A device that prints documents stored in electronic form as text or illustrations on paper or transparencies. In terms of the technology utilized, printers fall into the following categories:
Dot-matrix: Create characters by striking pins against an inked ribbon. Each pin makes a dot, and combination's of dots form characters and illustrations.
Ink jet and bubble jet: Work by spraying ink at a sheet of paper, produce high-quality text and graphics.
Laser: Uses the same technology as Xerox machines. Laser printers produce very high quality text and graphics.
LCD & LED : Similar to a laser printer, but use liquid crystals or light-emitting diodes rather than a laser to produce an image.
Line printer: Contain a chain of characters or pins that print an entire line at one time. Line printers are very fast, up to 3,000 lines per minute, but produce low-quality print.
Thermal printer: Work by pushing heated pins against heat-sensitive paper. Direct interface: 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 and scanners.
By Neil Epstein, Zoran Corporation Product development in consumer electronics markets is increasingly characterized by intense pressures to both reduce costs and add value-rich features.This is certainly true in the market for consumer inkjet printers. Currently exceeding $11 billion in annual hardware sales, inkjet printer manufacturers continually push to add new features that offer...
