Laser vs InkJet Printing: What Makes Sense for your Small Business
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A professional-grade printer for a small or medium-sized business doesn’t have to be a commercial-sized unit. Many small business (SMB) printers range from inkjet printers to laser printers.
Figuring out which type is right for your business depends on the type of print jobs.
Understanding the differences between laser and inkjet printers can help you make the best decision for your business needs.
Laser vs inkjet printers
The technical differences between laser and inkjet printers have to do with their functionality and print speed. The type of ink cartridges used and the way the ink gets distributed onto the paper are also factors. What sets an inkjet printer apart from a laser printer is the cost, size, and print quality.
Laser printers use toner cartridges. They use an electrical charge, the laser to direct when and where the toner gets released on the page. The toner is quick-drying and a good choice for monochromatic prints. An inkjet printer uses ink cartridges and distributes the ink onto the paper as the cartridge moves laterally across the page. The ink may take longer to dry, but the picture quality is more vivid. It’s a great choice for photo-quality prints.
Inkjet printers are often used in residential spaces, such as home offices. Small businesses use them as well. They are compact and easy to set up. Although it handles fewer pages and printing capacity than a laser printer, the inkjet route is perfect for multicolor print jobs.
Inkjet printers for home offices and small businesses
Small businesses can have just as many print jobs as any medium-sized business. Even professionals who work from home, work remote, or have a hybrid work-life need access to a reliable printer. Whether it’s in their home office or at the firm, a printer that can handle professional print jobs is the standard.
There are plenty of options for inkjet printers for the home, which is perfect for work-from-home professionals. If you’re looking to upgrade your home office printer, the following options are worth your attention.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e All-in-One Printer
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e All-in-One Printer is designed to save you time. It features user-friendly shortcuts, eliminating repetitive tasks. Easily scan to the cloud or email with one tap. The colorful touch screen display gives users more control over printing, scanning, copying, and faxing with the tap-and-swipe feature.
Professionals can work even faster and stay hands-free with the 35-page automatic feeder and automatic two-sided printing. It also features the HP+ smart printing system. As long as the printer remains connected to the internet, it will keep up with software updates and be ready to print at any time. You won’t have to worry about security breaches either. The enhanced security design reduces interruptions using self-healing WiFi. It keeps you connected with security essentials that help maintain privacy and control. Wireless networking enables smooth accessibility and makes it easier to share resources for complex print jobs.
HP Smart Tank 7301 All-in-One Printer
The HP Smart Tank 7301 All-in-One Printer delivers seamless printing thanks to the high-capacity ink tank and 35-page automatic document feeder. Expect fast printing, with black ink prints of 15 pages per minute (ppm) and color print jobs producing 9 ppm. Get up to 8,000 color pages or 6,000 black pages all from the original HP ink that comes with the box. Great for high-volume and high-capacity printing at lower cost-per-page.
The printer is built with self-healing dual-band WiFi to help stay connected. It automatically detects and resolves any connectivity issues likely interfering with your print lineup. Customize shortcuts and stop repetitive tasks using the HP Smart app. Send prints, scan, share, email, and more all from your smartphone.
HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer
The HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer gives users on-the-go printing with HP ePrint. It allows you to print photos, documents, graphics, and more all from your smartphone, tablet, notebook, or computer. Print while you’re on the move, at work, or from home. Complete these print jobs wirelessly without worrying about a WiFi code or passcode.
No one likes replacing all the ink cartridges just because one runs out. This all-in-one inkjet printer is built to accommodate four individual ink tanks. If one runs out, simply replace it without having to swap out the rest. The print quality is impressive. Create vibrant, colorful graphics and rich, black text on standard paper and cardstock. The ink is water, smear, and fade-resistant which is perfect for highlighters. You can even use the borderless feature and print graphics and photos to the edge of the sheet. Get your marketing materials and regular business prints to really stand out.
Laser printers for small businesses
More often than not, laser printers use a lot of black ink for most print jobs. Having the option of excellent color prints means giving your SMB some allowance for colorful options. Need to print vibrant graphics, an eye-catching tri-fold, or head-turning newsletters?
Laser printers are the go-to choice for small and medium-sized businesses that need high-volume copies. The best laser printers for small businesses aren’t difficult to find. When you’re ready for newer laser printing options for the office, any of these choices will meet your needs.
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer
If your business operates as a team, finding a printer that can handle half a dozen or more users is ideal. The HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer meets those criteria as it can handle up to 10 users. Great for any SMB that has a high demand for printing. It will match the steady or intense workflow. It has a simple setup, so you and your team can get back to focusing on the work that matters.
Every printed page looks professional thanks to the true-to-life color. It produces high-quality prints with ultra-sharp details. The laser printer is designed for maximum productivity in full color. You can also centralize your print fleet management. It features HP Web Jetadmin, which adds and updates devices, solutions, and policies. This makes keeping all your office equipment aligned with the company's best practices.
You can use the HP Wolf Pro for network protection. It’s also preconfigured for advanced dynamic security options. This means you can apply the company standards in cybersecurity. It features a PIN-pull option that authenticates your print jobs when you’re present.
HP Color LaserJet Enterprise 5700dn Printer
Cybersecurity is more important today than ever, especially given the advent of advancing AI technologies. Protecting your business from cyberattacks should be the standard across the board. Isolating that protection to your laptop and smartphone shouldn’t be the only step. Protecting all lines of communication means including your connected office equipment.
The HP Color LaserJet Enterprise 5700dn Printer takes user cybersecurity into account. With HP Wolf Security, users can trust that their data stays protected. It uses HP Sure Start, which works behind the scenes and operates BIOS code that does auto-checks upon startup. If it’s compromised, it automatically repairs itself.
Productivity remains high as the HP FutureSmart firmware keeps the printer updated on the latest, upgradeable features. The LaserJet Enterprise 5700dn features customizable and scalable printing solutions. Users can choose built-in storage options, such as hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD) that handle data and documents stored on the device.
HP Color LaserJet Enterprise Flow MFP 6800zfsw Printer
Does your business routinely produce hundreds or thousands of prints? If you’re a small or medium-sized business that needs commercial-grade printing options, consider laser printers. Any SMB can benefit from a laser printer with high-capacity input, outstanding print speed, and excellent security.
The HP Color LaserJet Enterprise Flow MFP 6800zfsw Printer is built for commercial environments. It’s able to print, copy, scan, and fax. Print speeds are up to 55 ppm in either black or color. Users can customize their print jobs with cloud-connected HP Workpath apps. Integrate paper and digital workflows with fast and seamless digitization options. The HP Open Extensibility Platform contains hundreds of HP and third-party solutions. That includes card reader support giving your team even more tools for success.
With HP Flow technology, users get ultra-fast scanning speeds with up to 200 ipm duplex scan technology. HP’s innovative in-line scan bar recognizes and diagnoses print quality issues. It automatically detects and resolves print quality and feeding issues. With HP Wolf Security, users can also trust their network remains protected. While the printer auto-fixes printing issues, its security measures detect and thwart malware in real time.
Summary
These inkjet printers will meet the needs of remote workers and hybrid working professionals. They are high-grade inkjet printers, compact, and will fit right into any workspace.
For a printer fit for large teams, one that the whole firm can use, consider laser printers. They can handle high-speed, high-volume print jobs comparable to commercial-level projects.
After finding the right printer that makes the most sense for your business, be sure to check out other office equipment. Consider the differences between a workstation and a desktop for business. Also, take a look at more home office essentials. Have every professional need met to maximize productivity.
