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From: psc@lzaz.UUCP (Paul S. R. Chisholm)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Near letter quality printers
Message-ID: <435@lzaz.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Dec-85 13:06:18 EST
Article-I.D.: lzaz.435
Posted: Tue Dec 10 13:06:18 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Dec-85 04:26:23 EST
References: <11119@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: AT&T-IS Enhanced Network Services
Lines: 34
Keywords: toshiba, epson, texas instruments, printer, near letter quality
Summary: Toshiba 1340 is good; so are some others

< Oxygen is for people who can't take New Jersey >

     Yes, the Toshiba 1340 is a good value for output that's *very*
nearly letter quality.  I reviewed a number of NLQ printers; of the
1340, I said:

        "The Toshiba's letters are beautiful, fully formed, and
   extremely typewriterlike.  In fact, when I described this survey to
   some friends, I showed them Toshiba's sample.  Several of them said,
   "OK, that's what a dasiy wheel printer does.  Now let me see some
   dot matrix output."  The Toshiba tied for second place in the survey
   [one point behind the Epson LQ1500; on a scale from zero to
   twenty-seven, the 1340 scored 20 points], but I'll admit that it's
   my personal favorite.  The underlined descenders [a real test of a
   NLQ printer] cost the 1340 its only "unacceptable" rating, given by
   an editor [George Scithers] who was consistently unforgiving on that
   point.  (The editors gave the Toshiba's sans serif typeface sample
   19 points.)"

     The TI 855 was also a very good value for the money.  Since then,
I've seen samples of the Epson FX-85, and like it a lot, for the
quality, the compatibility, and the price ($500).  I don't know anything
about the new Toshiba P341 or Epson LQ800 or LQ1000 printers.

     For more comments, print samples, and a double blind survey of SF
editors' opinions on what makes it and what doesn't, see "Are Near
Letter Quality Printers Near Enough?"  in the November 12, 1985 (v4 #23)
issue of PC Magazine.
-- 
       -Paul S. R. Chisholm       The above opinions are my own,
       {pegasus,vax135}!lzwi!psc  not necessarily those of any
       {mtgzz,ihnp4}!lznv!psc     telecommunications company.
       (*sigh* ihnp4!lzwi!psc does *NOT* work!!!  Use above paths.)
NOMINATE MARK LEEPER (mtgzz!leeper):  HUGO AWARD FOR BEST FAN WRITER IN 1986