Lars Eighner's Homepage Writers' Workshop FAQ

Q. Should I get an ink-jet or a laser printer?

A. Although ink-jet printers have a lower initial cost, the replacement ink cartridges are so expensive that laser printers are cheaper in the long term for those who do much printing. Moreover, although improvements have been made, jet ink never really dries and is always subject to smearing whenever moisture is present, and this goes double for the low-end models. Beware: laser-jet is just another name for ink-jet technology.

If you can afford it, of course you should get a good laser printer. Some come as combination FAX, printers, and copiers, and this makes a lot more sense for a one-person office. However, if you need a cheaper alternative, consider a modern, high-quality dot matrix printer. Many of these now have resolutions of 300 dpi or better and are surprisingly fast and quite. If you need color or the best quality reproductions of graphics, a dot-matrix printer is not a solution. For most writers, however, dot-matrix printers -- of today's quality -- are ideal, and in some ways may be better than laser printers.

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