A printer is a standard computing peripheral connected to a computer for transferring electronic data (text or any graphic designs) into hard copies. 2D printers are generally used in offices and other sectors for printing greeting cards and other documents. Printers are filled with specific inks that convert data onto paper.
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Types of Printers:
The printers are further classified into two categories, depending on the printed image, whether it is printed by striking the ink ribbon on paper or not. The two types of printers are:
- Impact printers
- Non-impact printers
First, we’ll talk about the impact printers.
1.IMPACT PRINTERS
Impact printers shape photographs and text documents by hitting the paper with an ink ribbon. For printing purposes, the impact printer uses a character dye and printing hammer and is relatively slow. These printers produce a noisy environment during printing since they are holding so many components.
One common example of an impact printer is:
Ø Dot Matrix Printer
A Dot Matrix Printer, known as (DMP), is a printer that uses pins explicitly to print the ink ribbon. Various pin combinations are used in this printer to print different characters that stop them from printing high-quality images and text but can print multiple copies at a time. Dot Matrix printer ppm is approximately 20 pages, and it requires a continuous supply of papers.
Following are some dot matrix printer advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
- Printers are cheap.
- Continuous use of papers.
- Low maintenance cost.
Disadvantages:
- The output is not high resolution.
- Creates so noise while printing.
- The density of barcodes is low.
- These printers are outdated.
2. Non-Impact Printers:
Non-impact printers are those types of printers that shape images and text without direct contact between the paper and the ink ribbon. These printers use a toner or liquid ink cartridge, which helps them in creating high-quality images. These printers are much quicker and quieter than the impact printers.
Some examples of non-impact printers are:
Ø Laser Printers
One of the most popular non-impact printers is laser printers, which produce sharp and narrow images using an electrical charge and laser. These printer’s dpi resolution ranges from 300 to 1200. Instead of using liquid inks, the laser printer uses powdered elements for printing. The print quality of a laser printer is not comparable with any ordinary printer. They can be utilized as printers for greeting cards because of mass production.
Common advantages and disadvantages of a laser printer is:
Advantages:
- Fast printing speed.
- Suitable for mass printing.
- Good graphics quality.
- Efficiency is very high.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive components.
- The color cartridge is expensive.
- High maintenance cost.
- Very bulky and hard to repair.
Ø Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are a type of non-impact printer which uses inkjet technology for the printing process. This printer sprays ionized ink on the paper from its metal plates and produces a document or an image. With the aid of vibrant colors, high-quality images are created. They are the most affordable non-impact printers.
Some advantages and disadvantages of an inkjet printer are:
Advantages:
- Printers are inherently quiet.
- Quick starters
- They don’t require much space.
Disadvantages:
- The durability of the print head is less.
- The ink cartridge is expensive.
- Slow in printing.
- Not suitable for mass production.
Comparison Between Inkjet and Laser Printer
Inkjet vs. Laser Printer:
Which one should you get? Many users get confused and ask the same question because both of these printers offer a high-quality resolution at a tremendous speed, but there are some minor differences. Don’t worry; we have compared both of these non-impact printers and put together a comparison table.
| Inkjet Printer | Laser Printer |
| Inkjet uses ink cartridges for the printing process. | It uses toner cartridges for printing purposes. |
| Maintenance costs are affordable than Laser printers. | Maintenance costs are much expensive than Inkjet printers. |
| Inkjet printers are easy to store as they are compact. | Laser printers are large, and they require a designated area. |
| Refilling the paper often slows down the speed of the Inkjet printer. | The printing process is relatively faster than the Inkjet. |
Difference Between Laser Printer and Dot Matrix
Are you still wondering about which printer is best laser inkjet or dot matrix? We have prepared a comparison table to guide you on the difference between dot matrix printer, inkjet printer, and laser printer.
Here’s a comparison between matrix printer and laser printer.
| Dot Matrix Printer | Laser Printer |
| It prints and forms images by contacting the print wheel to a ribbon. | Prints images without contacting the paper. |
| The printing process is much slower than the laser printer. | The printer speed is much faster than Dot Matrix Printer. |
| It creates noise during the printing process. | There’s no noise during the printing process. |
| It includes Line and Serial matrix. | It includes Black and White and Color Vibrant printers. |
Difference Between Dot Matrix and Inkjet Printer:
Some users have this question: dot matrix and inkjet printer are which type of printer and what differences they have? Here are some of the differences:
| Dot Matrix Printer | Inkjet Printer |
| Dot Matrix cannot form a high-quality image due to low dpi. | Inkjet printers can produce high quality and great resolution images. |
| Dot Matrix is capable of achieving faster speed but not more than Inkjet. | Inkjets are faster than Dot Matrix when it comes to printing document text. |
| Dot Matrix is noisy as it involves thousands of pins. | Most Inkjet printers are quiet in the printing process as they are good for office use. |
| These printers cost thousands of dollars on the entry-level. | These printers are much affordable than the Dot Matrix. |
Final Verdict:
This entire article concludes that if you are looking to buy a printer for your office environment, impact printers would not be your choice because they create too much noise during the printing process. Non-impact printers such as lasers and inkjets, on the other hand, are expensive; however, by producing high-resolution images and documents, they make it up to the mark.
