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  1. #1

    Question Should I buy inkjet or laser printer for our low printing needs?

    I need a printer for my family's home setup... and I'm not sure if I should purchase an inkjet printer or laser printer.

    Any comments/opinions?

    We might print perhaps 2 to 5 pages per week. We haven't had a printer for over 3 months, and it's only now that my wife says she wants one to print recipes and coupons. So... not a lot of printing needs.

    Color isn't really too important.. but I suppose it's nice occasionally. But, we don't really *need* color usually.

    I want to have a scanner and copier also, so one of those "all-in-one" units is probably the best solution.

    But... inkjet or laser?

    What do you suggest?

    Should I just pick up one of those super cheap $50 "all-in-one" inkjet printers that have high ink prices?

    Or is it better to spend more and get a laser printer?

    Given our very low printing usage... what do you recommend?

    Thanks!
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  2. #2
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    Would prefer Laser, it is worth buying it.
    If you steal from one author, it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many, it’s research

  3. #3
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    You could go with either in this case. Heck, I have three for three different purposes.

    I like the all-in-one printers since you can also scan documents (house inventory, old pictures, fax a document that is not already digital, etc). Many reasons to have a cheap scanner around.

    My color printer is a cheap $30 walmart inkjetscanner from HP... they just work.

    My laser printers are not color... but they print very nice. I purchased them for printing large documents quickly.

    I'm not sure you need a laser... you might be good with an inkjet... although, if you start printing 10 pages per week, that would be 40 pages a month. You would be out of ink in an injet in maybe three months. With a laserjet you might not be out of ink in years (my laser can print 7,000 pages per cartridge).

    My next printer will be a color laser jet...

    To be honest, laser printers do not cost that much more now... I own this one and print almost daily on it (shipping labels)... had it for maybe two years: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828113290 Originally I found it online for (staples sale) for around $80.

    I like the brother laser printers... I have two of them. In inkjet I like HP since they tend to have low cartridge replacement cost.
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  4. #4
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    We have a fancy laser printer, and have never regretted the choice. Better color, ink doesn't smudge or run when it gets wet, cost per print is far lower and the print quality is superior.

    Bear in mind though, most laser printers won't do thicker paper like card stock, or t-shirt transfers and things of that nature, something that was commonly asked for by the wife for home use. Low use, and specialty printing, you'd be better off with the ink jet.
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  5. #5
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    Oct 2004
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    We picked up a Brother MFC Laser printer refurb for about half the price of it retail. It's been about two years now, and it's still going strong. Lasers usually are made of a better quality as well.

    I'd say definitely go laser if you can live without the color and the specialty prints.
    Tyler Cole
    Eeek, a Blog

  6. #6
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    For small printing needs, you don't need laser. Not that it's not good to have, but you really don't "need" laser for home office / small needs.
    Tom Whiting, WHMCS Guru extraordinaire
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  7. #7
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    Laser FTW, it saves you money in the long run, especially now days with inkjet printer companies frauding customers w/ fake expiration dates on inks.
    1. Mmmmm food...

  8. #8
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    Laser is better for high volume printing or if you don't print much. The ink dries out on inkjets if you don't use them semi often.

  9. #9
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    I'd say go for a laser printer. They are great for high volume, and low volume printing.

  10. #10
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    Jun 2006
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    Definitely laser. The end product is better, they're less messy and noisy and of course much cheaper per page.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
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    Laser. Laser. Laser.

    I print a handful of pages every month. Maybe less.

    Over the past 5 years, I've thrown out two PoS inexpensive inkjets
    (different makes) because the ink dried up and irrevocably clogged
    the nozzle(s).

    About six months ago, I bought a Brother 2170W. $99, delivered.

    When I need to print, it just plain works.

    Before that, I spent (I think) a little less on a Samsung ML-2010 for my boy.
    Never a problem (except that time when Lego Darth Vader's helmet
    got lodged in the paper uptake mechanism -- had to turn the printer upside-down
    & shake ).

  12. #12
    If it's in your budget a quality laser printer will give you excellent page quality and last a long time. I'm anti ink-jet because everyone i've had kicked the bucket within 2 years.

  13. #13
    I think laser would be great.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
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    Ohio
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    Laser...

    I gave up on inkjet because I don't print often and usually end up throwing away money on ink. When my multifunction printer died a year ago, I replaced it with a bottem end Brother color "LED" printer (uses LEDs instead of laser, only 400w usage). While it doesn't have photo quality color prints, they are acceptable for the occasional color printouts I do.

