Printers are output devices that produce a hard copy of computer data on paper. Based on how they print, they are broadly classified into two categories: Impact Printers and Non-Impact Printers.
The Dot Matrix printer is still used in some banks, railways, and government offices in India for printing multi-copy forms and passbooks, as no other printer can create carbon copies simultaneously.
Impact printers work by physically striking an inked ribbon against the paper surface to create characters or images — similar to how a typewriter works.
Characteristics:
Examples: Dot Matrix Printer, Daisy Wheel Printer, Line Printer
Non-impact printers do not physically strike the paper. They print using heat, laser beams, ink jets, or chemical processes — there is no contact between the print head and paper.
Characteristics:
Examples: Inkjet Printer, Laser Printer, Thermal Printer, 3D Printer
| Feature | Impact Printer | Non-Impact Printer |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Physical strike | Laser/Inkjet/Heat |
| Noise | Loud | Silent |
| Quality | Lower | Higher |
| Carbon Copies | Yes | No |
| Speed | Slow | Fast |
| Example | Dot Matrix | Laser/Inkjet |
Non-impact printers (especially laser printers) are significantly faster than impact printers. A modern laser printer can print 20-60 pages per minute, while a dot matrix printer typically manages 1-5 pages per minute.
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