macduff@cbnewse.ATT.COM (Roger R. Espinosa) (05/03/90)
Hi. In about a month or so I'll be needing a new printer for my new computer. While it *isn't* an IBM compatible, it needs a printer, and since magazines show more ads of laser printers these days than dot matrix...I'm coming to all of yous for some advice/help/info concerning 24-pin printers. What I know: Epson makes a few models of 24-pin printers, the most expensive (for my needs) being the LQ-850, and the least being the LQ-510 (model numbers may not be correct). Yesterday leafing through a Computer Shopper, I found ads for Panasonic printers (Epson compatible) that also listed models that were cheaper than the Epsons. What are the good 24-pin printers out there? I think the street price for the DeskJet+ has been about $475 (after the rebate), but the computer I'm getting may only be able to access this in Epson-emulation mode. I haven't investigated what the DeskJet+ in Epson-emulation mode actually means (is it emulating an LQ printer? or an RX/MX-printer? Is it slower? etc.), but I know where I can find this info about. The 24-pin printers, alas, I can only appeal to your wisdom. :-) What I'm looking for is a good 24-pin printer that is either about as much as the street price of the DeskJet+ (which the LQ-850 doesn't seem to be), or which 24-pin printers you like and would recommend. Please e-mail replies. Thanks! Roger rre@ihlpn.ATT.COM
hbj@uafhcx.uucp (Bernard Johnson) (05/05/90)
In article <14549@cbnewse.ATT.COM>, macduff@cbnewse.ATT.COM (Roger R. Espinosa) writes: > What are the good 24-pin printers out there? I think the street price for > the DeskJet+ has been about $475 (after the rebate), but the computer I'm > getting may only be able to access this in Epson-emulation mode. I haven't > investigated what the DeskJet+ in Epson-emulation mode actually means (is > it emulating an LQ printer? or an RX/MX-printer? Is it slower? etc.), but > I know where I can find this info about. Why would your *computer* only be able to use Epson-emulation mode? It is the software that you should worry about (Unless you are doing prt-scr or such). The Epson emulation mode should probably NEVER be used as long as you have a DeskJet or + driver. The text from the emulator is up to par but the graphics really stink because the emulator emulates an Epson FX-80 which is a 9-pin. So there goes you great 300x300 resolution! Also the emulator is about $75. I can't tell any speed decrease when using mine (but I rarely use it). > What I'm looking for is a good 24-pin printer that is either about as much > as the street price of the DeskJet+ (which the LQ-850 doesn't seem to be), or > which 24-pin printers you like and would recommend. A few things to think about: (1) In my experience a 24 pin's LQ mode is nowhere near REAL LQ. The DeskJet has a very nice LQ mode. Don't let anyone tell you they can't tell the difference between a DeskJet printout and a LaserJet printout because it is easy to tell the difference in quality. (2) If you get a DeskJet you will have to beware of sweaty hands, people who lick their finger to page through documents, rain, spit, etc. Not really a problem for most of us, but the ink will smear if it gets wet. (3) A good 24 pin will probably smoke the DeskJet in cps. HP obviously didn't count the paper handling time into their published calculations (120 cps LQ and 240 draft -- for DeskJet). (4) There is still a lot of software that doesn't have a DeskJet driver whereas they will alway have a 24 pin driver. (5) The font handling capabilities of the DeskJet is fairly impressive. I don't know of any 24 pins that match up. But what good is it if you don't need it? I am not trying to sell a printer for HP or trying to keep anyone from buying a HP printer, I am just giving a REAL world view of the difference between by DeskJet and some of my friends 24 pins. > Please e-mail replies. Thanks! > Roger > rre@ihlpn.ATT.COM I thought the net might like to see this too. Bernard _ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _ _ _________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________ _ _ _ _ _ _|_ _ _ _ _\_ _ _ _ _ _ _|_______ _ _______|_ _ _ _|_ _e_m_a_i_l_:_ _ _h_b_j_@_u_a_f_h_c_x_._u_a_r_k_._e_d_u_ _o_r_ _h_b_j_@_u_a_f_b_1_5_._u_a_r_k_._e_d_u_ _ _|_ _D_ _ _/_ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _|_ _ _|_ _ _ _ _ _ _|_ _B_e_r_n_a_r_d_ _J_o_h_n_s_o_n_ _@_ _C_o_l_l_e_g_e_ _o_f_ _E_n_g_i_n_e_e_r_i_n_g_,_ _U_ _o_f_ _A_ _ _|_ _D_ _ _\_ _ _ _ _ _ _|_ _|_/_ _ _|_ _ _ _ _ _ _|_ _U_S_m_a_i_l_:_ _ _B_o_x_ _4_0_7_ _P_o_m_f_r_e_t_,_ _p_h_o_n_e_:_ _ _(_5_0_1_)_ _5_7_5_-_2_4_9_1_ _ _|_________/_e_r_n_a_r_d_ _\_______/_o_h_n_s_o_n_ _|_ _U_n_i_v_e_r_i_t_y_ _o_f_ _A_r_k_a_n_s_a_s_,_ _F_a_y_e_t_t_e_v_i_l_l_e_,_ _A_R_ _ _7_2_7_0_1_ _ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _