It is almost impossible to find an office anywhere that does not have some sort of printer; whether it is an all-in-one, which does just about everything, or a small simple one to just print documents. Either way, it most likely will be one of the three main kinds of printers used today in most homes and offices: laser, inkjet, or dot matrix.
A lot of people consider the dot matrix printers to be outdated and past their prime. However, they do have their uses and can be more reliable at times than their counterparts. The print quality cannot really be compared to the laser or inkjet printers, but many manufacturing companies use them still to print invoices and labels.
The dot matrix printer is considered an “impact” printer. This is because it actually strikes the paper as it prints, much like a typewriter. Continuous feeding paper can be used to print several carbon copies; requiring less ink in the process. Printing invoices in this manner is very convenient, because multiple copies in various colors can be printed all at once and distributed immediately. These printers tend to be slow and use only a few fonts, so they are gradually becoming identifiable with only certain industries.
The laser printer is probably more popular in large offices and corporations. If a small office is able to buy one, they have the advantage of higher resolution and thus, better quality documents. These printers tend to be more expensive than inkjets initially, but their “toner” cartridges usually last longer than the ink cartridges used for inkjet printers. That isn’t to say that the cartridges for laser printers aren’t expensive; they are. The maintenance of these machines can be quite expensive too; however, if quality is most important and money isn’t the issue, then a laser printer is the way to go.
Unlike laser printers, inkjets usually cost less to initially buy. However, since the printers themselves are relatively cheap, some feel the manufacturing companies are making up for the lower prices in the customer’s cost of ink. Some companies even put a “chip” in their cartridges to let the printer know when it is out of ink. Although these cartridges can be refilled by the consumer, the printer will not work because the chip still communicates that it is empty.
Even with expensive inks that smudge when they get wet, the inkjet printers do have some advantages. They don’t have to be “warmed up” to begin printing like the laser printers, and they print better photos. There are also inks available that tend to smudge less, although they are not as readily accessible as regular ink. The inkjet is a lot quieter than the dot matrix and much faster too.
All these types of printers have good and bad characteristics, depending on the opinion of the person using them. Some are expensive but have better quality, while others cost less but are limited in their functions. No matter which one is being used, they all have their purpose and fulfill it well.
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