1. Advantages Quality is reasonable for text but graphics are poor. Quality is reasonable for text but graphics are poor. Very low running costs. Very low running costs. Can produce duplicate copies using special multi-part stationery. Can produce duplicate copies using special multi-part stationery. Graphics and text can be output and colour is possible using special ribbons. Graphics and text can be output and colour is possible using special ribbons. Low purchase cost. Low purchase cost.Disadvantages Cannot print overhead transparencies that are often needed for business presentations. Cannot print overhead transparencies that are often needed for business presentations. Slow printing. Slow printing. Noisy when printing. Noisy when printing. DOT MATRIX PRINTER

2. Ink Jet Printer Advantages   Medium to low purchase cost.   Almost silent printing.   Excellent quality text and colour images.   Can print overhead transparencies.   Faster than a dot-matrix printer. Disadvantages   Cannot produce duplicate copies while printing top copy.   High running costs.   Special paper needed for best results.

3. Laser Printer Advantages Medium running costs. Almost silent printing. High quality text and images. Fast printing. Can print overhead transparencies. High purchase cost. Produces ozone so has to be used in a ventilated space. Disadvantages Colour laser printers are expensive. Cannot produce duplicate copies while printing top copy. Do not normally take paper sizes larger than A4.

4. Graph Plotter

5. Advantages Can print on larger sizes of paper. Excellent for drawing accurate lines and text. High purchase cost. Disadvantages Cannot reproduce photographic type images. Very slow outputs.

6. Light emitting Diode (LED)

7. Output Devices KEY POINTS Output devices display information that is produced by the computer. Some output devices produce permanent output, others only display the output temporarily. The actual output device chosen in a particular situation depends on the nature and quality of the output required, the amount of output to be produced and environmental factors such as noise and size. Impact printers such as a dot-matrix can print several copies at the same time. Plotters can produce high-quality output on large-sized paper. Laser printers are fast, expensive to buy, produce high-quality output with moderate running costs. Ink-jet printers are slower than laser printers, cost less than a laser printer and can produce high-quality colour output.