Why should i buy a laser printer other than a ink jet printer...vice versa?

Price - and quality.


Laser is usually more expensive, but yields excellent quality. Normally, does not run.





Inkjet - quality not quite as fine as laser, but less expensive. However, if you sneeze on it, or spritz water on the paper, the ink will run.





I have both. Both inexpensive. Picked up a Brother laser for $59.00 and a Canon inkjet all-in-one for $79. First thing I check on Sunday morning are the weekly ads from about six computer stores in my area. All my items were purchased on weekend specials. For home use, these printer are first-rate.Why should i buy a laser printer other than a ink jet printer...vice versa?
There's decent new laser printers for $60 to $80 with rebates and sales, so price isn't really an obstacle. Used laser printers can be had for under $100, or even free (join a local Freecycle mailing list). Toner refill kits can be found on eBay, or complete cartridges, for good prices. Laserjets sometimes develop paper jam problems with age; you can find repair kits on eBay for reasonable prices.





Cost per page with lasers is generally much lower than inkjet, and thats based on ';list price'; toner; refills, or generic toner carts should cut that even lower. From what I've seen, professionally refilled toner cartridges work fine, unlike inkjet refills which have often been lousy. Toner doesn't dry up like inkjet cartridges do if they aren't regularly used, so you should be safe buying old stock.





I bought a used HP 4L almost 10 years ago for my Mom, and it's still going strong in daily use. It's had one new toner cartridge in that period. I have a similar Canon LBP-430; one died after a while, but I scored a replacement for free from Freecycle. Both the 4L and LBP-430 use the identical toner cartridge. They were intended as home/small office printers, so don't hold much paper in the tray, but are pretty durable otherwise. And they have a straight-through paper path if you flip a thumbwheel on the back which is great for printing stickers or card stock. They don't have USB interfaces, but you can always get a USB to parallel adapter cable.





Inkjets? They're good for color printing, if you don't mind the cost of ink, and the need for good quality paper.Why should i buy a laser printer other than a ink jet printer...vice versa?
Lasers - Good: Long lasting cartridges, low cost per page on black, fast Bad: Cost, cost of cartridges





Inkjets - Good: better quality in photos, cheaper cartridges Bad: cartridges do not last as long, tri-color cartridges can get pricey





It all depends on what you need.
It all depends on what you are going to do with the printer. A laser is normally faster and higher volume capable for like in a business office where most documents are black and white. If for photo printing at home and fairly low volume, then go with a good inkjet, such as HP or Kodak. I like the new vivera HP because of individual ink tanks which are usually less wasteful.
Basically, Laser printers cost more to buy with lesser running cost. It prints sharper, especially when document or picture is zoomed in (enlarged), and does not run. Won't print those lovely colour pictures, except you go for the high-end colour printer.





Inkjet printers come cheap, but with higher running cost. What you save in purchase, you spend in buying ink. They come handy when you urgently need a home use printer and does not have much to invest. Poor print quality, but gives you lovely colour prints.





I always recommend you get both if you are have a heavy printing need with occasional need for presentation docs.