Type of Printers

Depending upon the printing methods and the quality of images produced, printers are of two major types: 

1. Impact Printers
2. Non-Impact Printers

Impact Printers

This type of printer works with paper via direct contact with an ink ribbon. It has similar mechanisms as of typewriter.

Examples of Impact Printer are Daisy-Wheel Printers, Dot -Matrix Printers, Line Printers, etc.

1. Daisy-Wheel Printers: Daisy wheel printing is a mechanical impact printing technology. It is called daisy-wheel because its printing mechanism looks like a daisy. Its speed is usually 25-50 characters per second. 

2. Dot-Matrix Printers: The Dot-Matrix printers uses 9 to 24 pin print heads depending upon the quality print required. 24 pin printers produce more clarity that 9 pins dot-matrix printer. More number of pins results in more clarity. Usually inexpensive and speed ranges between 100 and 550 characters per second.

3. Line Printers: Line Printers (also called line-at-a-time printers) ,as the name suggests it can print whole line at once. Speed ranges somewhere between 1,000 to 6,000 lines per minute.

Non-Impact Printers

Non-Impact Printers do not need to touch the ink ribbon to print the documents. Maintenance of Non-Impact printers is easier than Impact printers.

Examples of non impact printer are Inkjet printers, Laser Printers and etc.

1. Inkjet Printers: The inkjet printers are the most common and widely used printers in both professional and domestic settings. It is popular due to its numerous advantages and very few drawbacks.

Advantages of Inkjet printers

• Capable of printing highly detailed and photo elastic prints.
• Small footprints
• Environment friendly
• Compact Design
• Versatile 
• Best Picture and Image quality

Disadvantages of Inkjet Printers

• Higher cost per page than laser printers
• Less Reliable
• Slow print speed

2. Laser Printers: Laser Printers were developed by Xerox in 1960s. The majority of laser printers use light, photoreceptor belts, and photosensitive drums.  During print, the laser will scan page line by line. The most accepted writing method is black and white lasers, which print content in black text.

Advantages of Laser Printers

• Cost-effective than inkjet printers.
• High print speed.
• Expandable with paper trays, finishes, etc.
• High paper capacity.

Disadvantages of Laser Printers

• Large footprints.
• High voltage usage.

3. LED Printers: LED Printers are quite similar to Laser Printers, but it uses LED instead of laser to create pictures/images. LED printers are considered are more efficient and reliable than laser printers.  

Advantages of LED Printers

• Efficient
• Reliable
• Cheaper than laser printers.

A computer is an electronic device that takes input from the user, processes it, and gives the output. A computer processes the data at a very high speed and with high accuracy. It processes the input according to the set of instructions provided to it by the user and gives the desired output quickly. 

Basic Functions of Computers are Inputting the Data, Processing the Input as per the Instructions provided, Storing the result and then providing the users with the desired output.