A printer is an external hardware output device  that takes the electronic data stored on a computer or other device and generates a hard copy. For example, if you created a report on your computer, you could print several copies to hand out at a staff meeting. Printers are one of the most popular computer peripherals and are commonly used to print text and photos.

A printer is also a device that accepts text and graphic output from a computer and transfers the information to paper, usually to standard size sheets of paper. Printers vary in size, speed, sophistication, and cost. In general, more expensive printers are used for higher-resolution color printing.

Personal computer printers can be distinguished as impact or non-impact printers

TYPES OF PRINTERS

Office Printers

Laser Printers

The laser printer was developed by Xerox in the 1960s when the idea of using a laser to draw images onto a copier drum was first considered. Laser printers are still widely used in large offices as they are traditionally more efficient than inkjet printers.

Advantages:
● More cost effective than inkjet printers
● Increases productivity
● High print speed
● Higher paper capacity
● Often expandable with Paper Trays, finishers etc.
● Grows with your business

Disadvantages:
● May require short ‘warm-up times’
● Larger footprint
● High voltage usage leads to small carbon emissions

Solid Ink Printers

Solid ink printers utilise a unique form of ink technology, designed to save space and money on packaging. The printers melt solid ink sticks during the printing process – a method which can help produce more vibrant tones.

Advantages:
● Environmentally-friendly
● Produces vibrant tones
● Made from non-toxic vegetable oils
● Compact design
● Consumables require less storage

Disadvantages:
● Requires warm-up and cool-down time
● Prints cannot be laminated

LED Printers

LED printers are similar to laser printers but use a light emitting diode rather than a laser to create images on the print drum or belt. Due to their fewer moving parts – Led printers are often considered more efficient and reliable than laser printers. 

Advantages:
● Reliable and efficient
● Cheaper to manufacture than laser printers
● Often include free warranty extensions

Disadvantages:
● None

Business Inkjet Printers

Utilising inkjet technology on a large scale to accommodate the needs of a busy office with heavy reliance on printed output, inkjet printers are enduringly popular due to their reliability and robust nature.

Advantages:
● Capable of producing highly detailed and photo-realistic prints
● Limited warm-up time required
● Small footprint

Disadvantages:
● Higher cost-per-page than most laser printers
● Wet prints
● Can be less reliable than laser printers

Home Office Printers

Inkjet

Inkjet printer are one of the most common types of printer used in both professional and domestic settings. Developed in the 1950s, inkjet printing technology is still hugely popular today due to its numerous advantages and minimal drawbacks.

Advantages:
● Capable of producing photo-realistic prints
● Practically no warm-up time
● Small footprint

Disadvantages:
● High running costs (Cost per page)
● Slow print speeds
● Sometimes produce erroneous empty cartridge warnings
● Prone to clogging
● Wet prints

Low Cost Inkjet Printers

Combining the high-quality print capabilities of inkjet technology with lower cost-per page functionality: low cost inkjet printers are well-suited to professional and domestic users working on a budget.

Advantages:
● Lower cost-per-page production
● Quick warm-up time
● Capable of producing fine, smooth, photo-realistic prints

Disadvantages:
● Potentially wet prints

Multifunction

Sometimes known as all-in-one printers, multi function printer are often capable of performing printing, copying, scanning, and faxing tasks. This can simplify the completion of multiple tasks within an office or domestic environment, with no need for more than one unit.

Advantages:
● More cost efficient than buying multiple devices
● More compact than buying multiple devices
● Perform numerous tasks simultaneously
● More power efficient than the implementation of numerous devices

Disadvantages:
● Can restrict usage time available for larger workgroups.

All-in-One Inkjets

Combining the technology of inkjet printing with the functionality of a multifunction printer: all-in-one inkjet printers are capable of providing full service to a busy office environment whilst retaining the high-quality prints that inkjet is known for.

Advantages:
● High quality printed output
● Cost efficient and compact alternative to buying numerous machines
● Power efficient

Disadvantages:
● Wet prints
● High running costs

Dot Matrix

Do matrix printer are the oldest established type of printers still available on the market. Images and text are drawn out in tiny dots when a print head strikes an ink-soaked cloth against the paper in the required pattern or formation.

Advantages:
● Low initial unit costs
● Low running costs
● Low maintenance costs
● Able to perform in hot and dirty conditions

Disadvantages:
● Low resolution printed output
● Noisy

A3

Capable of printing on A3 sheets, A3 printers are well-suited to business and domestic settings which require larger scale prints. A3 printers often have options produce other sized prints and have numerous input trays, simplifying the process. They’re also available with both laser and inkjet technology.

Advantages:
● Larger print size
● Wider range of options
● Allows you to bring outsource print-runs back in-house

Disadvantages:
● Higher initial cost
● Larger footprint

3D

One of the most exciting developments in printing technology history, 3D printing is becoming more affordable for professional and domestic users. Modern 3D printers are capable of producing 3D objects and items using high quality resin.

Advantages:
● 3D prints
● Limitless possibilities
● Capacity for full customisation

Disadvantages:
● High initial costs
● High resin costs
● Still developing technology

What Is the Function of a Printer?

Tristan Ferne/CC-BY 2.0

The function of a printer is to turn digital data into printed media. This could be text, or it could be graphic output. One of the earliest printers to come with personal computers was the dot matrix printer.

HOW TO CONNECT PRINTER TO COMPUTER

How to Connect a Printer to Your Computer

Tulie Finley-Moise|December 16, 2018Connecting your computer to a printer has become easier than ever as we progress into the age of innovative technology, but it seems as though the number, colors, sizes, and complexity of all the wiring can get lost in translation. Even when you think you’ve got the hang of connecting point A to point B, it takes a lot more than merely plugging in and out to deliver the right results.In our digital age, printing comes in two forms – wired and wireless. We’ll walk you through how to connect a printer to your computer, laptop, or handheld device.

