Getting started with printing
You can print almost anything with Windows: documents, pictures, webpages, or
e‑mail.
If you're new to PCs, this article is designed to introduce you to
common printers and the basics of printing in Windows.
Buying a printer
Printers you encounter on store shelves are usually grouped into
three categories. These are the most common types of printers sold for home or
office. Each technology has pros and cons.
What's DPI? |
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DPI, or dots per inch, is a measure of a printer's resolution.
DPI determines how crisp and detailed your document or picture will appear. It's
an important consideration when buying a new printer.
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Inkjet printers
Inkjet printers squirt small dots of ink onto the page to
reproduce text and images. Inkjets are popular because they're often relatively
inexpensive. There are also many models to choose from, including ones designed
specifically for printing color photos.
The downside? Inkjet printers are often slower (measured in
pages-per-minute) than laser printers and require regular ink cartridge
changes.
Inkjet printer
Laser printers
Laser printers use toner—a fine, powdery substance—to reproduce
text and graphics. They can print in black and white or color, although color
models are usually pricier. A laser printer that prints only in black and white
is sometimes called a monochrome printer.
Laser printers typically have high-capacity paper trays, so you
don't need to add paper as often as you would for an inkjet model. They also can
print more pages per minute than most inkjets. In addition, a laser printer's
toner cartridge generally lasts longer.
Depending on how much printing you do, a laser printer might be
cheaper over time than an inkjet.
Laser printer
All-in-one printers
One of the fastest-growing categories of printers are all-in-one (AIO) printers, also sometimes called multifunction (MFP) printers. As the name implies, these
are devices that do everything: they can print, scan photos, make photocopies,
and even send faxes.
What's the difference between AIOs and MFPs? Often nothing,
although some devices sold as multifunction printers are larger and designed
more for office use.
Either way, the main selling point of all-in-one and multifunction
models is convenience. What used to take three machines now requires one.
Another bonus: Some features—photocopying, for example—don't require a
connection to a computer
