Evaluating color laser printers 27
the hard costs of supplies. A number of elements designed into the HP Color LaserJet 5550 series
printer contribute to significant cost savings over time.
Evaluation
A printer’s value consists of more than just purchase price and the cost of supplies. Consider the
following factors:
• Initial purchase price, including enough memory to print complex documents in the highest print
quality mode, plus any accessories needed in the office or workgroup environment (such as an
internal print server, wireless options, an automatic two-sided printing unit, or paper trays).
Note To ensure accurate comparisons between printers, be sure to compare street prices (or what
you would actually pay) instead of list prices.
• Warranty and service costs. (What is the standard warranty? Are upgraded service plans
available?)
• Printer expandability. (Does the printer support additional features?)
• 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 media costs. (Does the printer require special media? Can recycled media 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.
• Take note of whether special media 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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