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                                     7




                                  Printer























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Chapter 7 - Printer


     A printer is a device that transfers information from a computer onto 
paper, much like a typewriter.  There are currently three main types of printers 
available on the market (dot matrix, inkjet, and laser) and you need to decide 
which printer will best fit your needs.

     Dot matrix printers have been around since the 1970's and have been widely
used.  Instead of printing like a typewriter, a dot matrix printer uses a row of 
pins to print the characters on the paper (see the dot matrix example in Figure 
7a).  In an effort to increase the quality of the print from a dot matrix 
printer, manufacturers have increased the number of pins on the print head.  
This allows the printer to print the dots (that make up the letter or symbol) 
closer together so it looks more like a quality typewriter's print.  Another 
method widely used by manufacturers is to print the same line twice and this 
gives a darker, more realistic look to the print.  Unfortunately, of all printer
types, dot matrix printers are the loudest, so if noise levels are important 
then don't buy a dot matrix printer.  Dot matrix printers generally cost between
$50 to $300.

     In the late 1980's another new kind of printer technology called inkjet hit 
the market.  An inkjet printer actually "squirts" the ink onto the paper, and 
the print looks more professional than a dot matrix printer (see Figure 7a), but 
not as good as a laser.  An inkjet's print is almost as good as a laser's print, 
but if you compare the two side by side, the laser's print will be cleaner and 
smoother (less jagged edges).  On these printers, you'll see prices from $150 - 
$1,500.  A few years ago, Canon developed a new form of inkjet technology called 
bubblejet.  Since bubblejet printers are actually inkjet printers, I won't 
elaborate on them further.

     In the early 1980's Canon developed a new technology and printer called a
laser printer.  Laser technology allows a printer to place ink (toner) onto 
paper very much like a photocopier does.  This allows very neat and elegant 
looking text while also allowing a wide use of very fancy fonts, colors and 
graphics.  Unfortunately, until the last several years, the prices for laser 
printers were fairly expensive.  Today, prices are very good ($400-$2,500) and 
most anyone who can afford a computer can afford a laser printer.  

     













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Chapter 7 - Printer


     =================================================
     |                                               |
     |                                               |
     |       Three pictures of the letter "L"        |
     |                                               |
     |                                               |
     =================================================

       Dot Matrix           Inkjet             Laser

Figure 7a - A very close up example of what typical text 
            looks like from each of these types of printers.


     Most dot matrix printers use what's called "continuous feed" paper.  The
ends of the paper are simply connected together so it's like one "continuous" 
sheet of paper.  Inkjet and laser printers use single sheets like a photocopier 
does.  If you must print long documents and you want them to look good then I 
suggest getting a laser printer rather than an inkjet printer.  Most laser 
printers will hold more paper than the typical inkjet printer.  This is 
especially true of the higher-end laser printers that have multiple trays to 
hold the paper.

     Most dot matrix printers usually only print black, but some nicer models 
will print color (with a special printer ribbon).  Since the print of a dot 
matrix is not as clean or clear as other printing technologies (such as inkjet 
or laser), it is not really suited for color, graphics, etc.  It is mainly 
suited for regular print and lots of it, like long reports, or information that 
needs to be printed quickly. 

     Most dot matrix printers have some type of fonts (different ways lettering 
can be displayed) built into the printer, but as usual, more expensive models 
have more built in fonts.  However, since the print capability of a dot matrix 
printer is limited, don't expect fancy fonts to come with or work with the 
printer.  If you intend to print things that are to look professional (like 
business letters, a rsum, documents, etc.), then a dot matrix printer won't 
cut it and you'll need an inkjet or laser printer. 
     












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Chapter 7 - Printer


     Inkjets will print color and do a pretty good job at it, but if you want to 
print graphics (with or without color) then you should use heavier paper.  
Otherwise, the ink will "bleed" through and saturate the paper (so it looks 
wrinkled).  In Figure 7a, I included a blown-up example of a letter printed on 
an inkjet printer with paper that is too thin.  See how it bled around the 
letter.  Most inkjet printers will print between 1 and 5 pages per minute which 
is considered slow next to laser printers ability to print between 4 and 16 
pages per minute.  If you don't need a fast printer, then an inkjet is a good 
compromise between laser printers and dot matrix printers.  Remember though, the 
print quality is not as good so it must look good and be fast, a laser is the 
only way to go.

     Laser printers are the best kind of printer you can buy, but it will cost 
you more than a dot matrix or inkjet printer, especially if you want to print 
color.  Color laser printer prices have continued to fall these last few years, 
but the cheapest color lasers are still around $4,000-$5,000. 

     Canon has licensed other companies to use their laser technology so you'll 
see a number of manufacturers offering laser printers.  When comparing laser 
printers, pay close attention to the amount of memory (RAM), fonts, 
expandability (adding more fonts or RAM), and warranty.  This is where 
manufacturers cut corners.  Less expensive laser printers will generally print 
4 to 6 pages per minute while more expensive models will print 8 to 16 pages per 
minute.  Faster printing laser printers can be beneficial if you print a lot, so 
you must decide what you think you'll print.  The more expensive models also 
generally come with more memory and fonts which allows you to print better 
graphics and more impressive looking things.  You must remember that if you 
intend to print graphics or charts, then the printer must have enough memory to 
do it.  Otherwise, you will continue to receive errors from the printer saying 
you don't have enough memory.  Therefore, when buying a laser printer, look 
ahead and anticipate whether you'll want to print graphics or charts and either 
buy the a model that has the memory already or a model where you can add the 
memory at a later time.  Most lower end laser printers don't give you the option
of adding more memory later, so be careful.

     Laser printers use "toner cartridges" while inkjet printers use "ink 
cartridges" and dot matrix printers use "ink ribbons".  Each of these types of 
"ink" has to be 












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Chapter 7 - Printer


purchased for the specific printer you own and the cost can vary greatly.  For 
example: a typical ink ribbon for a dot matrix printer should cost between $15 
to $20 while a toner cartridge for a laser printer should cost between $70 to 
$90.  Inkjet cartridges fall in the middle at $20 to $30.














































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