Just a couple of decades ago, no one could have thought that such office devices, like printers, would become part of almost any home computer over time. The emergence of inkjet printing models with an incredibly low cost has seriously shaken the position of "veterans" - matrix printing devices.
And other modifications have fallen in price. As a result, there was a situation when a printer is purchased when buying a personal computer or laptop. This is where the first difficulty arises, since the future owner does not know what printers are. After all, the price is just one of many characteristics, and not always the most important. Of course, you can ask a consultant in the store, but in order for him to tell you what types of printers exist, you need time, which, for obvious reasons, he does not have. In such a situation, a person chooses one of two extremes - he buys the cheapest or most expensive model (for which there is enough money). That is why various types of printers with burnt out nozzles and damaged printheads are sold on the pages of online auction houses at
bargain prices . Also often near the home computer you can see an expensive model of a printing device, most of the functions of which the user is simply not used.
Thus, you can make the best choice only if you know what types of printers exist. In fact, there are few of them, and remembering a huge list is not required.
Next, we list the main types of printers. All of them can be divided into several groups: matrix devices, inkjet, laser. Sometimes they mention another group, which includes a sublimation printer. These models use thermal printing technology when a solid-state dye is fixed in the structure of the material by heating.
Some of the simplest are matrix ones. They appeared first, therefore they are practically spared from “childhood diseases”. The principle of operation is simple: there are thin needles in the print head controlled by miniature electromagnets. Between the head and the paper is a ribbon, almost the same as in typewriters. Each hit of the needle forms a point from which any image or symbol can be created. Disadvantages of the technology: print speed is too slow, the inability to display pictures in color (although there are compromises, for example, the LX-300), noise during operation. Cash registers use precisely matrix types of printing devices.
All these disadvantages are completely resolved in inkjet printers. In them, the needles are replaced by a series of microsops, from which microdroplets of liquid ink are “squeezed” onto paper with pressure or high temperature.
The noise level is significantly reduced, the print speed has increased several times. In addition, inkjet models are the most profitable acquisition for outputting color images. However, they also have disadvantages. So, with prolonged non-use, the ink in the nozzles dries up, and the device requires service. The cost of replaceable ink cartridges is quite high, so external printers of ink supply systems are often installed on such printers.
Laser technology has unsurpassed printing speed, high resistance of prints to moisture, a significant cartridge resource. In such printers, special coloring powder is fixed on paper by temperature exposure. Preliminary character formation is carried out by a laser beam.