| Whether you use a computer for domestic or business purposes -
or both - you will invariably, sooner or later, need to print out
your work. Printers are therefore a popular investment, normally
bought as a separate piece of hardware which connects to your computer
via a cable. The quality and type of printer you need varies, depending
on the end result required - whether it is basic black and white
draft-quality print outs, or photo quality images in colour.
How do they work?
There are four types of printers on the market today: inkjet (also
known as 'bubble jet'), laser, photo printer and all-in-one.
• Inkjet printers squirt thousands of tiny ink dots onto the page
and tend to be a popular choice for the home PC user. Inkjet printers
can offer high quality printing - look for the number of dots
per inch (dpi) for an indication of this - and are particularly
good for printing images.
• Laser printers work using static electricity, which attracts
and holds toner to the page. While they are more expensive to
purchase in the first instance than inkjet printers, laser printers
offer faster, smudge-free printing of a very high quality, especially
when printing text.
• Photo printers have become increasingly popular due to the boom
in digital photography. Most models can be connected directly
to a digital camera for instant prints (camera and printer must
be ‘PictBridge compatible). Some models also feature a card reader
to allow direct prints from memory cards.
• All-in-one printers are a combination of an inkjet printer,
a scanner and a photocopier - some incorporate fax functionality
as well. They are typically more expensive to buy initially as
they incorporate a number of functions, but they are invaluable
if space is at a premium.
What to look for
Resolution
This measures the sharpness, clarity and detail of an image and
is measured in dots per inch (dpi). The higher the dpi, the better
the quality. If you are seeking to print text and documents, then
a resolution of 300 x 300 dpi should be sufficient. The recommended
minimum for printing photo quality images is 1440 x 720 dpi.
Speed
This is measured in pages per minute (ppm). The figure you will
see quoted for a printer refers to the rate of output when printing
a standard page of text, with no images or effects. It is a maximum
figure, which you are unlikely to reach in everyday printing,
but it gives a useful indication of a printer's relative speed.
Connections
You need to ensure that your PC and printer are fitted with the
same type of connection. Most printers now connect to your PC
via USB, some older models use a Parallel port connection. Check
that both your PC and the printer are equipped with the same type.
Quality level
Whether you decide to buy an inkjet or a laser, spending less
money on a printer means you will end up with a slower machine
- but it won't necessarily compromise the quality of the print.
Many top end inkjets can produce text printing to near-laser quality.
As mentioned above, inkjets are ideal if you want to print photographic
images, but for text printing only, good value laser printers
could be the best option.
Other features to consider
• Some printers can print up to A3 size, which can be useful if
you're producing projects for business or school.
• Additional print heads are available for most printers. This
allows you to alter the resolution or replace the head if the
original becomes damaged.
• In some models you can swap the printer cartridge for a scanner
cartridge to allow desktop scanning. Basic photocopying may also
be an option in some cases, with the appropriate software.
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