sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu (scott sutherland) (11/28/89)
I am looking for a low, Low, LOw, LOW cost color printer for my Amiga 2000. Got that? LOW (e.g. gutteral! ) ;^) So I have my eyes set on the Okimate 20, which I have seen for less than $100. Now, I have a friend who has one for their C64 and I noticed 2 problems. One, the image has horizontal strips between each section of ink laid down. Can this be "cured"? Two, the thing was EXCRUTIATINGLY SLOW!!!! It took 15 minutes just to print 1/3 of an image. Now, is this the same on the Amy? I know that one of the features of the 1.3 OS was much faster printer drivers. Is there one for the Okimate 20? If so, approximately how long does it take for one image? I have also heard that, since the thing is thermal transfer, it can only use one part of a ribbon for each strip it prints. So, for IFF images, approximately how many can one ribbon print? Now, I also noticed that there was one ribbon cartridge for B&W, and one for color. Let's say I am using one of the word processors that uses B&W and allows IFF color images to be inserted (or I want to highlight a particular word or phrase in color) like Pen Pal or ProWrite. How would this be done on the Oky 20? Would the software know enough to allow me to switch cartridges for B&W and color? Or does the color ribbon also have a Black portion to allow for this? I recall seeing a review of color printers and their output for Amiga graphics. It looked at the Okimate 10 or 20, Canon one (cannot recall the #), and the HP or one of those $1000 color printers. Does anyone recall what magazine and what had this review? I have all back issues of AmigaWorld (except 3 or 4 of the first year and Jan/Feb 1987. Anyone have extras??), Amazing Computing, Antic's Amiga +, Compute's Amiga Resource, several issues of INFO, some Ahoy Amiga User (Later just AmigaUser), and others. Finally, any general comments about the Okimate 20 would be appreciated. I am NOT looking to use this to publish anything, just to make hard copies of some of my images from DBWRender, QRT, Turbo Silver, and other programs, as well as rough drafts of WordPerfect files and, if it looks good, I'll get Pen Pal or ProWrite. Thanks, Scott Sutherland sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu
liberato@drivax.UUCP (Jimmy Liberato) (11/29/89)
sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu (scott sutherland) writes: > I am looking for a low, Low, LOw, LOW cost color printer for my >Amiga 2000. Got that? LOW (e.g. gutteral! ) ;^) So I have my eyes set >on the Okimate 20, which I have seen for less than $100. Don't forget you need the Plug'n'Print cartridge for another $75 or so. > Now, I have a >friend who has one for their C64 and I noticed 2 problems. One, the image >has horizontal strips between each section of ink laid down. Can this be >"cured"? No. :-( Two, the thing was EXCRUTIATINGLY SLOW!!!! It took 15 minutes just >to print 1/3 of an image. Now, is this the same on the Amy? I know that >one of the features of the 1.3 OS was much faster printer drivers. Is >there one for the Okimate 20? If so, approximately how long does it take >for one image? I can't give you a quantifiable answer. Adjectives like "agonizing" come to mind. 1.3 is better but part of the problem is the nature of the process it uses. The printhead must make a pass for each of the primary colors. > I have also heard that, since the thing is thermal transfer, it can >only use one part of a ribbon for each strip it prints. Yes. The catch is that the colors are not parallel on the ribbon but rather serial. This means that there is a stretch of one color the length of the carriage immediately followed by the next primary color, etc. The printer "remembers" how much ribbon it has traversed hence the particular color it is on. So if you have a line that has only, let's say, one blue dot the ribbon must go through the entire sequence even if the other colors are not used. Since the ribbon is really a mylar strip coated with colored wax, it can't be reused like an inked ribbon. >approximately how many can one ribbon print? Now, I also noticed that there >was one ribbon cartridge for B&W, and one for color. Let's say I am using >one of the word processors that uses B&W and allows IFF color images to be >inserted (or I want to highlight a particular word or phrase in color) like >Pen Pal or ProWrite. How would this be done on the Oky 20? Would the software >know enough to allow me to switch cartridges for B&W and color? Or does the >color ribbon also have a Black portion to allow for this? I can't remember if the color ribbon has an explicit black section but if not it can create black from the three primaries. > I recall seeing a review of color printers and their output for Amiga >graphics. It looked at the Okimate 10 or 20, Canon one (cannot recall the #), >and the HP or one of those $1000 color printers. Does anyone recall what >magazine and what had this review? I have all back issues of AmigaWorld AmigaWorld, early '87 > Finally, any general comments about the Okimate 20 would be >appreciated. I am NOT looking to use this to publish anything, just >to make hard copies of some of my images from DBWRender, QRT, Turbo Silver, It is really hard to critcize the little thing since it is so cheap, but its unqualified performance is quite pathetic. If you do a lot of printing the cost of ribbons becomes substantial. Text looks pretty nice on it but graphics are disappointing. I got a refurbished Diablo(Xerox) C150 for less than $400 a couple years ago. That is only twice what you will pay for the Okimate. I would suggest you try to find a used Xerox 4020 or better yet an HP PaintJet. What good is cheap if you never use it? Good Luck! PS: Anyone using a PaintJet should try using the Xerox Inkjet Paper with it. -- Jimmy Liberato ...!amdahl!drivax!liberato
rsingh1@dahlia.waterloo.edu (11/29/89)
I have an okimate 20. And through my experiences, I have found that there are about 3 different qualities of okimate 20's in the world. There are good ones (like mine), that print an image that alteast looks OK. There are bad ones (like my friends), that prints really horrid images, and there are terrible ones, that sound like the drive train is filled with sand, and the printing is really something terrible. The colour ribbon is made up of 3 strips of waxy junk. Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. If you want to place one pixel of yellow on a line, you have to go and waste about 3 feet of ribbon. You can't get around it. One 3 foot strip prints one line. Overall, the output sucks bad, but for under a hundred, it's ok. I'll sell you one for 75 (mine). It's complete. And only printed about 500 pages of stuff, and gone through 1.5 colour ribbons. Includes cable for A1000 if you want it. Reply if you like. U PAY SHIPPING.
