Printer : What is it?
 A printer is a computer peripheral used to produce hard copies of computer documents and images. It is designed to feed paper or transparencies to transfer the image from a print head. It can print both text and images in monochrome or color, depending on the printer and ink used. It is attached to a computer via USB, parallel, or serial cables. Some models are integrated with fax machines or support direct interface with digital cameras, scanners, and removable memory. |
Kinds of Printers include the following:
Laser printer A laser printer uses laser beams and toner to burn images onto the paper. The toner sticks to a light-sensitive print drum and is transferred to the paper using heat and pressure. It is more expensive than other printer types, but it prints faster and has lower operating costs. It is available in both color and monochrome. Inkjet printer An inkjet printer uses ink cartridges that spray small ink droplets onto the printing medium. It is cheaper than the laser printer, but it uses more expensive ink and has higher printing costs. Some models are designed specifically for photo printing. These printers have much higher resolutions and use multiple color cartridges. It has a slower print rate and tends to operate noisily. The printed paper should be allowed to dry first before handling, as the ink easily smears. Thermal transfer printer A thermal transfer printer uses solid sticks of CMYK color ink, which are melted and fed into a piezoelectric crystal-operated printhead. It is usually box-shaped and bulky and used in large offices and local networks. It is ideal for printing on transparencies and other nonporous media. The most common type of thermal transfer printer is the solid ink printer. Dye-sublimation printer The dye-sublimation printer uses heat to transfer dye to paper, plastic cards, or canvas. It lays color one at a time using a ribbon with color panels. It is used in high-quality color printing applications such as color photography. It is not recommend for printing text documents. |
Connectivity: Look for a wireless printer that can operate without a printer cable for easier handling, placement, and portability. Network capability: Look for a printer that can be connected to a network or Ethernet hub, which allows it to serve several computers at once. |
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