Choosing Between Ink And Toner Printers
Having a hard time deciding between ink and toner printers is an understandable situation to be in, especially when making your first printer purchase. There are a number of merits and flaws to both types of machines, which are ideally suited to particular tasks as opposed to being two different ways to approach general printing tasks. Selecting the right one has much more to do with the type of use you intend to put the printer to rather than deciding which model is better than the other.
For example, for most homeowners buying a new inkjet printer and using liquid ink cartridges is probably the way to go. These printers are extremely inexpensive and the ink generally retails for $20-$30, making it the much more affordable and thus accessible option for most individuals. These printers do a good job of handling nearly any job that they will encounter in a standard domestic environment. However, you may run into problems with inkjet printers if you intend to do graphic-intense or bulk printing.
In these situations it is definitely wise to utilize the improved printing capabilities of a laser printer. Laser printers are quite a bit larger and more bulky (and expensive!) than their liquid ink counterparts, but they are capable of printing much faster and handling a greater level of detail in pictures and images. When it comes to deciding between ink and toner these are definitely the preferred option for offices and artists. However buying new toner is expensive and replacing the cartridge can sometimes be a hassle, not to mention that laser printers often release hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air.
Deciding which option would suit your unique situation best is up to you, but these two outlines should help clear up any confusion and set you on the right path to choosing your next printer.