A device that prints images (numbers, alphabets, graphs, etc.) on paper is known as printer. After creating a document on the computer, you can send it to the printer for printing its hard-copy which is generally, called a printout. The speed of a printer is rated either by pages per minute (ppm) or by characters per second (cps). You can take single color printouts or multi colour printouts, depending upon the type of the printer. Printers which can print in full colors are expensive. Different types of printer are as follows:

• Dot Matrix Printer: This type of printer makes use of pins. The pins strike an ink ribbon. As each pin hits the ink ribbon, a dot appears on the paper, and combinations of dots form characters and illustrations. A dot matrix printer can print 1 to 12 pages in one minute. Use of dot-matrix printer is now limited to printing invoices and bills.



• Inkjet Printer: This type of printer sprays ink on a sheet of paper. Ink-jet printers produce high-quality text and graphics. An inkjet printer can print 4 to 6 pages in one minute. Due to its low price and affordability, the inkjet printer is popular in homes, especially among kids.

• Laser Printer: This type of printer uses fine powder ink called toner. Laser printers use the same technology as is used in photocopy machines. They produce high quality text and graphics prints. The laser printer is quite popular in corporate world and printing houses.