Dot Matrix printers print each character individually as the printing head moves over the page. They print by hitting an ink soaked cloth ribbon against the paper. The letters are drawn out of a dot matrix so a variety of fonts and graphics can be printed. In addition dot matrix printers can print carbon copies if you like.
Dot matrix printers are known for their strength and do not wear out easily so you can expect them to last well.
In actual fact most inkjet, thermal, and laser printers print in dots that are closely spaced rather than in continuous lines or characters, however we do not refer to them as dot matrix printers.
Recently dot matrix printers have been marginalised as the technology of inkjet printers is faster, quieter and also cheaper (because of the number of printers in production). However to refill a dot matrix printer with ink is much cheaper than with inkjet and laser printers so the initial cost of the printer is often worth paying.
If you are printing black and white and do not mind your printer making a bit of noise then a dot matrix printer may work for you, but if you need to print out a lot of colourful graphics then they may not be your best option as they can only print in lower resolution graphics.
Our range of Lexmark dot matrix printers are specialised for form printing whereas the Epson dot matrix printers are more general.
Understanding the specification of a dot matrix printer
On the Euroffice website we offer a detailed product specification on the product detail pages and we additionally offer a set of filters on the left hand column of the page on all of the product list pages (pages that list the actual products). These filters are designed to help you narrow down your search for the correct dot matrix printer for you and are put together using the specification of each printer. The following information will help you to understand the specification of each printer.
Brand
This will tell you the name of the manufacturer who produces the printer, so if you are a particular fan of Lexmark dot matrix printers or Epson dot matrix printers then you can use the brand filter to select this brand and filter out all other printers.
Maximum Media Size
This is the size of paper that can be printed onto. The majority will use standard A4 paper, although A3 printers are also widely available.
Maximum Resolution dpi
Resolution is measured in dpi – dots per inch –and will determine the quality of your printouts. The higher the resolution, the better the quality will be.
Print Speed PPM
Print speed is measured in ppm – pages per minute. This is how many blank sheets the printer can get through in a minute rather than actual printed pages. Grey scale printing is much quicker than colour printing, and the greater the quality of the document, the longer it will take to print out. Dot matrix printers are capable of high speeds but often run with continuous paper rolls.
Network
This tells you if the printer is compatible for running on a network of printers or not. most of our dot matrix printers are network compatible.
Interface
This determines how your printer is connected to a computer or office network. For small offices, a parallel port can be used for basic networks. Most printers use a USB connection, which is high speed and can be used to link many printers and computers together.
RAM Installed
Printers use memory to store the documents whilst they are printed out. The greater the memory, the better the resolution and efficiency of the printer.
Media Capacity
The number of sheets of paper the printer can hold ready to print onto. Some printers also state an Output Tray Capacity, which is the amount of printed sheets the printer can store.
Monthly Duty Cycle
This is the amount of sheets of paper that can be printed without causing excessive wear to the machine in a 1 month period.
System Requirements
This determines whether the office printer is compatible with the computers you wish to run it from. Most printers are compatible with any computers manufactured in the last eight years, but if unsure please contact our support team or the printer manufacturer.
Media Type
This is the type of material that can be printed on effectively, such as plain printer paper and envelopes. All of these materials can be purchased on the Euroffice website.
