Color inkjets have been popular for SOHO applications, but if color is a necessity for business, color laser printers are more suited to the high-volume needs. Although the color laser printers have a higher initial purchase price and consumables cost, the cost per page is lower than for color inkjets. Color laser printers are expected to have robust sales growth. The CAGR is 14.3 percent for revenue and 36.6 percent for units. More color lasers will go into the SOHO market as prices decline.
Unit prices continue to decline for color laser printers.
A bill of materials for a typical color laser printer is shown on this page. Notably, the amount of Flash used per printer fluctuates as density migrations occur. Additionally, more DRAM will be required in 2002 and 2003 due to increased functionality. The number of Flash and other memory components shown per color laser printer remains flat between 1999 and 2003. Although not apparent in the table, the density requirements increase throughout the forecast period.