 |
 |
 |
|
Color printing has the capability to grab a reader's attention. Marketing materials given to customers, partners and employees are more effective and carry greater impact when printed in color. And while color inkjet and color laser printers used to be the domain of graphics and marketing professionals, more small businesses today use color printers for a range of materials. Thanks to software that makes formatting much simpler, you can print high-quality brochures, postcards, shelf labels and signage in-house.
In-house color printing has never been more affordable
Color printers are more affordable than ever. Not only are purchase costs lower, total cost of ownership (TCO) has dropped dramatically thanks to thoughtful engineering and customized printer management capabilities. 
But it's not only the technological advances in color printers that have made them more affordable. Your time is extremely valuable, and color printers can save you vast amounts of time. The speed and convenience of printing a brochure from your computer far outweigh the hassles of repeated trips to your local print shop and waiting in line for service.
Another benefit of in-house color printing is your ability to print only the quantity of materials that you need. When you go to a print shop, you typically have to pay to have a few hundred copies of a document or brochure printed at once. But what if the information you printed becomes outdated or needs changing? In this scenario, the extras you printed are now useless. But with a color printer, you can print only what you need and make changes and updates any time you like without wasting materials.
Fundamental differences between inkjet and laser printers
One big difference between color inkjet and color laser printers is acquisition cost. Color inkjet printers are typically less expensive than color laser printers. Today, mid-range inkjets with network capability can be purchased for less than $500. Another advantage of inkjet printers is their ability to produce very vibrant, accurate and high-resolution colors. They are a good choice for graphic designers who need to print color proofs. The disadvantages are that they are generally slower than laser printers, output is often more expensive and inkjets are not ideally suited for high-volume printing.
Color laser printers, some of which cost more than $10,000 several years ago, can now be bought for less than $1000. Color laser printers provide sharper image detail and higher output rates than inkjets and generally don't require the frequent replacement of consumables, resulting in a lower TCO. Some manufacturers have further reduced color laser TCO by moving from a one-piece drum and toner consumable to a two-piece consumable in which the drum and toner cartridge are separated. A drum, which has a life span typically three times that of a toner cartridge, can be fully consumed before being replaced, saving you money.
How to decide between a color inkjet or color laser printer
When making a purchase decision, consider the number of people who will be using the printer, the volume of printing, the level of quality you need and your budget. In the past, inkjets were attractive because of low acquisition costs. However, be sure to carefully analyze your expected usage as many inkjets have smaller toner capacity and require more frequent purchases of cartridges, potentially raising your TCO beyond that of color laser printers.
For high-volume color printing, color laser printers come out ahead of color inkjets. With either type of printer, the use of duplexing (printing of both sides of a page) can cut paper costs considerably. Assess the range of paper sizes you will be using and the amount of memory you will need to print your work.
Many businesses are finding that multifunction units fill their needs. Color laser and inkjet multifunction units are available that offer printing, scanning, copying and fax capabilities.
Managing your color printer
Most manufacturers offer software that simplifies the management of color printers. Management features allow you to control employee access to printers. Many printers also allow remote installation, configuration and management of network peripherals. These network administration tools go a long way to reduce TCO and minimize the amount of time you spend managing your printer.
%%d_amdefault_cta%%
<< BACK TO TOP
|
|
|
|
|
|
HP LaserJet P3005n printer
Speed through your biggest print jobs with 35 ppm print speeds and a large-capacity 1100-sheet paper tray
CDW 1063660
LEARN MORE >>
HP Black 51A toner cartridge
HP toner cartridges consistently deliver high quality, high yield and legendary reliability
CDW 1050025
LEARN MORE >>
Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium
Get all the essential tools you need to design professional-looking printed and Web materials in one unified, intuitive environment
CDW 1153146
LEARN MORE >>
|
|
|
|
Account Manager
%%d_amdefault_ambox%%
|
|
|
