Basic facts on Laser printers
What are laser printers?
Laser printers have traditionally been used
for business applications because they offer higher speeds and
crisper print. They tend to be more expensive than inkjet
printers, although prices have dropped considerably -- you can
buy a home monochrome laser printer starting at about $200.
There are color laser printers as well, but they are priced
above the budget of most home and small business users
More sophisticated (and costly) laser printers
can include some fancy and useful add-ons, such as the ability
to add more paper drawers, or to sort your documents.
How do laser printers work?
Most laser printers use a photosensitive drum
or belt that picks up an electrostatic charge wherever the laser
beam hits it.
The charged areas then pick up toner and transfer
the toner to paper. Not all printers that are called "laser
printers" actually use lasers: LED printers use LED lights
rather than laser light to draw the image of a page on a photosensitive
drum or belt.
What costs come with laser printers?
As with inkjet printers, you are going to be
buying cartridges on a regular basis. Laser printers used
powered toner instead of ink; however, they tend to need
changing less often than ink cartridges.
What are the advantages of laser
printers?
- Fast
- High quality printing.
- Cartridges need changing less often.
Disadvantages?
- More expensive.
- Color only available for high-level
machines.
- Heavier.
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