subject: The Inkjet Supremacy [print this page] The humble home computer printer has come a long way since the dot matrix was usurped by the inkjet in the 1990s. The dot matrix was a durable, affordable and cheap to run way to convert the contents of the screen into a hard copy but tended to be a little dubious in terms of print quality: and certainly couldn't do justice to the high resolution images that even the most basic digital camera is capable of taking in the modern day. The inkjet offered a considerably higher quality image and as it developed was capable of doing so at ever increasing speeds. It was however considerably more expensive to run than the dot matrix printer and for the most part, the hardware more expensive to buy. Despite the higher overall cost, the inkjet firmly asserted its place as the king of home printing solutions due to its higher quality of prints compared to the dot matrix and considerably lower price than a monochrome laser printer: let alone a colour printer.
Over recent years the inkjet printer has gone from strength to strength and dominated the home printing market. Technological advances, a high level of competition in the market and the dawn of 'compatible' ink cartridges have meant a lower cost of entry and lower running costs for the inkjet printer and consequently their popularity is at a record high. In order to maintain this status the inkjet has transformed beyond all recognition from its earlier incarnations and the range has diversified.
The advent of the age of personal digital photography brought about an abundance of hard drives crammed to the rafters with snapshots. Inkjet printer manufacturers addressed this and brought out inkjet printers which specifically serve to print digital photographs. By allowing the user to choose which images they commit to paper and furthermore, allowing them to do so without having to use the computer they created a whole new niche within the home printer market. At the other end of the spectrum a large number of inkjet printers now serve as multifunctional devices. It has been possible for a number of years to get an inkjet printer which incorporates a scanner, the ability to photocopy and full fax machine capabilities- all for an affordable price. These supplementary features allied with more recent developments such as wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, standalone functionality and integrated screens have made sure that the inkjet continues to sit firmly at the top of the pile: despite the fact that laser printers are considerably more affordable than previously.
