Printers most of the time are taken for granted. Usually our goal is to buy a relatively decent or top of the line PC or laptop then just settle for whatever printer that comes with it. This usually happens for most of us. I for one thought all printers are the same; but in reality and technically, they are not.
A printer is a device attached to a computer that produces permanent readable texts or graphics. Simple as it may seem, advancements in technology had led to the creation of different types of printers varying in price, function and performance. Knowing which one is best for you depends on your needs.
So, for those who may not now much or just don’t know the difference, join me as I explore the different types of printers categorized according to its printing methods starting with the oldest printing technology, the Dot Matrix/Impact Matrix printers.
Dot Matrix printers were popular in the 70’s and 80’s. It basically prints much like a typewriter. Texts and images are produced when a print head (composed of tiny wire pins) runs back and forth striking an ink-soaked ribbon against a paper.
It may be jurassic for some, but these printers can be durable and since it prints on impact or with pressure, it can print multi-sheet forms in a single pass and it can create carbon copies. This capability is something that other printers do not have, that is why they still exist up to now. They are mainly used for printing purchase orders, labels, invoices, etc.
Next is the most popular and what is usually found on most homes, the inkjet (bubble jet) printer. Inkjet printers are relatively cheap although replacement ink cartridges can be a bit pricey. These types of printers spray extremely small drops of ink on to a paper to create an image. These drops of ink are exceedingly small.
They are even tinier than a human hair. These small drops or dots can have different colors mixed together to create photo-quality images. They can deliver high-resolution images or superb quality prints that can match the quality of a laser printer.
Inkjet printers have hundreds of uses; from just basic office applications like printing of letters or spreadsheets, flyers or color sheets; printing holiday greeting cards or gift tags; even printing high-quality pictures that you can share to friends and families.
It can even print on iron on papers so that you can design and print then transfer on to shirts, caps and other stuff. Because of its multipurpose printing ability, it is the most common and so far the best choice for use in small businesses or home offices.
A type of printer similar to the technology of a photocopier is the laser printer. With the use of electrical charges, a laser beam copies the document on to a “drum”. When the drum is charged, it is rolled in to a toner (a dry, powdery type of ink).
The toner sticks to the charged image on the drum and is transferred to a piece of paper. With heat and pressure, the toner is fused to the paper. With considerable speed, a laser printer can rapidly produce high-quality text and graphics on paper. This is a perfect choice for big time business applications because it can generate crisp, high-resolution text.
It has a wider range of uses as from a simple postcard printing, printing of promotional materials, signs and banners up to printing of book covers. Laser printers are much more expensive than an inkjet printer, however, most laser toner cartridges lasts a long time; so basically, for medium to large print runs, laser printers are more cost effective.
At present, multifunction printers are gaining popularity. These are inkjet or laser printers that are combined with fax, copier and scanner capabilities.
They can be used for home and small business. It is a practical purchase if you actually do use all the other three functions. It will come less expensive than buying all devices separately. A note of caution though, you may have all functions but you can only do one operation at a time.
Doing things simultaneously is not possible and if the device breaks, you may lose all the other functions at the same time. Also, since this one machine has many roles, don’t expect scans and prints to be as sharp and vibrant; nevertheless most users are satisfied.
So, with all these information, have you decided which printer suites you? There are actually more types; but all of the above are the most common and the most popular ones in the market and buying one of your own should depend on your needs. Choosing the right one for you makes it worth the value.
