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From: zemon@fritz.UUCP (Art Zemon)
Newsgroups: net.periphs,net.micro
Subject: Re: Want advice on small printers
Message-ID: <1650@fritz.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 19-Jan-85 13:03:44 EST
Article-I.D.: fritz.1650
Posted: Sat Jan 19 13:03:44 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 22-Jan-85 00:25:49 EST
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Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, Ca.
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Xref: dcdwest net.periphs:350 net.micro:4537

For under $600 you will have a tough time getting a dot
matrix printer to come very close to letter quality.

You might consider my solution to requirements similar to
yours.  I bought two printers!  This was actually less
expensive than buying a single dot matrix which would do
acceptable letter quality.  I do not consider a dot matrix
to be acceptable letter quality unless I cannot tell the
difference between its characters and those of a daisy
wheel printer.  The only printers which came even close to
meeting this specification cost more than $1000.

My choice was a Star Gemini 15X for draft work, graphics,
etc.  The 12 pitch font is pretty good, although not letter
quality.  You can buy the 10X for about $250 (+ $50 for
serial interface, total about $300).

For letter quality work, I bought a Star PowerType ($410 +
$60 for tractor feed, total about $470).  The PowerType
prints 18 cps and is a real daisy wheel printer.  Two
features that I particularly like:  1) it accepts the same
commands as the Gemini printers,  2) flip a switch and it
accepts the same commands as a Diablo printer.  I set the
switch to Diablo emualtion, installed WordStar for a
Diablo, and everything works wonderfully!  Oh yes, it is
nroff compatible.  Tbl even!

So there you have it, for a bit under $800 I have the best
of both worlds and a spare printer to boot.

Good luck.
-- 
	-- Art Zemon
	   FileNet Corp.
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