Let’s get started

First and foremost, make sure you’ve properly removed the printer from its box with all included pieces for swift and organized assembly. It is easy to rush through the simplest part blinded by excitement and haste, and even easier to skip the most basic of steps.Once you’ve got all the pieces of the puzzle laid out and ready for configuration, plug the double-pronged end of the power cable into a conveniently located outlet. Your printer may automatically turn on or you may need to press a power button to wake the machine up. This is where we come in.

How to connect a printer via wired USB cable

Among your puzzle pieces should be a USB cable that connects directly into your computer’s tower or your laptop’s body. Depending on your computer’s operating system, your computer should notify you that a new connection is being made and that a driver will need to be downloaded for it to complete the installation.If you get this notification, follow your computer’s intuitive lead and click the notification. It could do all the heavy lifting for you. If your computer has left you to do all the figuring out by yourself follow these steps.

Step 1: Open windows setting

• At the bottom left of your screen, click the Windows icon to reveal your Start Menu
• At the bottom of the left-most column, you should see a gear icon linking to your settings window

Step 2: Access devices

• Within the first row of your Windows settings, find and click the icon labeled “Devices”
• In the left column of the Devices window, select “Printers & Scanners”
• This new window brings up a page where the first option will be to “Add Printer or Scanner”

Step 3: Connect your printer

• Once you’ve clicked “Add Printer or Scanner,” Windows should be able to detect your printer connected via USB cable
• When the name of your printer pops up, click it and complete the installation as per your computer’s instruction

That’s it! Your printer should be connected and running, ready to churn out beautiful pages.

How to connect a printer via wireless network

If you want to connect a wireless printer, the connection process may seem more daunting, but you’ll be surprised to find how smooth the transition from wired to wireless can be.

Step 1: Locate your settings

• Once turned on and ready for configuration, you’ll need to connect the printer to your home WiFi
• While the steps on installation vary by manufacturer, most modern printers will have an LCD screen that lists the available WiFi networks
• On this screen, click around and locate the setup page that allows you to adjust the Wireless LAN Settings

Step 2: Link your WiFi network

• After accessing your LAN settings, you’ll need to locate your home network service set identifier – better known as your SSID
• You can find your SSID by hovering your mouse over the WiFi icon located at the bottom right of your taskbar
• Your SSID is also located on the bottom or side of your internet service provider’s router

Step 3: Complete connectivity

• With the SSID selected, you’re ready to enter your network password
• Once entered, your printer is prepped for all printing activity

Step 4: Locate your printer settings

• Click the Windows icon at the bottom left of your desktop screen to reveal your Windows Start Menu
• Locate the gear icon link to your settings window and click on the icon labeled “Devices”

Step 5: Connect the printer to the computer

• Within your “Devices” screen, you should find an option to “Add a Printer or Scanner”
• After clicking this, the name of your printer – generally with the manufacturer name and model number – should appear as available.
• Select “Add Device” and your computer will do the rest to complete the wireless configuration
• Print away!

How to connect a printer to your handheld devices

It seems as though we are constantly glued to our favorite handheld devices and reliant on them to perform hundreds of everyday tasks. New and ever-improving technology allows those on-the-go to print with the touch of a finger. Need to quickly transform the content on your 6-inch screen into letters and images on an 8½ x 11-inch sheet of paper? We are here to show you how.

How to connect a printer to your iPhone or iPad

Engineered specifically for Apple products, Airprint enabled printer are the answer to your wireless printing wishes. Without any need to download drivers or install printer-specific software, AirPrint allows you to print computer quality photos and documents from any of your Apple products.There are hundreds of wireless printers already manufactured with AirPrint enablement. check apple support to see if your printer is compatible.

Step 1: Connect to your WiFi network

• Within your Apple settings, select “WiFi” to see all available networks
• For seamless processing, make sure both your iPhone/iPad and printer are connected to the same WiFi network (This is especially important in office settings where multiple networks may be hooked up)

Step 2: Locate your printer

• Open the app on your Apple device that you want to print from
• Once you’ve got the right document, tap on the app’s share icon
• Within the list of shareable options, tap the “Print” icon and select your printer

Step 3: Complete the job

• Your device will present a print preview page that will ask how you may want to customize the print job and how many copies you want to be made
• Once you’ve finished entering the information, tap “Print” and the job is complete

How to connect a printer to your Android device

Much like their clever competitors, Android technology continues to evolve with the times and gives people on-the-go even more freedom from their computers and desktops.Thanks to Google engineers, Google Cloud Print was created and designed to deliver seamless cloud printing. The app allows you to print from your Android phone or tablet and is even downloadable on your laptop.Available in the Android app store, users will need to download Google Cloud Print in order to wirelessly print from their handheld devices. There are many steps to complete the printing process, but we will break it down for you.

Step 1: Add your printer to Google Cloud Print

• Launch Google Chrome on your computer
• Click the three stacked dots located at the top right corner of the browser window
• Click “Settings”
• Scroll down the Settings page and click “Advanced Settings”
• Scroll down to printing and click “Google Cloud Print”
• Click “Manage Cloud Print Devices”
• In the new window click “Add Printers”
• Select the name of your wireless printer after making sure your printer is on

Step 2: Download the Google Cloud Print app to your device

• Launch the Play Store from your device’s home screen
• Type “Cloud Print” into the Play Store search field
• Select Cloud Print by Google Inc. and install the application

Step 3: Print from your device

• Open the file that you want to print from your device (This could be located in your Photos, Email, Docs, etc.)
• Tap the three stacked dots at the top right of the selected document and select “Print”
• Select the corresponding printer and tap the printer icon to complete the job