Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site fritz.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!scgvaxd!pertec!felix!fritz!zemon 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 References: <450@digi-g.UUCP> Distribution: na Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, Ca. Lines: 35 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. ...! {decvax, ihnp4, ucbvax} !trwrb!felix!zemon