Dot Matrix Printers
Dot matrix printers are a type of computer printer which runs back and forth against the page; striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon to the paper; much in the same manner as a typewriter. However, in contrast to a typewriter, letters are drawn from a “dot matrix” therefore the character defines what’s printed, so anything that can be made up of these dots can be produced.

Once the moving portion of the printer or the print head gets moving the printing has begun. When printing text the dot matrix printer typically produces one line of text in a sweep. Many dot matrix printers have only one vertical line of dot producing on the print heads so the dots are fairly visible. Other dot matrix printers have multiple rows to help add the cohesion to the dots.

Dot matrix printers are fairly classical; the first dot matrix printers were old, slow, and large. The first dot matrix printer from 1970 printed 30 characters/second and allowed for 80 columns of uppercase only characters across the page.

Dot matrix printers were it until the 1990’s for personal computing; inspired essentially by the introduction of the Epson MX-80. However with the introduction of better graphics on computers and the desire to have a printer be for more than just printing text, dot matrix printers quickly fell from fashion.

Dot matrix printers are still used for label making in, say, an office setting where there is a necessary and regular need for this basic sort of printing. However, dot matrix printers are fast becoming a memory in home and office use. You can probably still get the best dot matrix printers from catalog shopping or even as a rental. Just make sure you’ve got the correct USB port on your computer of that you get an adaptor so you haven’t bought a dot matrix for naught.

A dot matrix was once the do all to end all for computer technology; today the need is dwarfed by the pseudo-artistic community that thinks every document needs fancy calligraphy lettering and graphics of stars and moons at the end. Perhaps the mentality representative of the orderly dot matrix printing will one day come back into fashion. One can always hope.