Printers print. They produce an image on paper, which can be text, graphics, color ink, black ink, or a combination of these. The printer's job is an important one because it's often the last step in the creative process; the result of your PC labors is to print something on paper — to get that all-important hard copy, something you can show the world.

Two basic models: Inkjet and laser

You can splatter ink on paper in many ways. For your PC, the two most popular methods are classified into the two most common types of computer printers: inkjet and laser.

Inkjet printers are the most popular type of computer printer now sold. They produce high-quality text or graphics on just about any type of paper. Their low price makes them quite affordable; you can pay from less than $100 to several hundred dollars, depending on which extra features you need. Figure 1 illustrates a typical inkjet printer.

Inkjet printers work by literally lobbing tiny balls of ink on paper. The teensy-tiny ink balls stick to the paper, so this type of printer needs no ribbon or toner cartridge; the ink is jetted out directly, which is how the printer gets its name.

On the higher end of the market, laser printers are found primarily in the office environment. More expensive than inkjet printers, laser printers are also more robust and better able to meet the demands of a business environment, home or office.