Dot Matrix Printers - Still quite popular, as they are very inexpensive to operate. They are noisier than any other type and are restricted to text only printing in black ink, so have limited applications

Laser Printers vs. Ink-Jet printers 

•    Laser printers normally have a higher initial cost that can exceed depending on the components required and model selected
•       Ink Jet printers though cheaper to purchase initially can have much higher operating costs as a set of ink cartridges will cost approx 125 and prints approx 250 to 600 per set. Compared to a toner cartridge for a laser printer that costs about 100 , but will print 4000 pages. Over a year this can be significant. Example:

Costs	Ink Jet	Laser
Initial	269.00 (HP 1100 IJ)	550.00 (HP 1100 LSR)
Cartridges (dollars)	70 (just black)	104
Number of pages printed	600pgs / cartridge	4000 pgs / cartridge
Cost to print 50 pages per day - 6 months - 50 x 180 days	9000 pages / 600 15 cartridges * 70 = 1050	9000 pages/ 4000 3(2.25) cartridges * 140 = 312
Total cost after 6 months	1319	869

As you can see by this simple example, an inkjet printer, though having initial lower costs, may be more expensive for you even after a short 6 months period, and you are getting a better quality of print with the laser, but also consider the oprions below.

Other information to keep in mind is:

•         Canon Printers inkjet cartridges are smaller than most other models by about half and in the long run makes them one of the most expensive inkjet printers to operate. Epson Printers have consistently run a close second, yet new models are much better than before.
•    HP Photo Jet printers are some of the best on the market and unlike the Lexmark printers, normally do not have to have a separate cartridge installed for doing photos
• If color is required, an inkjet printer may be best as color laser printers are more expensive, but are still much cheaper to operate. With high capacity color printing, a laser would still be the best choice.
•  The average inkjet printer you can by at most department stores will cost less than 150, but the cartridges to replace them cost about 125, making it almost cheaper to buy a new printer when the cartridges go dry
•  Many color inkjet cartridges contain all three colors and when one is empty you must change the whole cartridge NOTE: using refill kits, though cheaper, can void your printers warranty, as can using generic names cartridges - Best Inkjets to purchase are ones that have fours separate cartridges for the colors, so you only replace the color that is empty. HP, EPSON, and Xerox have models like this and though having higher initial costs, are cheaper to operate
•   Laser printers give the same quality as a photocopier and though some inkjets can imitate it, lasers do have a better print quality overall. Laser such as the Samsung 1710 can be purchase for as little as 250, making them a real bargain with a toner cartridge that costs 100 and producing 3000 + pages. This makes then approx 6 times cheaper per page than most top end inkjets printers

When it comes to purchasing printers, many questions have to be asked. CPYou Computer Solutions can help you navigate to the best choice for your needs and budget. Contact us for help with any purchases of computer peripherals.