Types of Printers in Computer

7 Types of Printers in Computer – Advantages/Disadvantages

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Types of Printer: Introduction

A printer is an output device. It prints text and graphics on paper. Printed information, which exists physically is called a hard copy.

There are too many different types of printers in computer that are used, some of the most common are Inkjet, dot matrix and etc.

This is a device that is used to print the data from a computer or any other device in form of (Text, images, graphs, etc) on paper, printing any document by using this is very easy and time-saving and officially called printout.

The speed of any printer is measured by PPM (page per minute) or CPS (characters per seconds) and also you have the option to take printouts in color or in black and white, Obviously, the color prints are costly than black and white prints.

A hard copy or printout can have a portrait or landscape orientation. A page that is taller and less wide, with information printed across the shorter width of the paper is said to be in portrait orientation.

A page that is more wide than tall, with information printed across the widest part of the paper is said to be in landscape orientation.

Letters, reports, and books typically use portrait orientation. Spreadsheets, slideshow, and graphics often use landscape orientations.

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Invention

Before the first invention, no one can think that how many types of printers in computers can be invented but now there are too many types.

No one knows that who invented the first printer but it officially comes in front of us in 1450 by Johannes Gutenberg named the Gutenberg press. (History.com).

Types of Printers in Computer

But the first electronic printer was introduced by Epson in 1968 called the Dot matrix, after that in 1969 Xerox introduces another in form of a Laser device.

Types of Printers in Computer

  • Dot-matrix
  • Inkjet
  • Laser
  • LED
  • Multifunction
  • Plotter
  • 3D
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In this article, you are going to read about the top 8 types of printers in computer.

After knowing about all the types now you became a little bit confused that which is the best option for you so don’t worry, in this article we will give you all answers related to your queries.

Some are specially made for home and some are made for offices, Home computers users might print a hundred or fewer pages per week.

Small business computer users might print several hundred pages per day while some are made to do all work like printing, scanning is only made for big enterprises.

To meet this range of printing needs, different printers exist with varying speeds, capabilities, and printing methods according to their price category.

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Types of printers in computers

Dot-matrix

A dot-matrix device produces low-quality images or graphics. inside a dot-matrix, a print head containing small, blunt pins strikes an inked ribbon.

Speed ranges from 200 to 400 characters per second (CPS), which is about 90 to 180 Line per minute (LPM).

This is useful for printing multipart from pages (that is, carbon copies), which are not used in other printers.

Advantages

  • Printing cost is low
  • Maintenance cost is low
  • Easily available in the market at a decent price.
  • No problem with dust, or moist atmosphere

Disadvantages

  • Very slow printing with Low quality
  • Low consistency, Not used constantly for one hour
  • Dot-matrix produces more noise
  • maintenance cost is low but needs more servicing.

Inkjet Printer

An inkjet produces high-quality images and graphics. this printer has a print head that sprays ink through small nozzles onto a page.

Inkjet produces text and graphics in both black-and-white and color on a variety of paper types.

Inkjet printers can also print envelopes, labels, index cards, and greetings on paper. due to their cost-effectiveness and better quality print. inkjet becomes the first choice color printer in homes.

Inkjet used ink stored in cartridges when the cartridges run out of ink, you can simply replace the cartridges.

The speed of an inkjet is measured by PPM (pages per minute). the printer resolution is measured by the number of dots per inch (DPI). The higher the dpi, the better the print quality.

Advantages

  • Print quality is very good with High speed ( print 1-8 pages per minute)
  • Relatively cheaper than other
  • Easy to use
  • Less noise than a dot-matrix

Disadvantages

  • Cartridges cost is high
  • Only made for personal use, long print jobs may difficult for inkjet
  • slow printing if more than one pages are needed
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Laser Printer

Laser printers are the types of printers in a computer that uses laser technology which produces very sharp and complete character images on paper.

It is a high-speed device that produces good results. the laser can print text and graphics in very high-quality resolutions, usually 1200 dots per inch (DPI) for the black and white prints and up to 2400 DPI for color prints. The best printer between the above both.

A laser is faster than inkjets, small office users can print black and white text at a speed of 15 to 62 pages per minute (PPM), color laser printer print 8 to 40 PPM.

Advantages

  • Faster than Dot-matrix and inkjet devices
  • Print quality is also good because DPI is between 1200 to 2400
  • No noise during printing
  • printout is not sensitive to water

Disadvantages

  • Require warmup time
  • Expensive to buy than the other two
  • Toner is expensive than inkjet cartridges
  • Maintenance cost is high

LED Printer

Led printers to look like laser, Led use a Light-emitting diode (array) as a light source to print images, text, or graphics. They are more convenient and reliable than the laser of their moving parts.

