[_Lisa_]

First of all, don't buy a color laser if you want print quality. Inkjet printers will always have a better quality for photographs. The highest resolution currently being offered (Lexmark, HP, Canon, & Epson) is 4800 x 1200 dpi (dots per inch.) Most likely, if you have an old inkjet, you are only using 600 x 600 dpi or 1200 x 1200 dpi. Also, when printing photographs, to use the highest quality your printer offers you should use photograph paper (i.e. glossy or coated paper) which color laser printers will NOT support.

Also, color laser printers will usually only offer 2400 Image Quality 'cause they can't offer a true 2400 x 2400 dpi. 2400 Image Quality is where they scatter the dots per inch instead of having exactly 2400 dots across vs. 2400 dots down. The best color lasers will offer a true 1200 x 1200 dpi.

There are many high volume inkjet printers (all inkjet printers will print in color assuming you have a color cartridge installed) so when looking to purchase one make sure you pick a printer with a high duty cycle. Anything that estimates over 5000 pages per month is a good idea.

Now, if you insist on purchasing a color laser for photographs look for the highest resolution you can. ASK if the printer will support photograph paper (and I don't mean asking the salesman, call the company of the printer you are looking to purchase), and don't forget that toner cartridges will be much more costly than an inkjet cartridge, but since its powder & not ink it will not evaporate so it'll last you longer. And oh yeah, you'll have to buy 4 toner cartridges (black, yellow, magenta, & cyan) as opposed to usually just 2 ink cartridges (black & color, which could potentially dry out over time if not used often.)

If you have any other questions or would like help making/narrowing down a selection just ask!