Computer Printers
Computer Printers > Printer Mfgs
A computer printer is a device that allows you to convert your soft copy
— that copy seen on your computer — into a hard copy on a
piece of paper or transparency film. Whether you are looking for a
computer printer for home use or are looking to print out hundreds of
pages per day at your business, there's a computer printer that will suit
your needs.
Ink-jet printers form their characters and graphics by spraying bursts of ink onto paper. Documents can be printed in both black-and-white and color, and on a variety of paper including ink-jet paper, photo paper, glossy paper, or banner paper. Ink-jet printers are a common choice for home computers or for businesses that have minimal printing needs, because of their minimal cost.
One of the things that determines an ink-jet printer's quality is its resolution, which is measured in dots per inch, or dpi. Printers with higher dpi are clearer and more sharp, and are generally more expensive. Most ink-jet printers range from 300 to 2400 dpi. Ink-jet printers generally are able to print between three and 19 pages per minute.
A photo printer is able to
print photo lab-quality pictures in a variety
of sizes. Some photo printers that use ink-jet technology can also
be used to print other types of documents, making them a good companion
to people who want to have only one type of printer hooked up to their
computers. These types of printers can print directly from the
computer. Other photo printers have a built-in card slot that
allows digital photos to be printed directly from a media card.
A laser printer is a high-speed, high-quality printer generally used in situations where frequent output of high-resolution documents is necessary. Printer manufacturers offer both black-and-white and color laser printer models. Laser printers generally have a dpi of 600 to 2400, and can print between nine and 30 pages per minute. Some extremely high-quality laser printers used in the office can print up to 150 pages per minute. Laser printers are significantly more expensive than ink-jet printers.
Thermal printers generate copy by pushing electrically heated pins
against heat-sensitive paper. One positive aspect regarding thermal
printers is that they are very inexpensive. However, their print
quality is also low compared to that of other printers, and the images on
the paper are subject to fading over time.
Portable printers are designed to connect to a laptop or other mobile computer, and allow the user to print while traveling. These printers are small enough to fit into a briefcase, and mostly use ink-jet or thermal technologies. They can be attached to the computer via USB port or by wireless device.
Plotters and large-format printers are computer peripherals that are used by graphic designers, architects, engineers, and others printing items on large paper. These types of printers are commonly used to produce blueprints, maps, and circuit drawings.