Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA (10/26/84)
From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Date: 22 Oct 1984 11:11:37 PDT To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: burhans@ecld@usc-eclb.arpa Subject: Printers for DisplayWrite 2 Reply-To: Burhans@ECLD.#ECLnet I have two IBM PCs in my word-processing department. We are using IBMs DisplayWrite 2 wp software. I am currently looking for a printer that will serve our WP needs. Two problems arise: first, DW2 will only officially support 4 printers (the IBM/Epson dot matrix/graphics, the IBM 5218 and the NEC 3550) and second, we have some very specific printer features that we must have. There IS a third party vendor who sells a printer driver to make DW2 work with the Diablo 630, Qume, Toshiba, Canon AP500 and NEX 7700 series and HP LaserJet printers, so that helps. We have a (fairly) high volume of output per month (~6,000) and need to print on 8.5x11, legal-size, memo-size paper and envelopes. We also have some need to print on 8.5x11 landscape, that is, 11x8.5. We must have a dual bin sheet feeder and those bins should be adjustable to the various sizes of paper that we need to print on. We also need an envelope feeder. We already have a Diablo 630 but it is too slow and doesn't have some of the more elaborate paper-handling features. While we intend to keep it (and are waiting eagerly for our printer driver) we need to get another printer to keep up with the output volume. We have been reluctant to purchase the IBM 5218 because it is so expensive and have been looking for other alter- natives. One proposed alternative, the HP LaserJet turned out to be dis- appointing because of the limited fonts and paper-handling features. I finally went out to an IBM Product Center and saw a real live 5218 printer. The 5218 is the DisplayWriter stand-alone word processor printer that has been adapted to work with the PC. With the sheet feeder it would cost about $6000 list. It is an amazing printer. It is huge-- appox. 30 x 25 x 20 and fast (well, 60cps but it looks a lot faster than my Diablo at 35). It has a sheet feeder with two adjustable bins and and envelope feeder. It uses a daisy wheel cartridge and a huge ribbon and has enough control LEDs and membrane keys to keep you amused for at least 15 minutes. In order to use this printer I would need to purchase a Printer Convenience kit ($220 per PC) and a Printer Sharing kit ($275) to be able to attach both PCs. It looks like this printer will suit my needs but a couple of things concern me: 1) the price and 2) if I buy this printer then it looks like I am stuck with the DW2 software. I like the DW2 software, but frankly, there are some areas in which it lacks and I like having the option of switching software if it doesn't come up to speed. $300 is not going to upset my department--$6000 may. I am somewhat hopeful that IBM will support more printers with DW2 or that I can purchase a 3rd party printer-driver; I am much less hopeful that other software will start supporting the 5218. If anyone has had any experience with the 5218, I would appreciate any comments or warnings you may have. If anyone knows of any other printers that might be suitable for this application, I would *greatly* appreciate any suggestions. You can send replys to: BURHANS@ECLD@USC-ECLB.ARPA; Thanks in advance. [Take a look at the Diablo 80IF. 80cps, dual bin, 200 characters on the print wheel, and 630ecs code compatible. $3495 list. Editor] ------- -------