    Anyway...

    If you print a lot (cheaper per page), go laser... if you print very little, go laser. (toner doesn't dry out if not used).

  15. #15
    OK, after reading many opinions I have decided to purchase an "all-in-one" monochrome laser printer.

    The primary reason is because we print so few pages (a few pages per week, and often for weeks at a time with no printing) that many people suggested the inkjet cartridges would 'dry up' and that would waste a lot of ink (to clean them each time before printing).. and therefore the cost of constantly purchasing new cartridges would eventually cost more then the upfront higher cost of a comparable laser printer.

    So... I have started a new thread to ask for a recommendation of a decent printer. (I didn't want to clutter this thread with specific printer recommendations, in case someone is searching in the future for info on laser vs inkjet like I was. (Because any specific printer recommendations would be obsolete within a few weeks...)

    Thanks again for all your help and opinions.
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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by mrzippy View Post
    OK, after reading many opinions I have decided to purchase an "all-in-one" monochrome laser printer.

    The primary reason is because we print so few pages (a few pages per week, and often for weeks at a time with no printing) that many people suggested the inkjet cartridges would 'dry up' and that would waste a lot of ink (to clean them each time before printing).. and therefore the cost of constantly purchasing new cartridges would eventually cost more then the upfront higher cost of a comparable laser printer.

    So... I have started a new thread to ask for a recommendation of a decent printer. (I didn't want to clutter this thread with specific printer recommendations, in case someone is searching in the future for info on laser vs inkjet like I was. (Because any specific printer recommendations would be obsolete within a few weeks...)

    Thanks again for all your help and opinions.
    Good choice... not sure it matters, but if that works for you... then that is the perfect choice.
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  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by mrzippy View Post
    OK, after reading many opinions I have decided to purchase an "all-in-one" monochrome laser printer.

    The primary reason is because we print so few pages (a few pages per week, and often for weeks at a time with no printing) that many people suggested the inkjet cartridges would 'dry up' and that would waste a lot of ink (to clean them each time before printing).. and therefore the cost of constantly purchasing new cartridges would eventually cost more then the upfront higher cost of a comparable laser printer.

    So... I have started a new thread to ask for a recommendation of a decent printer. (I didn't want to clutter this thread with specific printer recommendations, in case someone is searching in the future for info on laser vs inkjet like I was. (Because any specific printer recommendations would be obsolete within a few weeks...)

    Thanks again for all your help and opinions.
    If you are having very few requirements to print pages a week then this would be good option for you.

  18. #18
    I recommend a laser printer.
    Good luck with whatever you decide.
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  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by mrzippy View Post
    I have decided to purchase an "all-in-one" monochrome laser printer.
    Excellent decision I think

    I purchased an HP all in one monochrome laser about 4 years ago now - it had an RRP of around £300, I picked it up "ex-demo" for around £50 (and it had only been used to print/scan a dozen or so sheets!). Best decision I've ever made - the toner is very cheap, and knowing how little it costs me to run, I often find myself printing things out for convenience sake, whereas with an inkjet I'd have been a bit more conservative and only printed out what I really had to.

    Certainly, given their business focus and higher price tag, there seems to be a larger market for ex-demo/refurb offerings - and for anyone else reading, well worth investigating as it seems both me and Tyler managed to snag some great bargains
    Alasdair
    Long time ex-host, ex-billing software owner/developer/support staff. Recent lurker.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
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    31
    If You don't need very high quality of printing You should chose inkjet .

  21. #21
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    Jan 2011
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    80
    Another vote for laser simply because your toner won't be going bad and at worst you may have to shake it up every once in a while. If you expect for your computer to be used by operating systems other than m$, even on occasion, you should consider Brother or HP. They have the best multi-platform support in the industry.
    Ilija - Caneris Inc. - Shared, Dedicated, VPS and Colo

  22. #22
    Hey, buddy

    I would go inkjet, though inkjet and laser all have pros and cons. If you really want to have high quality prints and do not produce a large amount of prints regularly, inkjet can be your choice. It's also worth visiting everydaysale, a great place to find cheap and quality inkjets and lasers anyway.

    Good luck.

  23. #23
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    Laser it will last for ever. Plus it is nice and quite.

  24. #24
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    I have always strongly preferred laser, as it appears to have so many advantages (including cost, even in fairly low volume).

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  25. #25
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