[net.micro] Printer wanted

will (11/28/82)

Can anyone out there recommend to me a good, low-priced printer?
Dot-matrix is fine, as long as it is still good letter quality.
It should be RS232 compatible, and be able to use 8-1/2 by 11"
sheets, or 9-1/2" fanfold.  A used daisy wheel would be good,
but I'll take any advice people have.

				Thankee much, Will D.
				U. C. San Diego
				...sdcsvax!sdchema!will

mwm@Okc-Unix@sri-unix (11/30/82)

From: Mike Meyer <mwm@Okc-Unix>
A good, low-priced (letter-quaility) printer depends on what you consider
letter-quality. I, personally find the stuff that comes out of a typical
Diabloid printer crass and unacceptable. For instance, when this is placed
side by side with what comes off of my Epson in overstrike mode, the stuff
from the Epson is MUCH more readable. If readality is what you are looking
for, something like the Epson (the IDS Prism is probably  one of the best)
comes to mind.

For most things, I tend to use the Epson w/ the Fancy Font(tm) package
from Softcraft. As has been stated in the column before, FF is a package
billed as a personal typesetter. It fills that bill. The output is somewhat
`dotty,' bu how else could I get a system where I can build the normal
subgroup symbold for printing for under $1000?

If you are looking for something for commercial (sales) applications, you will
undoubtedly have to get a daisy-wheel printer. There is a prejudice against
dot-matrix printers among that community. I have been told by such people
that even things like the Xerox 9700 are unacceptable. *sigh*

I would appreciate it if you posted any (other) results you get to the
net.

	<mike