The PC Primer: The Internet: HTML

Printers

Way back some bright spark coined the phrase "Paperless office" and it might happen (nah!), until that time, there's always going to be the the thrill of opening your (printed) payslip and finding your redundancy notice in it!. Granny will still want a (printed) copy of little Adolf's photo in his christening ~~uniform~~ gown.

Networked Printers

By far the largest number of printers out there are connected to home PC's and most people don't need more that, however the PCprimer's policy is to show you other options, so let's start by looking at how printers can be shared, in both the home and office environment.

Larger organisations will be networked and have a 'Domain'. The domain shown has a PDS (Primary Domain Server), which verifies logins from the workstations, and may act as both a mail server, and if the appropriate software is installed, can act as both an intranet, and internet server. The network could also have a SDS (Secondary Domain Server) as a failsafe.
The domain has an Applications server, from which the major software used by the workstations is run. This has a major advantage for the network administrators, in that instead of visiting each workstation to install new, or upgrading existing applications, changes can be made on the APPS server. When the workstation is restarted any changes are implemented.
A print server is also shown. This may service a single specialist printer, or all printers on the network.

Dot matrix printers

The first printers were the 'Telex' type devices similar to a powered typewriter and that's how telegrams were transmitted.
The earliest 'Proper' PC printers were the 'Dot Matrix' type, either 9, or later 24 pins. These pins were pushed against a ribbon (like that of a typewriter), pushing the black ribbon onto the paper. the paper could be either sheet fed, or more commonly continuous, with holes down the sides to allow the printer's 'tractor' unit to drive the paper through the machine.
You'd think this technology was outdated by now but think of your payslip, how do you think your details are printed inside a sealed form!.

This high capacity colour laser printer is networked, and will also act as a Photocopier. Networked printers are not connected directly to a PC, but have their own network card and software allowing a network protocol such as TCPIP to be configured.

Thermal Wax printers

This is a wax printer, it works by squirting hot wax into the paper in much the same way that an inkjet printer works. the results are very good but if used on transparencies for use with overhead projectors will soon rub off.
It's shown with a yellow wax refill

inkjet printers

Probably the most versitile of the printers. They will print on all types of paper and most transparencies. There are even ones that will print directly onto CDROMS.

They work, like the thermal wax printers by firing a small blob of ink at the paper.

Visit the Epson site

Label printers

Amongst the specialist printers available are Label printers. They do a great job if you don't require large sheets of labels (I have one of these).This particular type is a 'thermal' printer, burning the text onto the label.

Visit the Dymo site