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From: jp@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: In search of cheap letter quality printer (need advise)
Message-ID: <25252@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 1-May-85 01:59:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: lanl.25252
Posted: Wed May  1 01:59:37 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 1-May-85 17:36:14 EDT
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Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
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> 
> 	I want to buy a Letter Quality printer with part of my tax return
> and would like to get the net input on them.  The factors in order of 
> importance are :
> 
> 	1.  Price			less than $400.00
> 	2.  Reliable			if it breaks it will be six months 
> 				before I will get the cash to fix it.
> 	3.  Print wheels 	Have some selection of print wheels
> 
> Currently I am considering the following printer, but my search is not
> limited to those printers.
> 
> 	1.  Star Micronics -    I have a Gemini 10x that I love.
> 	2.  Juki 6100		
> 	3.  Silver Reed 400  	Know nothing about it
> 	4.  Cardco LQ3             "
> 	
> Protecto Enterprizes has an ad for Juki deluxe computer printer on sale
> for $249.00.  Is this the 6100 or some strip down model?  Any help that
> those in the know about letter Quality printer I would like to hear from.
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> -- 
> 	Darryl Wagoner
> 	Raytheon Co.; Portsmouth RI; (401)-847-8000 x4089
> 	...!decvax!brunix!rayssd!dpw
> 	...!allegra!rayssd!dpw
> 	...!linus!rayssd!dpw

Well, here we go again. The #%&$# machine crashed just as I was about to
finish my original reply.

My brother researched this subject pretty thoroughly a few months ago. 
(Does that mean the information is obsolete??)  He ended up buying a
COMREX II for $375.  After seeing it perform and knowing how careful
my brother is with a buck, I decided to buy a COMREX also.  I got the
COMREX IIE (slightly faster, otherwise the same) from JADE for $399.
It has been in use on my daughter's take-off-to-college word processing
system for two months now with no problems whatsoever.  In fact I am
very impressed with the ease with which the ribbon and print wheel can
be changed.  Both operations are essentially "drop-in".  The ribbon and
the print wheel do not interfere.  After struggling to change the print
wheels on a fancy QUME in order to get an occasional Greek letter or 
math symbol into an English text,  I was quite impressed with the 
design of the COMREX.  The print wheels are enclosed in a plastic
housing which makes for easy handling, but they cost about $15.  The
ribbon looks like one I7ve seen on another printer but I can't place it.
The same printer (or very nearly) is available as a Brother HR-15XL
(I think they are the actual manufacturer) and as a Dynax something-or-
other.

I must say I am impressed with the quality of printer that $400 buys these
days.  

Oh, yes.  The control codes for the COMREX printers are "standard" 
Diablo 630 codes which makes for easy installation with Wordstar, etc.

Jim Potter   jp@lanl.arpa