Inkjet Printers

• Inkjet printers are a common choice for the home market, since they tend to be both inexpensive and easy to use. Inkjet printers use a number of ink cartridges to produce their output. Some printers use a black cartridge and a single color cartridge that produces all colors, while others use a black cartridge and separate color cartridges for cyan, magenta and yellow that mix to create other colors. At the time of publication, most inkjet printers connect to the computer via the USB port, but some older style printers still use a parallel port connection.
  
  

Laser Printers

• Laser printers are common with businesses, but a number of low cost laser printers are available for the individual market as well. Small and inexpensive laser printers generally print only in black and white, but some larger and more expensive laser printers also produce full color output. Laser printers use sealed toner cartridges to produce their printouts; either a single black cartridge for black-and-white printers or several color cartridges for color laser printers.
  
  

Photo Printers

• Photo printers produce hard copies of digital photographs, and both businesses and individuals use this type of printer. The photo printers for the individual market tend to be smaller and lower-priced, while the ones designed for commercial photographers are larger, faster and more sophisticated. Some photo printers include built-in readers that accept memory cards and display thumbnails of each picture. Other photo printers include camera docks that allow users to connect their cameras directly to the printer, without the need for a computer. Although many photo printers use ink cartridges similar in design to inkjet printer cartridges, at the time of publication, some manufacturers have produced inkless models of more compact size.
  
  

Label Printers

• Businesses typically use label printers for specialty applications such as printing barcode labels and shipping labels. Major shipping companies, such as FedEx and UPS, often provide their business clients with special label printers they can use to process their shipments more efficiently and make billing easier. These printers typically attach to the USB port on a computer, and they integrate with the specialized shipping or barcode software loaded on that computer.
  
  

Dot Matrix Printers

• The use of dot matrix printers is not common as it once was, but you can still find these old units in many schools and businesses. Dot matrix printers use a special type of paper with holes at each side. These holes fit over the sides of the printer, and the printer pulls each sheet through as it prints. As the paper has perforations, operators can tear off the pages that they need. Dot matrix printers apply ink to the printout by way of pins in a moving print head striking against an ink-covered ribbon, similar to a typewriter.
  
  

Multifunction Printers

• Multifunction printers combine the capabilities of a printer, scanner and copier into a single unit. Some multifunction printers also function as fax machines. This design saves both desk space and money, as it is often cheaper to purchase a single unit than to buy multiple machines for each purpose. Many multifunction printers are also inkjet printers.
  
  

Portable Printers

• At the time of publication, falling prices and the wide availability of wireless networks has made wireless printers a reasonable choice for many consumers. Wireless printers connect to an existing wireless network and use radio waves to transmit their data from a connected workstation to the printer. Wireless printers come in a variety of formats, including inkjet printers, black-and-white laser printers and color laser printers.
  
  

Plotters

• The scientific and educational fields often use specially designed printers called plotters. Plotters use commands from a computer and a connected pen to create pictures that transfer to the printer. These renderings are useful to scientists, engineers and others who need to see a clear picture of the items under discussion. Many plotters use cartridges similar to inkjet printers.
  
  

Wireless Printers

• At the time of publication, falling prices and the wide availability of wireless networks has made wireless printers a reasonable choice for many consumers. Wireless printers connect to an existing wireless network and use radio waves to transmit their data from a connected workstation to the printer. Wireless printers come in a variety of formats, including inkjet printers, black-and-white laser printers and color laser printers.