Before embarking on the purchase of a new monochrome or mono laser printer, it is necessary to know certain criteria such as printing speed or internal memory. But above all, you have to know how to assess your needs.
Print resolution
Resolution refers to the precision of the printer. Expressed in ppi (dots per inch) or dpi, it measures the number of pixels that appear on an inch, or 2.54 cm. However, this criterion must be taken with caution: it does not alone determine the quality of the print.
The frame, the image processing techniques specific to each manufacturer, and the paper or ink used influence the device’s performance. The standard for monochrome laser printers is 600 dpi, which is more than sufficient for printing mail or web pages. To maintain good image quality, a resolution of 1200 dpi with color printing will be necessary.
Print speed
Even if manufacturers tend to inflate the performance of their machines, they remain much higher than the speed of inkjet printers. This criterion is not decisive for an individual even if it contributes to the comfort of use. On the other hand, for intensive use, you will need to choose a model capable of providing at least 20 pages per minute.
Memory
The capacity of a laser printer is essential due to the printing technique itself. This is because, unlike an inkjet which prints one line at a time, the page is entirely drawn in memory before being transferred to paper. You understood: that the larger the file, the more the machine uses its memory. This is essentially the case for printing photos. For small text and simple images, 512 KB models will do the trick. On the other hand, for larger images, you will need a minimum of 2 or 4 MB. Note that on most models the RAM capacities are expandable.
The cost of consumables
As mentioned previously, laser printers are much more economical to use due to a particularly low cost per page. However, there are notable differences between each manufacturer with prices ranging from simple to double, from 45 to 90 dollars. Another advantage is that these machines generally offer an economical printing mode (using 50% of the toner) which produces completely satisfactory results. It is important to keep in mind that the real cost of a printer lies in the cost per page and not the purchase price.
The dimensions
The new monochrome laser printers are very compact models that easily take up even a small workspace. On the other hand, a color machine integrates four different toners, which require fairly large dimensions to accommodate them.
The interface
Parallel port models have not yet completely disappeared from the laser printer market and are sufficient for many jobs. They have the advantage of not occupying a USB port on machines that have a small number of them. However, most models today have a USB 2.0 port for fast data transfer (480 Mbps).
The paper
Unlike their competitors, laser printers use ordinary paper to produce the same quality as an inkjet model on glossy or photo paper. This is not insignificant when you know that an A4 sheet of photo paper costs more than one dollar.
Toner
The cartridge is often confused with the toner, which actually refers to the powdered ink stored in a cartridge. Laser printing involves melting small grains of toner to make them stick to the paper. This heating fixes the image on the support and prevents you from blackening your fingers when removing the sheets. With a much larger capacity than a liquid ink cartridge, it can print, on average, nearly 3000 pages.
Also, note that a toner printer works with a drum on which the ink is deposited before being applied to a sheet. Depending on the machine, this must be changed every 5 to 6 toner cartridges, or 15,000 pages.
The format
If A4 sheets are the printing standard, most models can print on other media, particularly envelopes or business cards. Remember to check compatibility with these formats, which are not used every day but can, for example, provide valuable services and save a lot of time for producing a mailing.
