line printer

printer A printer that prints one entire line at a time.

Print quality is low compared with a laser printer. Line

printers typically use sprocket feed and wide fanfold paper.

Line printer speed is usually measured in lines per minute

(lpm). 1200 lpm is a good rate for a line printer like a 3205

m5. 66 lines per page is typical, giving 18 pages per minute

(ppm). This assumes all upper case, if a mixed case print

train is used, throughput is halved. By comparison, a fast

laser printer can output 100+ ppm

(1999-01-13)