While the technology has been around for many years, solid ink printing has only recently begun gaining ground in office environments.  Compared to laser printer toner cartridges, solid ink has both advantages and disadvantages.  Here, we will compare the two technologies to see which may better suit your specific needs.

Solid ink technology uses solid blocks of ink as opposed to the powder-based toner used by laser printers.  These ink blocks or ink sticks are melted into a reservoir and then sprayed onto the drum for transferring to the page. 

One main advantage of solid ink is that it tends to be much less expensive than toner.  This is due in part to the fact that ink sticks do not require a cartridge, so their manufacturing costs are lower.

Solid ink is also more eco-friendly for a number of reasons.  First, since solid ink sticks require no cartridge, there is nothing to be thrown away or wasted when the ink stick is consumed, unlike traditional toner cartridges.  Solid ink is also made from more eco-friendly materials, which are mostly non-toxic, making them less harmful for both humans and the environment.  Lastly, solid ink is often more adaptable to printing on recycled paper than laser toner.

Laser toner has advantages over solid ink technology, however.  Laser prints tend to be more durable than solid ink prints.  In some cases, solid ink prints can be scraped off the page with a fingernail or other sharp object.  Laser toner also requires less warmup time than solid ink, as ink sticks must be warmed for a longer period to ensure they are properly melted before printing.

While comparing print quality between the two technologies is a somewhat subjective process, they are fairly equally matched on this subject.  Solid ink sticks are sometimes perceived as being more vibrant, while laser prints are often perceived as being sharper. 

Overall, there is never a single solution for every user.  Users comparing the two technologies should take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each in order to make an informed decision about which technology suits their particular needs.