Also, they print faster than laser that given an advantage over laser. Some most popular and best LED printers are made by OKI.

Advantages

  • Cheaper than laser.
  • Cost-effective than a laser printer
  • Efficient and more reliable

Disadvantages

Not better images quality than laser

Multifunction ( All in One printer)

The ability to do multiple works like printing, copying, scanning, and faxing makes it a multifunction printer, only one printer for all small businesses and big enterprises.

This type of machine also enhances the productivity of the worker. Multifunction (MFP) is the one-stop solution for those who don’t need too many different devices for different works.

Advantages

  • Cost-effective than buying too many devices for different work
  • Also saves your office area because of their compatible build quality
  • made to do all tasks like printing, copying, faxing and also works as a scanner
  • Easy to use and maintenance
  • Consumes less power

Disadvantage

  • You can do only one task at a time, this is the major drawback of the multifunction printer because if you have multiple devices for different works you can easily do your work but in this device, you have to wait for the user to complete their work then you can start yours.

Plotter

A plotter is also a printer but designed for printing vector graphics instead of pictures, by individual dots per inch on paper, plotter makes or draws continuous lines and this becomes ideal for printing CAD drawings, engineering designs, high-quality drawings, circuit diagrams, and banner advertisements. the plotter is the following three types:

  • Drum Plotter- Drum plotter is also known as roller plotter. it consists of a drum or roller on which paper is placed and the drum rotates back and forth to produce the graph on paper.
  • Flatbed Plotter– A flatbed plotter is also known as a table plotter. it plots on paper that is spread and fixed over a rectangular flatbed table.
  • Inkjet plotter- At the low-cost end of the plotter market are inkjet plotter. The inkjet uses jets of ink in place of ink pens.

3D Printer

There are too many different types of printers in computers are available in the market but 3D (3 dimensional) printouts are the most exciting technology comes in the printing sector. 3D printing gives high-quality graphics in front of us.

Firstly 3D devices are only available for large enterprises but now it becomes cheaper and available in the market for customers. Like all the traditional devices, they receive data in form of digital and make a 3d model in case of printing on paper.

Advantages

  • Speed is very good in the case of making 3d models
  • Quality of 3D models is high
  • possibilities are limitless

Disadvantages

  • Technology is not fully developed
  • Cost is high in front of traditional printers

Difference Between 3D and 2D (traditional printers)

There are many different types of printers in computers are available but there are only two categories, 3D and 2D are available in the market and now you are going to read the difference between the traditional and 3D.

Today almost everyone knows about the traditional printer but most of them have don’t have too much idea about the 3D printer and don’t know how the 3d machines work.

Traditional machines print the data on paper in form of text or pictures but on the other hand, 3d machines make 3d models. You already read about the types of printers in computers ( 2D) now let’s see the types of 3D printers.

  • Stereolithography (SLA)
  • Digital light processing (DLP)
  • Fused deposition modeling (FDM)
  • Selective laser sintering (SLS)
  • Selective laser melting (SLM)
  • Electronic beam melting (EBM)
  • Laminated object manufacturing (LOM)
  • Binder jetting (BJ)
  • Material Jetting (MJ)

Characteristics of a good printer

There are many different types of printers in computers are available in the market so here are some characteristics of a good printer, that can solve your queries before buying a printer.

Print Quality– We already discussed above that print quality is depends on Dots per inch (DPI), higher DPI indicates better quality. so if you need any printer that gives you clearer and high-quality prints look at those options that have higher DPI.

Speed– Page per minute (PPM) indicates the speed of the printer that how many pages a printer can print in a minute. PPM may be different according to the document, like if you want black and white print then the PPM is 10 but if you want a color print then the PPM is reduced by 5. So if you want to print a higher number of pages then first look at the speed of the machine.

Cost- The cost of any device plays a very important role, Don’t go for any cheaper option because of its costs you more than the expensive one, because of their ink bottles or cartridges. Cheaper machines use more ink than decent range machines and in long run it costs you double. so always choose a decent printer not go for a cheaper one.

Paper handling- A good one is capable of handling your all paper needs and should be increased, some normal printer has a capacity of a maximum of 200 pages, so choose a good one.

But it all matters when you decide that what kind of work you have to do with your device if you need a device for normal home usage you don’t need high speed, high page handling, you only need a decent print quality and that is enough for you, but if you have to purchase a printer for a small business check the speed, print quality, as well as your budget then go to any kind of decision.

It all depends on you that what is the need for a device for you if you understand your need you can easily buy a good one for your home or small business.

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