From: utzoo!decvax!duke!harpo!floyd!cmcl2!edler
Newsgroups: net.micro
Title: matrix printer query results
Article-I.D.: cmcl2.29841
Posted: Thu Feb  3 20:43:54 1983
Received: Sun Feb  6 10:13:28 1983


Several weeks ago I posted a query on dot-matrix printers with
(I think) the following characteristics:

	under $1000
	"reasonable" print quality
	wide (~15 in.) platten
	tractor and friction feed
	bit graphics (complete control on the dots)
	serial rs232 interface

Well, I figured I should follow up, so here it is.  Any further
info would be appreciated.  I haven't really made a decision yet.
Thanks to those who responded with the following information.

	Jan Edler	cmcl2!edler	(nyu)
			edler@nyu	(I think)
			pyuxll!jse	(abi piscataway)
-------------------

	We have several C.Itoh 8510/ACD printers and are very happy with
them.  Features include:

	* 120 cps bidirectional print with full head motion logic
	* Graphics mode with 160 dots/inch horizontal by 144 dots/inch
	  vertical.
	* Built in fonts are: pica, elite, compressed, proportional,
	  double wide, Greek and graphic.
	* Bold and underline capabilities
	* RS-232 serial interface with 3K buffer.  Understands XON/XOFF,
	  and DTR flow control.  Runs at line speeds up to 9600 baud.
	* Friction and tractor feeds. Can use single sheet feed, roll
	  paper, fanfold or multipart forms.
	* Fairly small and unobtrusive.  Rather spartan front panel
	  with controls for select, line-feed and page eject, and
	  indicator lights for power-on, select and out-of-paper.
	* Price: $600 mail order, slightly higher from local distributors.

	We've put together a nroff terminal description so we can use
the proportional font and output document draft.

	The 8510 has an 8" carriage, but the C.Itoh Prowriter 1550 is exactly
the same printer with 15.5" carriage instead (for about $150 more than the
8150).  If you just want to have 132 column output, the 8510's compressed
font gives you 136 columns on 8" paper, and it's very readable.
-------------------

I've heard nothing but good things about the Epson MX100 - around $700
with F/T fitted.
-------------------

We use the OKIData MicroLine 84 printer which meets your requirements except it
may be $150-200 over your $1K limit.  It prints at 200cps in correspondence
quality mode and 50cps in "near letter quality" (their terminology) mode.  The
RS232 interface includes a 2K buffer (smaller ones were available in past so
be careful in specs for purchase).  Without the RS232 interface (i.e. Centronicsonly) it is under $1K.  Seems well built and maintenance manual is available for$35.  Have also used IDS Prism but don't know if it is available with wide
platen.
-------------------

I just bought a dot matrix printer, a C.Itoh Prowriter.  I am very
happy with it.  I researched printers quite a bit before buying it.
The only one I wasn't able to look at was the IDS Microprism.
Prowriter is an upgrade of the NEC 8023, as follows:
	120 cps logic seeking bidirectional
	integral tractor and friction feed
	many character attributes:
		5x7 characters with true descenders in a 7x9 box
		pica(80 cols), elite(96), compressed(136) pitches
		all pitches can be elongated
		proportional spaced printing with microjustification
		underline and boldface attributes
	decent graphics:
		one pass: 72v x 160h (dots per inch)
		two pass: 144v x 160h
		horizontal movement between dots of 160 dpi
			(print 8 bits vertically at a time)
		vertical movement of N/144 where 0