davise@yvax.byu.edu (03/11/89)
I have a couple of questions: 1. With the 800XL do I need the serial-parallel adapter or can I just purchase a serial printer to hook up to the drive. 2. If I can use a serial printer, what is an inexpensive, yet semi-good quality dot-matrix printer. I would appreciate in help at all. Thank you. Evan Davis E-mail davise@byuvax
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com (03/14/89)
Evan Davis asked about using serial printers with the 800XL.. The Atari serial port, the "SIO Bus" is a proprietary I/O setup.. the ONLY printers which will work directly with an 8-bit Atari are those sold by Atari itself.. (a few other manufacturers used to make "direct connect" printers, but it may be pretty hard to find one now..) To use any "standard" printer, you'll need some kind of interface.. The Atari 850 interface is a good unit, although sometimes hard to find.. it should cost around $99 (or less). The P:R: connection from ICD is also very good, and costs somewhat less.. If you don't already own a printer, I'd recommend staying away from a serial printer, as the "standard" has become the "Centronics parallel interface." If you ever want to use the printer on another computer, it will be far easier with a parallel printer. (Another consideration is the software you'll be using.. very little software on the 8-bit Atari will direct printed output to the R: serial port. You may find it difficult or impossible to use a serial printer with your software.) As for recommendations, stay with "Epson compatibility".. all too often you'll read desparate pleas for a printer driver for a "Yamaguchi 1093Xdi".. (or whatever), which no one supports.. Either a low cost Epson or a Panasonic should serve well, and even the lower models come with far more features than my venerable old Epson MX-80 did at twice the price..! BobR