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How To Buy a Laser Printer
- By Matthew Ferrara
- Published June 2, 2005
- Buying Guides
- Unrated
Black Only Laser Printers
Laser printers are the workhorse of your business. They should be fast, inexpensive to operate and feature useful options such as two-sided (duplex) printing. To select a good laser printer, remember these tips:
- Look for models with fast print speeds: at least 15 pages per minute or greater for B & W models, 8 PPM color laser
- Look for models with lots of memory or add more when you purchase: more memory frees up your computer faster while the printer processes large print jobs
- Look for models with built-in networking, so they can be located anywhere in your office and still be available to everyone on the network
- Newer models include Wireless networking - either WiFi or Bluetooth; WiFi networking means you can locate the printer anywhere in your office if you have a wireless router; Bluetooth means you can print from your laptop or PDA directly to the printer even if you don't have a network!
- Check the cost of ink cartridges before you decide on a laser printer model; cheaper models are sometimes a bait and switch to more expensive supplies you will need to purchase every month!
Black Only Laser Printers
Print this page and use the following table to compare the standard printer features and "what to look for" specifications with the "what you've found" specifications while shopping for your new laser printer.
| FEATURE | What to Look For SPECIFICATIONS | | FEATURE | What Youve Found SPECIFICATIONS |
| Memory | 128 MB or greater | | Memory | |
| Print Speed | 16-24 ppm black; 17-24 ppm color | | Print Speed | |
| Resolution | 600 x 600 dpi minimum | | Resolution | |
| Networking | Ethernet Adapter built-in WiFi Wireless (optional), Bluetooth (for PDA printing) | | Networking | |
| Connectivity | USB or Network | | Connectivity | |
| Total Media | Single Tray: 250 pages Double Tray: 500 pages | | Total Media | |
| Cartridges | 8000 page capacity | | Cartridges | |
| Monthly Duty Cycle | 25,000 pages minimum | | Monthly Duty Cycle | |