Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!mcsun!ukc!acorn!asmith
From: asmith@acorn.co.uk (Andy Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: 48sx Printer
Message-ID: <7999@acorn.co.uk>
Date: 25 Jun 91 11:52:05 GMT
References: <6117@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>
Sender: asmith@acorn.co.uk
Distribution: comp
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England
Lines: 50

In article <6117@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu> fledley@mbir.bcm.tmc.edu (R. Mark Adams) writes:

>I am considering the purchase of the companion printer to the HP48sx, and I am
>wondering if anybody in netland has had experience with it.  I have never had
>a printer for a calculator (though I always considered purchasing one for my
>HP41c...)

>My specific questions are: 

>1) How durable is it?  Can I carry it around as much as I carry the 48? 

If you mean the little IR printer that HP do to go with the 28/48/etc, then
these are my first impressions, having had mine about 3 weeks. 

Cons..

It is not of the same quality plastics as my 28, or the 48's I've seen. I do
not carry the printer like I carry my 28 for this reason. The battery
compartment lid seems to be about the weakest part, but this is on the
bottom so should not be a problem. 

There is no proper roller for the paper. It is friction fed, and the paper
just stands in a curved tray at the back. Even the cheap Casio's with built
in printers have a roller for the paper.

Its noisy. When the head is moving, the printer is noisy, no good for
exams:-) this is made worse by the head moving when you do a paper feed. I
do not see the point in this??? Think of all that electical energy being
converted into noise energy.

I would have expected better from a #100 printer

Pros...


The print quality is very good. 

Its great to be able to get a program listing for checking the program,
especially when comparing one you've typed in from a mail server.

I can sit on my sofa and point the 28 at the printer on the desk to get a
print out. NO LEADS to get in the way.

>2) Are the consumables prohibitivley expensive?  ie.  How often do you
replace the paper?

You replace the paper about once every 30 metres:-) The paper is not that
expensive.

Andy