Computer Hardware:
• Tools, Static & Cleaning
• Form Factor
• PC Case & Fans
• Motherboard
• Processor (CPU)
• Power Supply Unit
• RAM
• Hard Drive
• Solid State Drive
• Optical Drive
• Floppy Disk Drive
• Graphics Card
• Sound Card
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• Computer Monitor
• Keyboard & Mouse
• Laptop / Netbook
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• Overclocking
Operating System & Backup:
• Operating System
• Drivers
• Windows Tools
• User Accounts
• Backup
• Windows 10
Internet & Network:
• Internet
• Wi-fi or Cable
• Improve Broadband Speed
• Network Computers
Computer Peripherals:
• Printer
• Scanner
• External Hard Drive
• USB Flash Drive
Computer Security:
• Anti-virus
• Anti-Spyware
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Common PC Problems:
• Slow Computer
• Hardware Failure
• Software Failure
• Printing Problems
Miscellaneous:
• Windows Shortcuts
• Glossary of Terms
• HTML Colour Picker
• Number Base Converter
• Tools, Static & Cleaning
• Form Factor
• PC Case & Fans
• Motherboard
• Processor (CPU)
• Power Supply Unit
• RAM
• Hard Drive
• Solid State Drive
• Optical Drive
• Floppy Disk Drive
• Graphics Card
• Sound Card
• Network Card
• Computer Monitor
• Keyboard & Mouse
• Laptop / Netbook
• Building a Computer
• Overclocking
Operating System & Backup:
• Operating System
• Drivers
• Windows Tools
• User Accounts
• Backup
• Windows 10
Internet & Network:
• Internet
• Wi-fi or Cable
• Improve Broadband Speed
• Network Computers
Computer Peripherals:
• Printer
• Scanner
• External Hard Drive
• USB Flash Drive
Computer Security:
• Anti-virus
• Anti-Spyware
• Phishing
• Firewall
Common PC Problems:
• Slow Computer
• Hardware Failure
• Software Failure
• Printing Problems
Miscellaneous:
• Windows Shortcuts
• Glossary of Terms
• HTML Colour Picker
• Number Base Converter
A Printer is a device that accepts text and graphic output from a computer and transfers the information to paper.
The two most common types of Printer today are the Ink Jet Printer and the Laser Printer. There are pros and cons to using these two types of Printer and the one you choose depends on how you intend using them.
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Ink Jet Printer
Ink Jet Printers are relatively cheap to buy and are very good at producing quality colour photographs on photographic paper.
Ink Jet Printer Pros:
• The Printers are relatively cheap to buy.
• Prints very good colour photographs on photographic paper.
• The ink cartridges are generally cheaper than toner used by Laser Printers.
• It can print on many different types of paper and even some fabrics.
• An Ink Jet Printer is generally smaller than a bulky Laser Printer.
Ink Jet Printer Cons:
• Genuine ink cartridges are expensive, and the ink soon runs out.
• Ink can dry up quite quickly if the Printer is not used.
• When the Printer performs head cleaning then it wastes a lot of ink.
• Printer nozzles can clog up.
• Printer ink can be very messy.
Laser Printer
A Laser Printer is fast, reliable, and very good at printing large amounts of text.
Laser Printer Pros
• Laser Printers are much faster than Ink Jet Printers.
• Toner cannot dry out like ink and lasts much longer.
• A Laser Printer can usually hold a lot of paper.
• Produces crisp and clear documents
• Extremely reliable when compared to an Ink Jet Printer.
Laser Printer Cons
• Not as good as an Ink Jet Printer at printing high quality photographs.
• Heavy and bulky compared to an Ink Jet Printer.
• Needs a little time to warm up before printing.
• Does not handle a variety of paper or fabrics like an Ink Jet Printer.
• Toner can be initially quite expensive despite being cheaper to print per page.
Which type of Printer should i buy?
If you print a lot of photographs then an Ink Jet Printer would probably be best, but if you need a reliable and fast printer for printing loads of documents then a Laser Printer would probably be better.
The ideal solution might be to have an Ink Jet Printer for your photographs, and a mono Laser Printer for your documents.
Although toner can be initially expensive to buy, it will last much longer than Ink Jet cartridges as there is no waste. Therefore the price per printed page is usually much cheaper with a Laser Printer.
You can buy an A4 Printer which is popular or an A3 Printer for printing on larger A3 paper.
All in one Printer
An 'All in one Printer' is a single device that performs several functions including printing, faxing, scanning, and copying. You can buy an Ink Jet or a Laser All in one Printer. While these devices offer many features, they do not generally perform as well as a dedicated Printer or Scanner, but are useful if you need all these features but do not have a lot of space for several devices.
Connecting a Printer to your computer
A Printer is usually connected to a computer with a USB cable. You can also get Printers which connect to a network via a network cable or you can get a Wi-Fi Printer that allows you to connect to your computer without any wires, and some Wireless Printers allow you to print from a smartphone or tablet computer.
Before the Printer will work with your computer it will require a driver which should be supplied with the printer for the most common operating systems. You should also look on the manufacturer's website to find and download the latest driver.
Sharing a Printer between several networked computers
You can share a single Printer between several computers that are on a network. Follow the steps below:
First you need to set up a shared printer on the computer that is connected to the Printer:
1. Click on 'Start' and type 'Printers' in the search box and press 'Enter' on the keyboard.
2. Right-click on your Printer and select 'Printer Properties'.
3. Click the 'Sharing' tab and click on 'Share this printer'. Click on 'Apply', and 'OK'.
The Printer is now shared on the network. To connect to the networked Printer with another computer then follow the steps below:
1. Click on 'Start' and type 'Printers' in the search box and press 'Enter' on the keyboard.
2. Right-click on the page and select 'Add printer'.
3. Select 'Add a network, wireless or bluetooth printer'.
4. Select your Printer in the list, and click 'Next'.
5. Set as 'Default Printer', and click 'Next'.
6. You now have the option to print a test page, and click 'Finish'.