Differentiate line and dot matrix printer?

A line printer and dot matrix printer differ in how they print pages. Line printers are more commonly used with computers, while dot matrix printers function similarly to a typewriter.

1. Printing

   • A line printer print pages exactly as its name implies, one line at a time. Dot matrix printers use pins arranged in a matrix that physically strike an ink ribbon between the pin and the paper to print characters.

   Speed

   • Line matrix printers can print roughly 1,200 lines per minute, or generally about 20 pages per minute. Dot matrix printers print about 40-300 characters per second, or about six to seven pager per minute, at best.

   Quality

   • Dot matrix printers have a lower print quality than line printers. The characters' shapes on pages printed using a dot matrix printer appear as a number of dots connected together. Line printers print solid characters and can use a wide variety of font face and sizes.