hgm@ccvr1.uucp (Hal G. Meeks) (11/30/89)
Firstly, the Okimate 20 isn't $100.00 as you quoted. With the proper plugnplay interface, it's closer to $180.00. Ribbons are $6.00 apiece, and as far as how long they last, it depends what you are printing. The friend who has one is saying 12-15 pictures per ribbon, but I have heard that is the low end. Print speed is sloooooow, and the streaks you describe are unfortunately a part of the printer. 1.3 fixes this problem somewhat by overlapping lines slightly, but it a valiant attempt at best. If you are really strapped for cash, and must have color, here's some suggestions: Star NX1000 Rainbow - This a 9 pin JX80 clone. Print quality is okay for text, although I'm not too thrilled with their draft font. Graphic printing has the inherent problems of a dot matrix; uneven color, some problem with print lines. All considered though, it's an all around better choice than the Okimate, for slightly about $200.00. Used Printers - Printers quite a few moving parts, but it's possible to find a decent used printer that may have a few years left on it. Note that for Inkjets, you don't have to worry about a print head being worn, but you do have to worry about clogged ink jets, leaking lines, etc. Not to scare you off, since I bought my Xerox 4020 used, and it's been doing great for about a year now. Quadram Quadjet, Canon PJ1080, IBM ColorJet - These are all essentially the same printer mechanically. I've seen Quadram Quadjets pop up occasionally for around $200.00. They use replacement ink packs that also contain maintenance fluid (most likely distilled water). Since they have an autoflush mechanism to clean the heads, jet clogging is much less of a problem than earlier inkjet designs. Nice consistent color across the page is the big plus. They are slow, however, and need a special clay treated paper to hold the ink on the page until it dries (easily obtainable). Diablo C150 - I've seen these going for $300 -$350, used. It's essentially the same engine as my Xerox 4020, without the autoflush mechanism or the "enchanced" printing mode (prints blacks in two passes for really dark blacks). Again, needs a special inkjet paper. You can either use tektronix or Xerox inks in this printer, "Inky Dink" inks from Software Sensations (about 1/2 the price), or liquid watercolors (Dr. PH Martin's, Windsor Newton's). A side note - Just noticed an ad in Computer Shopper for some surplus liquidator. They are selling Xerox 4020's (evidentally new) for $650.00. What can I add other than I've been very happy with mine. --hal --------------- hgm@ccvr1.ncsu.edu "Oh dear, now I've made a terrible mess of things. netoprhm@ncsuvm.bitnet And all I wanted to do was rule the universe." Dr. Zachary Smith
fgd3%jc3b21.uucp@cunyvm.cuny.edu (12/06/89)
I can think of only two reasons to get an Okimate 20: (1) You can get
it free. (2) You need the saturated colors the thermal transfer process
provides.
The Okimate 20 on the Amiga is faster than the C64 situation you
described but it is still quite slow. The horizontal white lines between
strips are a problem. The story is there was something wrong with the
original Amiga/Oki interface and you can get it fixed.
But why bother with the Oki when you can get a Star NX-1000 Rainbow
for around $220?
--Fabbian Dufoe
350 Ling-A-Mor Terrace South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33705
813-823-2350
UUCP: ...uunet!pdn!jc3b21!fgd3pnelson@hobbes.uucp (Phil Nelson) (12/08/89)
In article <5438@nigel.udel.EDU> fgd3%jc3b21.uucp@cunyvm.cuny.edu writes: > > I can think of only two reasons to get an Okimate 20: (1) You can get >it free. (2) You need the saturated colors the thermal transfer process >provides. > > The Okimate 20 on the Amiga is faster than the C64 situation you >described but it is still quite slow. The horizontal white lines between >strips are a problem. The story is there was something wrong with the >original Amiga/Oki interface and you can get it fixed. > > But why bother with the Oki when you can get a Star NX-1000 Rainbow >for around $220? > >--Fabbian Dufoe >UUCP: ...uunet!pdn!jc3b21!fgd3 I haven't seen the original post, but I gather it's a request for info. My Okimate 20 is about 5 years old, and still performs adequately, probably because I use it V E R Y rarely. I do all draft printing on an Okidata Microline 182 (+ something or other), The Okimate is reserved for color graphics printing and letter quality, both of which it does well enough to suit me. It is slow, expensive to operate, not built for heavy use, and there is no way to get rid of the lines in the graphics output, you can take your choice of thin white gaps with the IBM compatible control card or slight overlap (thin dark lines) with the Amiga compatible control card. Visible lines are not unique to the Okimate, they are in every low cost printer output that I have seen. I'm not unhappy with the Okimate, it was the best choice for me at the time I bought it, but if I was looking for a printer now, I would probably buy the HP Paintjet (less than $1000., no lines). If you can't afford the Paintjet and your printing requirements are like mine (once in a blue moon), the Okimate might be a good choice. The color is a lot snappier looking than other printers in it's price range, and it is quiet in operation. Phil Nelson at (but not speaking for) OnTyme:NSC.P/Nelson BT Tymnet Voice:408-922-7508 UUCP:{pyramid|ames}oliveb!tymix!pnelson LRV:Component Station How 'bout those World Champion Oakland A's!!!