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Different Types of Printers
This article contains merits, demerits, and many more about different types of printers (hard copy output device). Before reading about this topic, I recommend reading about Computer Hardware, as printers are also a kind of computer hardware.
Differences Between Impact and Non-Impact Printer
| Impact Printer | Non-Impact Printer |
| Impact printer uses an electromechanical mechanism that causes hammers or pins to strike against a ribbon and paper to print the text. | The non-Impact printer does not use electro-mechanical printing rather it uses thermal, chemical, electrostatic, laser beam, or inkjet technology for printing the text and images. |
| The efficiency of the impact printer is less as compared to a non-impact printer because it uses electrical energy (external force) which is further converted into heat and sound. | It has higher efficiency because electrical energy is not wasted. |
| It is slow while printing. | It is fast while printing. |
| It uses force for printing and produces more sound while printing. | It does not use force and hence produces less sound while printing. |
| It cannot print graphics perfectly. | It can print graphics perfectly. |
| It can produce multiple copies at the same time using carbon paper. | It cannot produce multiple copies at the same time. Each paper has to be printed out separately. |
| It is usually single-colored. | It can be single or multi-colored. |
| It uses an ink ribbon for printing. | It uses liquid or powder ink for printing. |
| It is rarely used at present. | It is popularly used at present. |
| Example: Dot Matrix printer, Electronic typewriter, Daisy Wheel printer, Line Printer. | Example: Ink jet printer, Laser printer, thermal printer. |
Dot Matrix Printer
Merits of Dot Matrix Printer
- It can print both images and text of any size or font.
- It is cheaper and has a low operating cost.
- It can print multiple copies at the same time using carbon paper.
- It is appropriate for small volume printing.
Demerits of Dot Matrix Printer
- It is noisy and slower.
- It has low printing quality.
- It is single-colored.
Daisy Wheel Printer
Merits of Daisy Wheel Printer
- It has better [rinting quality than dot matrix printer.
- It can print multiple copies at the same time using carbon paper.
Demerits of Daisy Wheel Printer
- It is noisy and slower.
- It has low printing quality compared to non-impact printers.
- It is single-colored.
- It cannot print images. It can print the only text of fixed size and font.
- It is not appropriate for large volume printing.
Line Printer
Merits of Line Printer
- It can print a complete line of text at a time. So, it is faster for printing.
- It is appropriate for continuous printing.
- It can print multiple copies at the same time using carbon paper.
Demerits of Line Printer
- It is noisy and slower.
- It has low printing quality compared to non-impact printers.
- It is single-colored.
- It cannot print images. It can print the only text of fixed size and font.
- It is usually expensive.
Inkjet Printer
Merits of Inkjet Printer
- It produces low noise and is faster for printing compared to impact printers.
- It is cheaper to buy.
- It is appropriate for low-volume printing.
- It can be single or multi-colored.
- It has better printing quality.
- It can print images and text of any size or font.
Demerits of Inkjet Printer
- It has an expensive operating cost due to expensive ink.
- It cannot print multiple copies at the same time.
- It is not appropriate for continuous printing.
Laser Printer
Merits of Laser Printer
- It produces low noise and is faster for printing compared to an impact printer.
- It has a low operating cost.
- It is appropriate for large volume printing.
- It can be single or multi-colored.
- It has better printing quality.
- It can print images and text of any size or font.
Demerits of Laser Printer
- It is expensive to buy.
- It cannot print multiple copies at the same time.
- It is not appropriate for continuous printing.
Thermal Printer
Merits of Thermal Printer
- It produces low noise and is faster for printing compared to an impact printer.
- It can be single or multi-colored.
- It has better printing quality.
- It can print images and text of any size or font.
Demerits of Thermal Printer
- It is expensive to buy.
- Its printing cost or running cost is high.
- It cannot print multiple copies at the same time.
- It is not appropriate for continuous printing.
