, especially business owners, solopreneurs, and other professionals in the remote work environment. These printers typically work much faster than other models, sometimes printing as much as 40 pages of text per minute.
Beyond just shining when it comes to speed, they’re also reliable and consistent. Even when print jobs come one after the other, a quality laser model will be up to the task and will deliver seamless results without fail.
Laser Models Are Limited in Some Regards
Laser printers are capable of creating some simple graphics, but they’re definitely not ideal for smooth photographs. They’re also limited in the type of paper they can use, mainly because heat-sensitive materials don’t mesh well with the laser functionality.
Laser printers may be fast, but they do take a bit to warm up. While their long-term costs are less thanks to lower toner costs, their upfront expenses can be higher. Toner leaks can also be a mess to clean up. And though some compact models do exist, most of them are heavier than the inkjet alternative.
Find the Perfect Home Office Printer Today
The ideal home office printer is subjective – it all depends on what type of prints a person needs and the purpose behind their usage of the device.
Some people are about saving money first, while others favor speed in terms of output. Some want crisp text while others favor colorful graphics. Some want versatility while others want consistency. No matter what a person wants in a printer, the right print partner can help them find it.
Looking for the perfect printer? Doing Better Business will do better than the competition in finding you the ideal device for your home office. Get your preferred model with all the functions you need plus support you can count on – reach out today to get started.