HIT> Printers (Laser v. Ink Jet to replace current Dot-Matrix)

[PAT GILL <KWO_GILL@MEC.OHIO.GOV>]

Thank you to those who responded to my request for recommendations and/or a
recap of previous discussion on the pros & cons of ink jet versus laser
printers to replace current dot-matrixes.

Here is a summary of results:

Most respondents recommended the laser over the ink jet (or wished they had
bought the laser instead of the ink jet).

While ink jets cost less to purchase initially, they cost more for ink
cartridges which didn't last as long as lasers

from Bob Koechley of Madison WI:
PRO ink jet: it's quick, quiet, uses fanfold paper, & is initially cheap
CON ink jet: every time he replaces print cartridge, he wishes he'd spent the
extra $$ initially for a low-cost laser

from Perry Lewis of Alma AR:
Not much difference in printouts, QUALITY-wise.
COST is main difference:  ink jet refills cost between $20-25/cartridge and
last for only 500-1000 sheets; get a laser if going to do a lot of printing
SOURCES: try discount businesses such as Best Buy or Sam's...may get a display
model for very little $$$

from Mark:
INK JET over LASER due to COST.  Their experience is laser cartridges cost more
than ink jet.  They pay about $11 a cartridge. ( See note "to avoid" below)
SPEED: ink jets are faster than lasers in the DRAFT MODE, but slower in LETTER
quality mode
LETTER QUALITY: some of the best ink-jets rival the lasers
NOISE: both are very quiet
TO AVOID:  the new bubble-jet printers whose cartridge replacements are $22 and
up
CUT COSTS: there are refill kits for ink-jet cartridges that will cut the
cost a bit further; but cartridges in BULK (40-50) for special rates

from Judy Estabrook of Dallas TX:
INK JET: ok for home use; not satisfactory for heavy use situation;
quieter than dot matrix; less expensive than laser to buy; v-e-r-y s-l-o-w to
print (about 1 minute per page) & doesn't support background printing (which
means your computer is tied up while it prints); costly ink cartridges ($12-25
for each cartridge which prints about 500 pages...less if you do a lot of
graphics)
LASER: in the long run, the best buy tho' initial outlay is greater!!

from Eileen:
EXPENSE:  keep in mind that both ink jet and laser printers are more expensive
to operate than dot matrix printers...may want to keep dot matrix around for
printing off from cd-roms, catalog searches, etc. where letter quality isn't as
important

from Gail Dickinson of Endicott NY:
Printers for EVERY WORKSTATION...look at it this way: you are spending
thousands of dollars to increase access to the collection and yet blowing the
effect... Cost-efficiency for electronic info resources is measured by the
increased access -- meaning kids will check out more books & more kids will use
the resources...To slow down the process for want of a few hundred $$ doesn't
make sense... (Also, she prefers majority of computers to be standing
workstations so patrons use them & move on...[be sure to have at least one at
sitting level for handicapped])

from Russell Smith TX:
HP DESKJET 520: excellent black printer with near-laser quality for ca.$275
Disadvantages: banding of dark areas on printouts (gets worse as you refill
cartridge several times, but still better than dot matrix); can't do continuous
feed paper or multiple forms; cost per page is about 2-3 times laser-- more if
you don't refill; slower than laser by quite a bit
(Has had good experiences with HP 500 also; but bad experience with Epson 800
Stylus...printed only about 100 pages before needing to go to shop for 6
months...)
Advantages of HP Deskjet 520: Cost ca. $279; printouts are better than older
500 model; can purchase high capacity cartridges for this model (not the
500's); refill kits are about $10-$16 and fairly simple for to refill the high
 capacity cartridge (he got about 7 refills out of the $16 kit)

more from Russell Smith TX!:
"Forget the inkjets and get an Okidata OL 410e LASER."
Advantages: pretty well-priced for a 600 dpi in Windows or 300 dpi in DOS; has
an RISC engine (good to have!) and comes standard with 2MB (you can go to 5 MB
and a 2 MB upgrade runs about $110)  PRICE: ca. $640 or less
For speed, quality & consumables costs ($25 per toner cartridge for 2,500
pages) the Oki OL 410e = best choice

THANKS TO EVERYONE!
Pat Gill, Librarian/Media Specialist
Worthington Kilbourne High School
1499 Hard Rd.                                 EMAIL: KWO_GILL@MEC.OHIO.GOV
Columbus, OH 43235-5970     PH: 614-431-6220  FAX: 614-431-6238