What is the difference between a thermal and laser printer? -

Hello! I m researching preinters as we may be getting a new one. And while searching, I see categories for both laser and thermal printers. I thought they were the same thing? Does anyone truly know the difference? (And please....no guessing!) Thanks!

the previous answer is not quite correct........thermal m/c s uses thermal paper ( reacts to heat ) the image is quot;burnt quot; onto the paper.....laser printers use a drum that is charged with -500 to -800 volts...the laser then writes a latent image onto the drum .toner is then attractted to the drum. paper passes under the drum and the toner is then moved from the drum onto the paper with another electricial charge.the paper then goes thru a heat unit which fuses the toner to the paper

Thermal uses heat to burn an image into the paper. The paper is expensive. I think Xerox also calls its color printers thermal because it heats the wax. Laser uses a heated drum to transfer an image to paper.