Printers

• Impact printers
• There is physical contact between the print head and the paper through an inked ribbon
• Can print in colour and black and white
• Can print on multi-part stationary (carbon forms)

• Spray ink onto the paper
• Relatively cheap
• Available in black and white or colour
• Relatively cheap to run as only replaceable component is the cartridge
• Used in homes and offices where the cost of colour laser is too much

• High resolution
• Non-impact that use a similair method to photocopiers
• They are reliable 
• Produce excellent quality in both colour or black and white
• Running costs are high as toner will need replacing
• Drum and fuser unit replacements also expensive
• Used where high quality and fast output is required
• Found in businesses, homes and schools as they become cheaper to buy

• Mechanical device which provides printout using vector or coordinate graphics
• Used to draw accurate line diagrams
• Mainly maps and building plans

Two types of plotter:

• Flat-bed plotter- where the paper stays still and the pen moves
• Drum Plotter- where the paper is on a drum which moves in one direction which the pen moves across it at right angles