There are many kinds of printers available today, but they can be broken down into four main types.
- The Inkjet printer.
- The laser printer.
- The dot matrix printer.
- The thermal wax printer.
Inkjet printers seem to be the most popular for home use. They work by producing dots tinier than the end of a single human hair. They are quite cheap and the replacement cartridges are moderately priced too. The main trouble with them is that the ink can dry out if not used for some time. The cartridge can go at any time and need replacing. Black or coloured ink can be used. Some are faster than others.
The laser printer is slightly more expensive, but the ink cartridge will last for ages longer than the inkjet printer cartridge. The ink will not run if water is spilled on it. Laser printers print very quickly and are the choice for most small businesses. The only trouble with them is that you can't use black and colour on the same machine. A colour laser printer is quite costly.
The dot matrix printer is old-fashioned these days. It is the noisiest printer of all. It works with a vertical column of pins pushing an ink ribbon against paper, rather like a typewriter.
The thermal wax printer is mostly used by businesses or publishing companies. It gives an extremely high-resolution picture, using a coloured wax ribbon and heated pins.
