Laser printers have become the standard for both text listings and
graphics. The advantages are numerous. They produce clear text, are
quiet, and are faster than the mechanical printers they have
replaced.
There are disadvantages to laser printers, however. To start with, they cost more than mechanical printers. Furthermore, laser printers use similar printing engines to those used in copiers, and just as copiers require frequent and sometimes costly maintenance, so do laser printers. Finally, since laser printers produce quick copies of book-like quality, they are open to misuse when treated as copiers or libraries.