Printer Showcase

DPI	Acronym for Dots Per (square) Inch or addressable Dots Per Inch
Drum	Usually refers to an optical photo conductor (see OPC)
Duplex	To print on both sides (auto-duplex is to automatically print on both sides)
Four-pass	Refers to color laser print engines that require four imaging passes in order to produce a single color page (usually equates to slow and noisy color printing)
Fuser	Usually refers to printer’s fusing unit
GDI	Acronym for Graphic Device Interface which is another term for host-based Language (commonly found in the least expensive printers)
Ink-jet	Non-impact dot matrix printing technology using liquid ink droplets
IPM	Acronym for Images per Minute (usually refers to scanning speeds)
Laser	Non-impact page printing engine type using electro-static toner and xerographic technology with optics and a laser light source
LED	Non-impact page printing engine type using electro-static toner and xerographic technology with LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source
OPC	Acronym for Optical Photo Conductor (also referred to as a drum, imaging unit, or print cartridge)
PCL	Acronym for Printer Control Language (indicates compatibility with specific HP printers as in PCL4, PCL5, PCL5c, and PCL6)
Postscript	The printer control language, owned by Adobe, that is the industry standard for most types of printing and publishing (usually found in higher end printers)
PPI	Acronym for Pixels Per Inch (usually refers to scanner or monitor resolution)
PPM	Acronym for Pages Per Minute (usually refers to laser or led print speeds)
Single-pass	Refers to color laser print engines that requires just one imaging pass in order to produce a single color page (usually equates to faster color printing)
SOHO	Acronym for Small Office Home Office
Solid ink	Non-impact dot matrix printing technology using molten wax-ink droplets (currently used on select Xerox models)
Toner	Main imaging supply used by xerographic copiers and printers. Electro-statically charged particles fused to paper to create an image