The Future Of Ink Jet Printers Vs. Dot Matrix Printers

By Author: John Pickering
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The dot matrix printer has its place in computer printer history, but it just may be that its time has come and gone. In case you have never seen a dot matrix printer, it is the noisy forerunner to today's more popular and refined printers.

The dot matrix or impact matrix printer sported a print head, which is the moving portion of the printer and ran either horizontally or vertically across pages attached by a series of perforated holes along the sides, which helped to feed a steady supply. Unfortunately for long print runs, the paper would slide off the guide while the printer continued to print.

The dot matrix printed by the impact of the head on an ink-soaked ribbon against the paper. In many ways, the printing action of the dot matrix is similar to the old daisy wheel typewriter.

One of the advantages of the dot matrix is that its impact style lends itself well to carbon copy printouts. Dot matrix printers are still used for massive, bulk printouts and are effective for bulk label printouts. Dot matrix printers are known for their speed and durability. Some manufacturers launched color dot matrix printers. ...
... These printers were largely ineffective and caused more frustration than value. Today, dot matrix printers are almost exclusively used for black printing jobs.

The development of the inkjet spelled doom for the dot matrix as the lightweight and flexible inkjets passed them by. The most noticeable drawbacks to the dot matrix are:

- Noise
- Only reliable for low resolution graphics
- Limited color performance and erratic at best
- Difficulty printing on single sheet paper
- Printing pins bend and are necessitate replacement of the head

With the advent of personal computers, inkjet printers have emerged as the solution for today's diverse computer printing, copying, scanning and facsimile tasks. Originally regarded as an erratic and lightweight performer, the development of the inkjet has been quite astonishing.

The printer's multiple uses give every home computer many options including very precise photo printing. At first, the inkjet's capacity exceeded the cartridge technology. However, the success of the inkjet printer is directly related to the development of the printer cartridges. Now, the smooth delivery of both black ink cartridges and multi-colored inkjet cartridges has made the inkjet invaluable at home or at work.

Compared to the cumbersome dot matrix, inkjet printers are very inexpensive. While the cartridges may seem a bit more pricey, consumers and manufacturers have collaborated to find more cost efficient means of re-supply. When viewed on a per page cost, the inkjet cartridge is a good value.

The advantages of the inkjet printer are:

- Quiet performance
- Detailed printing
- Photo printing
- Consistent delivery of the ink to the paper
- The least expensive printers on the marketplace
- Ink cartridges can now be refilled
- Inkjet cartridges can be purchased in bulk at more favorable pricing
- Lightweight, easy to transport and east to connect

The weaknesses of the inkjet are:

- Some print heads are prone to clogging
- Some cartridges are expensive
- Ink can spill if machine it tipped
- Printed documents will run if print is exposed to water

The inkjet printer is here to stay. Maximizing the ink supply in cartridges and making diligent efforts to economize the ink will make your inkjet even more enjoyable. Today's inkjet cartridge distributors are offering cartridge refilling services that can dramatically lower the per page print cost. As the cartridges and printers continue new technological gains, the device becomes more and more dependable and even better able to accomplish more printing tasks.
About Author:
John Pickering is the owner of EezyTrade.co.uk, an online retailer of new and refilled printer cartridges for Brother, HP, Canon, Epson, Lexmark and Xerox printers. Visit us online today for epson inkjet cartridges and more and begin saving.