Does Epson Make a LaserJet?

by Steve Lander
Determining the right printer depends on how you're going to use it.


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LaserJet is a trademarked term that HP uses to refer to its line of laser printers. As such, while many companies make laser printers, only HP can actually call it a LaserJet. As of the date of publication, Epson has ceased making laser printers altogether. However, Epson has a line of business-oriented inkjets that, according to the company, offer comparable or superior print quality, speed and consumable cost to laser printers from other manufacturers.

Color LaserJet Equivalent

Businesses considering a Color LaserJet all-in-one printer can also look at Epson's WorkForce Pro WP-4590 printer. While it uses an inkjet system for printing, it achieves real-world speeds of 5.7 pages per minute and can interface with a computer using both HP's Page Control Language and Adobe's PostScript language. Its printing costs as estimated by are also lower than many color laser printers at 1.6 cents for a black-and-white page and 6.8 cents for a full-color page.

Monochrome LaserJet Equivalent

Epson's WF-M1560 Monochrome Multifunction Printer is a relative rarity -- a black-and-white inkjet printer. Designed to compete with low-cost office black-and-white all-in-ones, it offers the same features as a LaserJet but without the lasers and toner. Epson claims that its ink costs 60 percent less per page than toner for a comparable laser printer and rates it to print up to 34 ppm in its draft mode.

Large-Format LaserJet Equivalent

Epson also makes small office oriented large-format printers. These printers also offer laser-comparable speed and image quality but with one big difference. Printers like the WorkForce WF-7520 can print larger-than-tabloid 13-by-19-inch pages. While this format works well for digital photography, the printer also makes an 11-by-17 page with printing right to the edge -- called a full bleed -- and trim it back.

Countering LaserJet Benefits

While Epson's printers are inkjets, they have solved some of the technology's problems. Testing conducted by indicates that these printers can generate text that is readable at very small sizes like 6 points. Reproducing text this small usually requires a laser printer. Epson's WorkForce printers also use pigment-based inks that have much better durability and water and smudge resistance than traditional dye-based inkjet inks. This also makes them more comparable to laser printers.

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