And if you have Macintosh users on your token-ring network, you'll need all the proper support options. In addition to the network connection, your color printer should have a serial or parallel port because these give you greater connectivity options. For example, if a user needs a coax connection to attach to the mainframe and the printer's network adapter does not support coax, you can attach the printer to an external device with coax connectivity via the parallel or serial port. Additionally, the ability to connect a laptop to the color printer directly is very convenient in those instances when network connectivity for the laptop is not possible. Each has its pluses and minuses regarding cost, performance and quality.
Laser printing is the most common technology used by network color printers.
Color laser printers offer good performance for color printing and excellent performance for monochrome printing. A color laser printer's monochrome print speed can be up to two to three times faster than its color output speed. Color laser printers also have a fairly high duty cycle, making them ideal network printers. But they are not without drawbacks. First, color laser printers have more user-replaceable items, such as four toner cartridges, a developing drum and a toner waste bottle.