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Computer PrintersComputer printers, or more commonly a printer, produces a hard copy
(permanent human-readable text and/or graphics) of documents stored in
electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or
transparencies. Many printers are primarily used as local computer peripherals,
and are attached by a printer cable to a computer, which serves as a document
source.
Network printers, have built-in network interfaces (typically wireless or
Ethernet), and can serve as a hardcopy device for any user on the network.
Individual printers are often designed to support both local and network
connected users at the same time.
In addition, many modern printers can directly interface to electronic media
such as memory sticks or memory cards, or to image capture devices such as
digital cameras or scanners; some printers are combined with a scanners and/or
fax machines in a single unit (All In One Printers). Printers that include
non-printing features are sometimes called Multi-Function Printers (MFP) or
Multi-Function Devices (MFD). A printer which is combined with a scanner can
also function as a photocopier. Most MFPs include printing, scanning, and
copying among their features. Many of today's printers no longer need
cables to connect to the computer, and can connect via
wireless networks.
The world's first computer printer was a 19th century mechanically driven
apparatus invented by Charles Babbage for his Difference Engine.
Printers are categorized by the technology used to produce the image on the
page:
Laser Printers,
InkJet Printers (also Photo Printers),
Dye Sublimation Color Printers,
Dot Matrix Printers from makers such as
Okidata,
Label Printers, Impact Printers,
Thermal Printers, Receipt Printers and
Point of Sale Printers,
Bar Code Printers, and specialized printers such as
CD Label Printers.
A
laser printer rapidly produces high quality text and graphics on plain
paper. Like photocopiers, laser printers employ a xerographic
toner printing process but differ from analog photocopiers in that the image
is produced by the direct scanning of a laser beam across the printer's
photoreceptor.
Inkjet printers operate by propelling various size (mostly tiny) droplets of
liquid or molten
ink onto almost any media. They are the most common type of computer printer
for the general consumer due to their low cost, high quality of output,
capability of printing in vivid color (such as Photo Printers), and ease of
use. Like most modern technologies, the present-day inkjet is the result of
continuous development by companies such as
Epson,
Hewlett-Packard (HP),
Canon, and
Lexmark.
Other categories of products related to printers are:
Shredders,
Binders,
Laminators,
Scanners and
Fax Machines.
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