Question What are the different types of computer printers used?

Answer: Three main types of printers are used today, Dot matrix, Inkjet, and Laser printers.

Question What is the difference between them?

Answer: The Dot Matrix Printer, which is the oldest of the three technologies is an impact printer that uses a line of vertical coil-fired pins to push an ink ribbon against a piece of paper. As the printhead moves across the paper, the pins strike the ribbon against the paper. These types of printers are ideal for printing continuous multipart forms.

Inkjet Printers have the same type of movement as the dot-matrix printer, but instead of coil-fired pins, the printhead sprays ink onto the page through as many as 600 nozzles at a time. Ink is silently forced out of almost microscopic holes on to the paper.

Laser printers work in the same fashion as photocopiers. A laser beam is fired at a photosensitive drum. Where the beam strikes, print will appear on the page. The photosensitive drum passes through a toner reservoir that holds a plastic-coated metal dust known as toner. The toner is attracted to the charged areas of the drum. The drum then passes next to the paper, which provides a greater attraction for the toner. The toner transfers to the paper. The paper passes through a fusing unit, which melts the toner to the paper. The paper then exits the laser printer.

Question Which are the most popular printers?

Answer: Because of the decreasing cost and the high quality print, INK JET Printers have become by far the most popular in both the home and office market.

Question Why do I have to change my ink cartridge so often?

Answer: Ink cartridges generally do not hold very much ink. The higher the quality (and of course the quantity) of printing that you do, the greater will be the consumption of ink. Printing of the details of a photographs for example, may use up an ink cartridge after just a few prints.

Question How do I keep the print head on my inkjet printer clean?

Answer: Care needs to be taken to ensure that the print head is kept clean in order to stop ink clogging in the outlet nozzles. This applies to the Hewlett Packard and Lexmark printers as they have a tendency not to clean the print head properly as part of their normal cleaning cycles. Often deposits of ink will set up on the end of the print head causing the cartridge to function sub-optimally. This problem can be fixed by removing the cartridge and gently cleaning the print head with a soft cotton cloth or cotton bud dipped in water - don't use tissues or alcohol. Snap the cartridge in and out a couple times to get a good connection after cleaning.

Question Why is my printer printing with streaks?

Answer: Many print problems are primarily caused by ink drying up in the print head or nozzles, which clogs them and doesn't allow ink to reach the paper. Use of the printer to print both black and full color documents on a weekly basis at the least, will help with this problem.

All printers require good preventive maintenance. The best preventive maintenance that you can perform on your printer is to USE IT on a regular basis! The Number One complaint about poor print quality -- specifically streaking print, white lines through the print, or no print at all -- can be avoided by frequent use of your printer.