What are Different Types of Printers?
Almost every computer user occasionally wants a nice, crisp print-out from their PC without having to make a trip to a copy center. A home printer is a good long-term solution. But there are so many different types and styles of computer printers available on the market today that choosing one requires some research. Narrow down your options by assessing your needs and comparing the capabilities and costs of different types of printers.
Ink Jet
Ink jets spray liquid ink onto paper to form letters and images. On low-end machines, text is sometimes blurry or unclear due to low resolution, but many midrange ink jet printers produce excellent black and white text and graphics, and some higher-end machines can make excellent color photo images. Most ink jet printers can deliver 300 DPI resolution and are very quiet to operate.
Ink jet printers are the most popular printers for home use and are often the least expensive. Numerous models with decent image quality are available for less than $100, but the real cost comes when replacing ink cartridges, the price of which will far exceed that of the printer itself over time. The cost of ink jet printers ranges from less than $100 for low-end machines to $500 or more for photo-quality printers.
Laser
Laser printers are toner-based and make images in a fashion similar to photocopiers. The image is projected onto a rotating drum with a laser, which then electrically attracts powdered toner to the paper. Resolution for laser printers soars beyond ink jet capability with an industry average of 1200 DPI. Some professional machines can achieve 2400 DPI. This higher resolution results in very crisp text and line art. Laser printers can be black-and-white or color and are capable of producing copies very quickly.
Prices range from $90 for low-end black and white machines to $500 or more for color laser printers.
Dot Matrix
Dot matrix printers were the first type of printer offered to the consumer market, but they are still around due to their ruggedness and ease of use. A print head sweeps across the surface of the page while tiny pins punch through an ink ribbon, much like an old-fashioned typewriter. Images and text are assembled line by line and dot by dot, so dot matrix printers are not nearly as fast as other types of printers, nor is the resolution anywhere near as good. Additionally, these printers can be quite loud. However, they are easy to maintain.
Prices range from $200 for low-end machines to $700 or more for heavy-duty high-output printers. Maintenance and replacement ink ribbons are usually inexpensive.
Photo
For photography enthusiasts who want a printer that can output 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10 photos on glossy stock, there are numerous photo-specific printers available. Pre-sized photo paper can be purchased so no cutting or trimming is necessary, and many printers will allow photos to be accessed directly from the memory card inside the digital camera. The best photo printers allow individual ink colors to be replaced as necessary, and some have additional ink colors for more accurate reproduction. These printers are often slow, but the results can be stunning.
Prices are similar to those of medium-range ink jet printers, from about $200 to $600 or more, depending on the quality.
Multifunction
Instead of getting 18 different office machines with specific functions, many consumers are opting for multifunction machines that do numerous jobs at once. Multifunction printers bring together all the most popular office functions-copying, printing, scanning, faxing, phoning-into one handy machine. While these machines are convenient and space-saving, multifunction printers are not known to excel in any one area. Rather, they do everything pretty well. However, that may be all you need.
Prices range from slightly more than $100 to about $300, depending on the included features.
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