fisher@dvinci.DEC (Burns Fisher, MRO3-1/E13, DTN 231-4108) (10/05/84)
Does anyone have any experience with machines which are basically electric
typewriters, but which have optional computer interfaces? I know of three:
(1) at least one of the Brother models, (2) The high-end Sears typewriter,
and (3) a new Royal typewriter.
Last time I looked, the only interfaceable Brother was a dot-matrix type.
The other two are daisy-wheel. The Sears costs ~$500 + ~200 for the
interface, while the Royal costs ~$300 + <unknown> for the interface.
On the surface, one of the daisy-wheel typewriters seems ideal for my
family. We need a typewriter (do you really want to fire up the computer just
to type an envelope address?), and I would like to have a slow letter
quality printer on my PDP-11 as well. However, I have never seem them
discussed anywhere. How well do they work in each mode? How durable
are they? Etc etc.
Thanks for any help you can offer! Please reply directly...I do not
subscribe to these newsgroups. I will post a summary of replies.
Burns
UUCP: ... {decvax|allegra|ucbvax}!decwrl!rhea!dvinci!fisher
ARPA: decwrl!rhea!dvinci!fisher@{Berkeley | SU-Shasta}ken@turtlevax.UUCP (Ken Turkowski) (10/08/84)
The computer interfaces I've seen are one-way (computer-to-typewriter)
and have only CTS/RTS handshaking. When are the wizards of UNIX
ever going to supply hardware handshaking standard with UNIX?
--
Ken Turkowski @ CADLINC, Palo Alto, CA
UUCP: {amd,decwrl,flairvax,nsc}!turtlevax!ken
ARPA: turtlevax!ken@DECWRL.ARPAron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (10/08/84)
I have a Brother CE-50 daisy wheel typewriter w/computer interface. I have no problems with the interface other than the typewriter is no overly fast. It is a fairly reasonable typewriter with correction and things like decimal tab stops (others in the line also have automatic centering). It is also fairly light and comes with a lid so you can carry it around. It doesn't look that durable so I wouldn't do something like checking it as luggage on a plane. The typewriter is rather nice with the exception of the type styles available. They are rather limitted. The one that comes with it is called PRESTIGE 1012. The idea is that you can use it at either 10 or 12 pitch. It looks kind of dumb at 10 pitch and is best at 12. They also have a different style (Oracle?) that looks good at 10 pitch. -Ron
cb@hlwpc.UUCP (Carl Blesch) (10/12/84)
Along these same lines, does anyone know if it is possible to convert an electronic typewriter into one that can serve as a computer printer? I own a Royal Alpha 2001 (same as an Adler Satellite II), the predecessor of the Royal Alpha 2002 which has a computer interface. I'd like to upgrade my old typewriter if possible. I haven't called Royal's USA office in Union, NJ yet, but even if I do, they'd probably tell me that they couldn't do it, and if anything went wrong, it would be my problem, etc. . . . I'm not skilled at electronics, so I'd have to find a shop or person to do it for me. Carl Blesch . . . hlwpc!cb
hoffman@pittvax.UUCP (10/16/84)
I was at a computer show recently where Royal electronic typewriters were exhibited. The dealer there said that there was indeed a Centronics-type interface available for the Alpha 2001, but that it would cost between $100 and $150. He said that he didn't think that the Alpha 2001 was good enough to warrant spending that much on an interface. I understand that the 2001 prints at a rate between 12 and 15 characters per second. Royal has some larger models which are more rugged and will print faster but, of course, cost more (~$750). I bought my 2001 at an office equipment auction about a year ago and I'm very happy with it, but I don't plan to add a computer interface. -- Bob Hoffman Pitt Computer Science