Get the right printer for the right job
One of the most frequent questions we are asked is, "What type of printer do you recommend?" Our response is always a series of questions: What are your printing requirements? What type of application software are you using? Where will the printer be located? Do you require color? Multiple copies? Different fonts or typefacing?, etc.
The key to making the correct decision on the type of printer you need is the answers to the questions above. In an attempt to help you decide which printer you need, or if you need two of them, we will list the advantages and disadvantages of the three most popular types of printers: dot-matrix, laser and inkjet.
Dot-Matrix
Serial dot-matrix printers were the major type of printer in the marketplace up until 4-5 years ago. These printers use small pins in the printhead to strike an inked ribbon to make an impression on the paper. These printers are the most versatile. They are able to handle a variety of forms: multi-part, single sheet, card stock labels, continuous fanfold forms. They can handle these forms, because they have multiple paper feed paths: rear feed, top feed and bottom feed. Most dot-matrix printer families will have both a narrow width version for regular width paper and wide version for wide paper used for financial analysis.
The dot-matrix printers can be divided into two major application groups based upon the number of pins in the printhead. The 9 pin models are used when draft or utility printing is acceptable. The usable applications would be report printing, transaction printing (purchase orders, invoices, sales orders, etc.), shipping labels, computer listings, etc. Almost all 9 pin models have a near-letter quality mode (NLQ), which makes two passes of the printhead for each printed line and makes the characters appear more fully formed. While the print speed in draft and utility modes are fast, the speed in NLQ will be considerably less, although not terribly slow.
The 24-pin models are designed for letter quality (LQ) printing applications. The print quality and speed is higher than the 9-pin models' NLQ mode, but the speed in the transaction printing/report printing mode is much slower and the print quality is an overkill for these types of documents.
Dot-Matrix printers are limited in the number of typefaces resident in the printer. Some printers have typefaces built into the printer and some will have optional font cards or software. However, most of these printers have optional paper handling capability. They may accommodate one or all of the following: optional pull tractor assemblies, optional bottom push tractor assemblies, cut sheet feeder assemblies and roll paper stands. These allow you to handle almost any kind of form. A big advantage to dot-matrix is the cost per printed page. The amount of printing per ribbon and the relative low cost for ribbons, make this a very cost effective printer type. In addition, a number of dot-matrix have color printing capability. The color will not be bright and vivid, but will make a nice presentation. A disadvantage is its overall noise level in comparison to the other types of printers. Running long reports in a small room will send you out to get coffee unless you use an acoustical cover the printer.
Laser/LED Printers
Printers commonly called laser printers use either laser (light beam and mirrors) technology or light-emitting diode technology (LED) to put printing on paper. We will use the term "laser printer" to refer to either type of technology, as they do the same work and are used in the same applications.
Laser printers provide quiet, very high quality text printing and excellent graphics printing. While the cost of a laser printer is normally higher than dot-matrix printers, you can purchase laser printers at different levels of sophistication. The most common printers are in the 4PPM (page per minute) to 8PPM range; higher speed versions are used for network printing or very high volume printing. The more common printers are generally divided into two groups; basic text and graphics; and desktop publishing. Personal laser printers and small business printers will provide excellent print quality for letters, legal and accounting forms, envelops, presentations, etc. The mid-level laser printers will provide the same text printing capability of the low end laser printer, with more typefaces, but also more sophisticated graphics capability. A mid-level laser printer with Post Script software capability provides excellent desktop publishing and advanced graphics results. In fact, many small companies have developed their own brochures, company newsletters, marketing collateral, presentations, etc. in-house, instead of using outside printing houses, at a large cost savings. However, a note of warning: a company needs to have someone to spend a fair amount of time to learn how to do desktop publishing; also, not everyone has the overall creative ability to present the message properly. Therefore, having this talent in a company is important.
Laser printers do have the optional equipment which will enhance the operation of the printer. The most common are font cards. These cards will plug into slots in the printer and give the user the capability of using fonts that are not resident in the printer. Also, most laser printers have memory expansion capability, which expands the memory resident in the printer. The maximum memory size varies from printer model to printer model. The mid-level lasers will have higher maximum memory features, because enhanced graphics printing requires more memory space. But, additional memory is not inexpensive, even if it may be necessary. Laser printers will also accommodate different size paper. Most printers will require optional paper trays for different sizes: letter, legal, envelope, executive, etc. In addition, label printing can be done on a laser. However, labels made specifically for laser printers must be used.
Laser printers are not ideal for certain applications. Multiple copy printing, such as transaction printing, is not very cost effective. Since laser printing consumables cost are approximately $.03/page, a requirement for 3 copies of an invoice makes it much more costly, especially if a large volume of invoices need to be printed. Also, large spreadsheets cannot be printed on lasers, as lasers somewhat restrict the paper size that can be used.
Ink-jet Printers
The newest technology for home/business printing is the ink-jet printer. These printers use a fine, controlled drop of ink to form characters on paper. This type of printer provides the advantages and disadvantages of laser printers. They produce high quality output with minimum noise levels. In addition, color models of inkjet printers produce bright, vivid presentations specifically designed for these printers. However, inkjet printers can only print original copies, not multi-part forms. In addition, costs of consumables per page are approximately $.03/page for black and $.15/page for color. Therefore, multiple copies are expensive.
Label printing can be done on inkjets. However, like the laser printers, special labels must be used to prevent ink smearing.
The popular selling ink-jet printers are low-end printers. However, new mid-level ink-jet printers are coming into the market place. Some of these have Post Script capability which allows these printers to produce advanced graphics similar to mid-level laser printers.
The bottom line in determining the type of printer that you need is the applications that you need. Never choose a printer just because it is the latest technology. Choose one that is best suited to your printing needs, whether it be multi-part transaction forms, high quality letter printing, high level graphics, sharp, vivid color printing costs. Each type of printer is advantageous in certain applications or combination of applications. Only you can decide which is best suited for your needs. Or you could go wild and buy one of each! We do not recommend that!!!!
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