12 Evaluating color laser printers
Evaluation
Total cost of ownership is more than just purchase price and cost per page. To calculate the true
total cost of ownership, consider the following factors:
• Initial purchase price, including any accessories needed in a small workteam or home office
environment.
Note To ensure accurate comparisons between printers, be sure to compare street prices (or
what the customer actually pays) rather than list prices.
• Warranty and service costs.
• Energy consumption costs. (Some manufacturers require you to choose between fast warm-up
times and energy efficiency, while HP offers both.)
• Opportunity costs of outsourcing vs. in-house printing.
• User productivity costs. (How easy is it to learn to use the printer? How easy is it to print your
documents correctly?)
• Special paper costs. (Does the printer require special paper? Can recycled paper be used?)
• Supplies costs. (Do you have to purchase a starter kit? Does the printer come with
demonstration supplies that have a reduced life? What does it cost, in both expense and
downtime, to replace supplies?)
• Cost per page.
It is difficult for end-users to calculate the cost per page due to many variables. Therefore,
many manufacturers provide a cost per page calculation. When assessing cost per page, keep
the following in mind:
• Make sure the cost per page associated with a printer’s print sample represents that
sample. Some manufacturers may quote the cost of printing in a draft mode, when the
sample they give you is printed in their best mode, which requires more toner or ink.
• Ensure that costs are compared consistently among competitors. Many competitors quote
the cost of printing using prices for consumables that are lower than most consumers
actually pay.
• Take note of whether special paper is required for the print sample.
• Make sure all the supplies are included in the cost per page calculation and not hidden as
service items. Also, remember that supplies used during routine cleaning and warm-up
cycles are not always included in the supply’s yield, which directly affects cost.
• Watch for other hidden costs (such as unusable output, which wastes toner).
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