Computer Store: How to Choose a Printer

The desire that sounds like “buy a computer” implies acquiring not only a computer but also equipment such as a scanner and a printer. As a rule, choosing a printer is not very difficult. All printers available on the computer hardware market can be divided into three types that differ by printing method: dot-matrix printers, inkjet printers, and laser printers. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages; knowing them makes it possible to decide which device the user needs.

When choosing a printing device for home use, you should give preference to an inkjet printer. It is suitable for small print volumes with good quality and also offers color printing. When selecting a device for an office, it is better to opt for a laser printer. It provides a high print volume with excellent quality and high printing speed. Its only drawback is the lack of color printing. Such computer hardware as dot-matrix printers differs from the first two types. Dot-matrix printers are still often used when it is necessary to print on envelopes or forms made of low-quality paper, as well as to produce multiple carbon-copy copies at once.

There is another type of printer worth noting: sublimation printers. They have their own specific field of application. Sublimation printers are used for printing postcards and high-quality photographs. They differ in their operating principle from dot-matrix, inkjet, and laser printers. These printers create an image by sublimating, that is, evaporating, a dye from special three-color films.

To buy a computer, you also need to decide on the type of printer and the purpose of its purchase. Thus, sublimation printers differ from inkjet printers in that they allow a uniformly filled area in the desired color and any shade. With inkjet printers, brightness is conveyed by droplet size, and the printed image appears as a collection of tiny dots. Advantages of sublimation printers include high quality, relatively low cost, portability, and print resistance to moisture. Some models of these printers produce a laminated postcard as the final result. The drawback of these models is the high cost of consumables.

Knowing the areas of application for the different types of printers makes it possible to choose the most suitable printing device for the consumer's needs