What is a Printer?

A printer is a device that accepts text and graphics output from a computer, and it transfers this information to paper, sheets. Printers can print any information that has been passed to them, whether it be Text, Numbers or Images. It depends on the type of printer that determines what quality or colour the printed matter will be.

History of Printer

In 1822, Charles Babbage introduced the first mechanical printer with his Difference Engine. Inkjet printers were invented in the 1950s but became practical in the 1970s, with companies like Epson, Canon, and HP leading the way.

In the early 1970s, Gary Starkweather at Xerox created the first laser printer by modifying a copier. This led to the HP LaserJet in 1984, making laser printers more affordable. Apple’s 1985 LaserWriter introduced PostScript technology to the market.

In 1984, Chuck Hull demonstrated the first 3d printer, while IBM introduced the first dot matrix printer in 1957.

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 to of typewriter.

Examples of Impact Printers 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 a 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 use 9 to 24-pin print heads depending upon the quality of print required. 24-pin printers produce more clarity than 9 9-pin 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 a 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 printers are Inkjet printers, Laser Printers and etc.

1. Inkjet Printers: The inkjet printers are the most common and widely used 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 the 1960s. The majority of laser printers use light, photoreceptor belts, and photosensitive drums.  During printing, the laser will scan the 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 they use LED instead of laser to create pictures/images. LED printers are considered more efficient and reliable than laser printers.  

Advantages of LED Printers

• Efficient
• Reliable
• Cheaper than laser printers.

Difference Between Impact Printer and Non-Impact Printer

The main difference between impact printers and non-impact printers is how they print on paper:

Also reads, Difference between Impact and Non-Impact Printers.

Qualities to Check Before Buying a Printer

• Color Capability: Many current printers can produce colour prints as well as black-and-white ones. Colour printing costs more because it requires multiple ink or toner supplies, usually in black, cyan, magenta, and yellow shades.
• Print Clarity: The detail and clarity of printed text or images are measured by how many dots fit into an inch (dpi). A basic printer often delivers enough sharpness with a 600 dpi rating.
• Printing Speed: For those who need to print frequently, how fast the printer works matters. Basic models may handle only 3–6 pages every minute, while high-end machines can print much faster.
• Internal Storage: Printers usually come with a small built-in memory space, often between 2 to 16 MB. Extra memory can be added, which is helpful when dealing with pages full of large graphics or images.

Conclusion

A printer is a adaptable electronic device that produces physical copies of digital documents, images, or graphics. It is used in both personal and professional settings, offering various printing technologies such as inkjet, laser, and thermal printing. Printers have changed over time, becoming faster, more efficient, and capable of producing high-quality outputs. They are essential for a wide range of tasks, from home office use to large-scale commercial printing, making them an indispensable tool in today’s digital age.