how to print a receipt to a particular printer?

I'm planning to buy a receipt printer...?

• What is better, a thermal receipt printer or an impact/dot matrix one? When a buy a thermal receipt printer, all I need is thermal paper while for an impact receipt printer, I still need to replenish the printer's ink once it gets exhausted, right? Also, can thermal receipt printers work with other applications other than POS softwares and print from other word processing applications? I'm not just planning to use the printer for a POS system (receipt printing) but also for other printing jobs, so is a thermal receipt printer better?

• Answer:

  It depends on the make & model of the printer. Some thermal printers require very specific print codes in order to print & commonly require specific applications that know how to print to them in order to work, which means that it won't likely be able to be used by other applications easily. Even some impact/dot matrix receipt printers may require specific print codes too in order to print. Ideally you need to research the printers that you're interested in & check with the manufacturers as to the program/print compatibility of the programs that you wish to use them with to determine how useful they will be to you. Most receipt printers print on very narrow media, which would not be very conducive to other printing applications other than receipts.