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From: buehring@waltz.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Want advice on small printers
Message-ID: <30700012@waltz.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-Jan-85 10:12:00 EST
Article-I.D.: waltz.30700012
Posted: Fri Jan 25 10:12:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Jan-85 04:48:16 EST
References: <450@digi-g.UUCP>
Lines: 50
Nf-ID: #R:digi-g:-45000:waltz:30700012:000:2240
Nf-From: waltz!buehring    Jan 25 09:12:00 1985

I can recommend the TI-855 (warning, I work for TI -  but hey, I don't do
sales).  It meets the following of the author's criteria:

>    *	Draft mode speed >= 120cps
150cps draft.
>    *	Correspondence quality approaching that of daisy-wheel or
>	good typewriters.  Overlayed dots ok (>2 passes?).
Excellent in "quality mode" -- get out the magnifying glass if you want to see
any dots!
>    *	At least ONE nice font with an unslashed zero (0)!!
Dozens of font modules, 3 of which may be plugged in at one time.  Many of
these modules emulate the popular daisywheels.
>    *	Arbitrary paper handling -- tractor labels, fan fold paper,
>	single sheet linen letterhead, etc.
Yes, and an auto single sheet feeder is optional.
>    *	Durable!
So I'm told -- no problems here.
>    *	Easy to maintain (no screwdriver needed to change ribbon :-)
>    *	All options software selectable
>    *	nroff compatible (not tough, I think)
Will accept either Epson MX or daisywheel (Qume?) protocol.
>    *	serial port with software handshaking (XON/XOFF)
Selectable XON/XOFF, DTR(Busy/Ready), or STX/ETX protocols.
>    o	Graphics capability (NOT character graphics), preferably
>	APA (all points addressable)
>    o   Proportional correspondence mode for which nroff tables can
>	be built (Yes, Virginia, this can be done -- we did with
>	our TI 810LQ: need to replace col, otherwise great)
Will even do the proportional stuff itself (you set the margins and tell
it to enter proportional mode -- haven't done it myself yet).
>    o	Quiet (quieter than phonebooks being rended, anyway)
About average.
>    o	Reasonable availability (<6 weeks)

And one more thing -- it has BOTH a parallel and serial interface STANDARD.

> I need to find a solution for under $600.  Thank you in advance for
> your help.  I do appreciate it.

There's the rub -- I  think the 855 can be had for ~750 these days, but I
think it's the last printer one would ever need (except for color) since it
seems to succeed at being all things -- fast draft printer, LQ when needed,
super graphics resolution, and compatible w/ just about anything.  Yeah, I
like mine.

/Walt/

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