engine

Definition: (1) The internal mechanisms that drive devices such as printers, scanners. (2) Software: the core parts of a software application. Judging by its cover With mass-market products, patents and know-how protection on one hand work with with economies of scale on the other to result in the creation of a very small number of different engines for printers (both laser, ink-jet and other types) and desk-top scanners. These are then bought up by other manufacturers who create the cosmetic features, software interfaces etc and sell it under their own name. In consequence two machines with the same engines in them can produce markedly differerent quality results. But by the same token, two different-looking machines can produce identical results.

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