More about printing

 Printing

With Windows, You can print almost anything, documents, pictures, webpages, or e‑mail.

This article is design to introduce you to common printers and the basics of printing in Windows If you're new to PCs.

When Buying a printer

Each technology has pros and cons. Printers you encounter on store shelves are usually grouped into three categories are the most common types of printers sold for home or office.

What's the meaning of DPI?                                                  

DPI determines how crisp and detailed your document or picture will appear. It's an important consideration when buying a new printer. DPI, or dots per inch, is a measure of a printer's resolution.                                                                  

                                                                                              

Inkjet printers

Inkjet printers squirt small dots of ink onto the page to reproduce text and images. There are also many models to choose from, including ones designed specifically for printing color photos. Inkjets are popular because they're often relatively inexpensive.

The downside of inkjet printers: they are often slower (measured in pages-per-minute) than laser printers and require regular ink cartridge changes.

Laser printers

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.

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.

Depending on how much printing you do, a laser printer might be cheaper over time than an inkjet.

 

All-in-one printers or Multifunction printers

As the name implies, these are devices that do everything: they can print, scan photos, make photocopies, and even send faxes.

One of the fastest-growing categories of printers are all-in-one (AIO) printers, also sometimes called multifunction (MFP) printers.

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.

Connecting your printer

Printers are designed to connect to a Windows-based PC in different ways, depending on the model and whether you're using it at home or work.

Here are the most common connections you'll encounter:

Wired printers

These devices connect using a cable and a port on the computer.

Most printers aimed at the home have a universal serial bus (USB) connector, although some older models might connect to the parallel or serial ports. On a typical PC, the parallel port is often marked "LPT1" or by a tiny printer-shaped icon.

When you plug in a USB printer, Windows automatically attempts to identify it and install the software (called a driver) needed to make it work with your PC.

Windows is designed to automatically recognize hundreds of printers. However, you should always consult the instructions that came with your model as some require you to install the manufacturer's software before you plug it in.

If your printer is older or doesn't use USB, you might have to install it manually.