What is the difference between a network printer and a personal printer?

A network printer is not connected directly to an individual PC. A network printer is connected to a network, typically with an ethernet cable. Network printers are normally shared with several other users, often in an office setting. Personal printers, on the other hand, are usually connected to individual PCs. Common connection types for personal printers are parallel cables and USB cables. Unless you change the default settings, personal printers are not shared amongst multiple computers - they print only from the computer they are connected to. You can share personal printers if you wish, but unlike network printers, if the computer the printer is connected to is not turned on, nobody else will be able to print to it.