rgenter@ENTERPRISE.BBN.COM (Rick Genter) (08/20/86)
Can anyone recommend a *CHEAP* letter quality printer for my Atari 800?
I don't care about speed; I would like something that is easy to interface
with AtariWriter+. Also, does anyone know off the top of their head if any
of the printer drivers built into AW+ is the functional equivalent to an
EPSON MX-80. I tried specifying EPSON FX-80, but they must be quite different,
because my document came out quite bizarre. I'm using Atari 825 for right
now.
If you reply to me directly, use the address given below; I'm not sure
this machine is in the master host tables.
- Rick
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Rick Genter BBN Laboratories Inc.
(617) 497-3848 10 Moulton St. 6/512
rgenter@labs-b.bbn.COM (Internet new) Cambridge, MA 02238
rgenter@bbn-labs-b.ARPA (Internet old) linus!rgenter%BBN-LABS-B.ARPA (UUCP)jhs@mitre-bedford.ARPA (08/21/86)
By the way the Atari 1027 LQ printer is selling for about $75 to $80 at some mail order outlets. It is fairly slow, but at that price, I would have to say it is without a doubt CHEAP, especially because it interfaces directly to the 800 or XL with no additional cost for an interface. -John S. jhs @ mitre-bedford.arpa
"Dominic_Campagna.WBST147"@Xerox.COM (08/21/86)
I'm using the Star Micronics SG 10 on my 800XL and it works great with the Super Atariwriter software. I got it from Computer Mail Order for $239 plus the Apeface interface which was $39.95. ZYou should be aware of the fact that it is a NLQ printer but it does a great job.
jhs@mitre-bedford.ARPA (08/21/86)
Most of the standard printers like the Epson, Panasonic, Okidata, etc. will work if you have a Centronics interface. I bought an 850 interface and both printers that I hooked up worked right the first time. The P: R: Connection is another good choice of interface. If you are interested in cheap interfaces, I understand that the joystick ports can be used as an 8-bit parallel output if you are good at writing driver software. All you need there is two DB 9-S connectors and maybe a simple external circuit to provide some sort of handshake via the Trigger input(s). There have been some articles on this but I don't have references. An excellent local source of help (if not too busy) is Paul Swanson, 663-4463 (BBS on 663-4221). Paul is located in Billerica, MA. If you don't want to tie up the joystick ports and you have an 800XL, I can give you schematics for a general-purpose interface via the parallel bus connector. If you DON'T have an XL, you can always buy one for $69.95 if you act quickly! (Toys R Us has them at that price right now.) Good luck! -John Sangster jhs@mitre-bedford.arpa