Output Devices : Line Printers

Dot matrix and daisy wheel printers both print only one character at a time. For that reason they are called character printers. In contrast a line printer prints a whole line (typically 80 or 132 characters) of text at a time. As you would expect, line printers are therefore very fast.

Line printers are expensive to buy and are used when high volumes of output are required. Example applications include printing telephone bills or bank statements. Line printers can not output graphics.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004