Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!caip!topaz!ll-xn!nike!lll-crg!lll-lcc!vecpyr!amd!intelca!qantel!dosadi!root From: root@dosadi.UUCP (Maintenance Account) Newsgroups: net.periphs Subject: Re: Printronix printers Message-ID: <103@dosadi.UUCP> Date: Fri, 15-Aug-86 23:31:25 EDT Article-I.D.: dosadi.103 Posted: Fri Aug 15 23:31:25 1986 Date-Received: Sun, 17-Aug-86 10:12:26 EDT References: <554@unccvax.unccvax.UUCP> Distribution: net Lines: 49 > > My university has been using the Printronix P300 dot matrix printer (rated > at 300 LPM) for the past few years and overall we have been pretty happy > with it, but we are now looking for something with a bit higher duty cycle. > Someone suggested that we look at the P600 (since we are basically happy > with the P300), but from what little info I have on the Printronix P600 it > isn't clear if it is just a P300 running faster, or a different (ie: more > heavy duty) design. > > Are there any Printronix P600 users who would like to pass along their > experiences? > > Thanx in advance, > Dwayne Mcneil (UUCP: decvax!mcnc!unccvax!dbm) Where I work we had a P600 for about 3 years. I have two words to say about it. Avoid it. The P600 is just a P300 slightly modified to run 600 LPM. The P300 wasn't designed to take this kind of abuse and the P600 can't. Before we replaced it, it was breaking down about 3-4 times a WEEK (when being run approximately 6 hours a day, intermettently). If you happen to be unfortunate enough to get one, I'd definitely recommend a service contract and a backup printer. You'll be replacing a lot of print hammers, hammer coils, and occasionally the entire print shuttle. Shuttles cost about $2000 last that I heard, if I recall correctly. We had ours under maintenance with Prime (was hooked up to a prime), and our CE's were almost begging that we replace it with something else. They were definitely sick of the beast. By the way, I know that we didn't just get a bad one because Prime replaced it with another P600 once. I've also heard from a few other unfortunates who've had to put up with these things. I hear that you can convert a P300 to a P600. I'd say that going the other way around would be a much more popular mod. Incidently, if you're wondering, we finally replaced it with a Data Printer 1210 (750 LPM upper/lower, 1000 LPM upper only). Other than some slight paper jam problems, it works wonderfully. With a power stacker (probably would have to disable the paper feed mechanism after the tractors. No big deal), it would be near perfect. -- /Dave Edick/ {hplabs,ihnp4}!qantel!dosadi!root "I come in peace, take me to your lizard"