Printer comparisons: Dot matrix printers, multifunction printers and laser printers

Selecting a printer to meet your business’s output requirements isn’t as simple as buying one for private use, in which case you’d probably focus on features and cost. Buying a printer for your office means considering your company’s size, printing requirements, budget, and space constraints. Naturally, a small company that prints only the occasional invoice or receipt will have substantially different requirements to that of a large, busy office.

Below, you’ll find a comparison of dot matrix printers, multifunction printers and laser printers, according to how they’ll meet the various needs of different businesses.

Dot matrix printers, multifunction printers and laser printers

Dot matrix printers

Offering an affordable and highly durable printing option, dot matrix printers are still used by smaller companies around the world. Certainly, these units – also known as impact printers – have mostly been replaced by newer, sleeker printers such as ink jet, laser and multifunction printers.

However, companies with limited printing requirements, or those with extensive data capturing needs (dot matrix printers are very useful for data logging, as they use continuous paper) find that impact printers are an economical, convenient and reliable printing option.

Advantages of dot matrix printers:

• Low-cost printing
• Multi-part stationery printing capabilities
• Ability to produce carbon and carbonless copies
• Heat and dust tolerant
• The ink ribbon does not dry out
• Ink fades gradually, rather than vanishing abruptly, when cartridges begin to run out ink

Ideal office usage for dot matrix printers:

• Small businesses, including home offices and shops
• Banks
• Aviation sector, and any other industry where data logging is required
• Industrial environments and warehouses
• Any offices where printing is done infrequently

View thelatest dot matrix printers online now.

Multifunction printers

Multifunction printers, known also as all-in-one printers, are one of the most popular printing units found in offices today. Designed for simplicity and efficiency, these high-tech units offer a range of printing and copying features conveniently built into one machine. Best of all, buying one unit enables you to save both money and space – often, two of a business’s most precious commodities.

For companies that rely on digital technology, web-based interactions and the Internet on a daily basis, multifunction printers usually offer a homogenous printing solution to the hardcopy requirements of this type of communication.

Advantages of multifunction printers:

• Encompass several features in one unit: Printing and copying, as well as faxing and scanning
• Save money on purchasing and maintaining only one unit, instead of several
• Save space in the office
• Streamline copying and workflow processes
• When printing only in black, multifunction units offer faster print speeds and lower costs per page than single units

Ideal office usage for multifunction printers

• Large companies that require a centralised document production, management and distribution unit
• Offices that have space constraints, such as home businesses
• Companies that frequently make use of printing, copying, scanning and faxing technology
• Companies that make use of digital technology
• Any business hoping to reduce costs and maintenance requirements

Explore our range of multifunction printers, which offer a variety of features and advantages.

Laser printers

Laser printers are ideal for offices that have fairly substantial text-based printing requirements. This is because laser printers offer a professional finish whilst still remaining cost-effective – both to purchase and to run. Obviously, the more pages you’re printing per day, the faster you’d like your laser printer to be, and these units are available in varying output speeds.

Toner cartridges used in laser printers tend to last for longer than those found in other types of printers, and hence these units boast an impressive cost per page. Laser printers are available in both black-and-white and colour models.

Advantages of laser printers:

• Fast outputs
• Clear, crisp printouts
• Quick warm-up times
• Professional-quality printing
• Inexpensive to run, as toner cartridges are long-lasting and cheap to replace

Ideal office usage for laser printers:

• Small offices, such as home businesses
• Companies that require professional-looking printouts
• Offices that have fairly large printing requirements, or that require speedy print outputs
• Any office requires large amounts of high-quality printing at an affordable cost

Browse Pansolutions range of laser printers online now, or contact us today for a professional analysis of your company’s unique printing or business systems needs.