Printer Question

[CrimsonChaos]

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum, but I am buying a new printer soon. I am trying to choose between a high-end color inkjet and a low-end b&w laser. I really don't do any color printing, so was leaning toward the low-end b&w laser.

However, when looking at resolutions, the laser printers were doing around 2400x600 and 1200x1200... whereas the inkjets were all doing around 4800x1200.

First, I thought that laser printers had better print-quality than inkjets -- if this is true, why is the resolution lower for the lasers?

Also, when which number is more important, the first or second? For example, is 2400x600 better than a 1200x1200? Or is it the exact same? Which one would I want if I want sharper/crisper print quality?

Please advise!

 

[shortylickens]

I'm glad I got in first.
The numbers are mostly BS. A laser at 1200X1200 is actually much sharper than any inkjet at 2400x2400. Or whatever.
I would recommend only comparing the numbers when looking at the same type and manufacturer.

If you need proof, ask the guy working at Staples or Office Max to print out demo pages from whatever printers you are interested. You dont need photo paper or anything special.
They'll do it if they think you are interested in making a purchase.

I have an HP LJ 1000 and even though the stated resolution is 600X600, I get finer quality prints of pictures than most inkjets. (B&W of course).

And for text, I can print out ledgible fonts at 1 pt. I need to take my glasses off and get real close, but they are readable. Most inkjets will just look like a blot.

Finally the cost per page is much better. A $45 toner cartridge for my LJ 1000 will get me between 2000 and 3000 sheets. I dont think any inkjet can match that.

If you dont need color, by all means go with a low-end laser.

 

[wseyller]

Typically the reason that prints from a laserjet may look better than an inkjet is because inkjet technology is much harder to engineer at those resolutions. There are many problems with inks and dealing with the pigments and dyes. With inkjets you may have problems with inks bleeding out due to not drying quick enough. This is why certain paper is better for photo because they allow the ink to dry faster. Many times not all the heads will fire. But I must say I'm am no inkjet expert, so I can only give you a basic general answer. I work with laser cartridges and most print quality issue are with grayscales. It is very difficult and very expensive to manufacturer toner. It is impossible to get all toner particles to an exact perfect micron size. Most of the quality toners when manufactured, most of the bigger particles are filtered out which also creates more waste. The toner in the laser cartridge is negatively charged electrostatically with an ac/dc bias charge which is done via a developer roller or magnet roller (mostly HP stuff) and by means of friction from the mag roller coating and a doctor blade that rest against the roller. Some of the bigger toner particles will not be charged very well. The toner particles with vibrate up and down from the magroller (due to the alternating current) and then jump to the OPC drum to the areas that were discharged by the led light. The bigger toner particles will either not jump or they will but not be attracked to the positively charge paper and then wipe off the opc drum into the waste bin. This will cause light and dark areas in a grayscale. It gets much much more complicated than that, but I'll stop here before I end up writing a book. In conclusion I wouldn't stress too much about those dpi specs. I can barely tell a difference above 600 dpi.

 

[Zepper]

No question, if you aren't going to be printing enough color to keep the heads blown out, then you should definitely be getting a laser. I don't know why they don't do a monochrome ink jet printer any more but say take the Canon iP5000 and leave off the three color tanks and heads. Then do a little tweaking on the gray scale and it should be amazing.
. Staples has a sale going where you get $30. off any printer $129. and up. Then there is a $20. rebate on the Canons too. So the iP5000 will be in Newegg price territory for the month of April.

.bh.