Printers
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Printers
Printers are devices that replicate text or graphics stored in electronic forms onto media such as paper or transparencies. They are peripherals and are mostly used locally through printer or USB cables. Modern printers often have built-in network interfaces that allow them to be used wirelessly.
The design of individual printers can support both local and network users simultaneously. Some printers have fax machines, as well as scanning and photocopying functions, which make them multifunctional. Consumer printers are used for short printing jobs and require very little setup time to receive copies. They are very slow devices with a high cost per page. Commercial printers, however, are widely used for high-volume, professional printing. The cost per page is much lower, and their printing time is exceptionally fast.
Because of the improvement of printer quality and performance, professional printing is now done on local printers instead of in professional print shops. Increasingly commonplace are digital photo printers, which are replacing the process of photofinishing. The advancement of printers has allowed most consumer and commercial needs to be accomplished either at home or in the office, which has lessened printing costs and allowed more freedom with images and text.
For more information on printers, click on the links on the left of this page. Business.com has the answers for you.
Computer Printers Key Terms
Learn terms to know what types of printers are available before you buyBy Autumn Rivers, Lead Copywriter Webflo Studios If you are considering buying a new computer printer for your office, make sure you are aware of what is on the market first. This is especially important if you plan to outfit your entire office with new printers. If the last time you bought a printer was years ago, you might be surprised how much things have changed in the printer industry. Knowing the technology and benefits behind each type of printer will help you make an informed decision. Learning a few key terms will help you save money and time by buying the perfect printer for your office the first time around.
Inkjet printer
An inkjet printer works by shooting ink droplets onto paper. Its affordability and the reasonable speed with which it prints make it popular for most consumers.
Try: Visit Castle Ink for an explanation of the inkjet printer, along with a lesson about its history.
Laser printer
A laser printer uses static electricity to transfer ink to paper. It is known for being fast and accurate, but it is slightly more expensive than an inkjet printer.
Try: Webopedia explains what a laser printer is and how it works.
Thermal printer
A thermal printer does not need ink to work, as it uses heat to transfer images. However, it does need either heat-sensitive paper or a special ribbon. A thermal printer is often used in point of sale systems, so many receipts from retail stores and restaurants are printed using one. One downside is that the printed images do not last long.
Try: Point of Sale Supply provides details about the available types of thermal printers.
Dot matrix printer
A dot matrix printer uses older technology to create an image out of several dots printed together. It is cheaper than laser and inkjet printers, but also known for having lower quality.
Try: Find a thorough definition of dot matrix printers at electronics-manufacturers.com.
Multifunction printer
A multifunction printer can print, scan, photocopy and even fax, depending on the model. A multifunction printer is often referred to as an all-in-one printer. This type of machine saves consumers money since it is a jack of all trades, but it typically does not perform any one function particularly well.
Try: Tech-FAQ gives an explanation of multifunction printers and their uses.
Photo printer
Though any printer can technically print pictures, a photo printer is specifically designed to print high-quality pictures quickly. The popularity of photo printers has increased with the advent of digital cameras since people prefer to print their own photos.
Try: PCMag provides extensive details about photo printers.
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