Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!uxc!uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!uxg.cso.uiuc.edu!uxh.cso.uiuc.edu!beaucham
From: beaucham@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Epson LQ850
Message-ID: <19500024@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 8 Mar 89 02:52:00 GMT
References: <722@orbit.UUCP>
Lines: 29
Nf-ID: #R:orbit.UUCP:722:uxh.cso.uiuc.edu:19500024:000:1561
Nf-From: uxh.cso.uiuc.edu!beaucham    Mar  7 20:52:00 1989


I've been using the LQ850 for about a year now and must say I'm basically
very happy with it.  Initially, I was very dissatisfied with the print
quality (too light), but discovered that this was a fault with the ribbons
supplied in 1987/88.  After purchasing a new ribbon last summer, the print
quality improved remarkably, and after a xerox it almost looks laser.
Moreover, the quality of a ribbon holds up for a long time (months).

One of my problems with switching from the Epson FX80 (9 pin) to the 24 pin
LQ850 was that it wasn't supported by very many graphics programs.  I hear
that even AutoCad doesn't support 24 pin printers!  However, I recently
obtained a product from Foresight (619-743-5315) which intercepts printer
data and makes the 24 pin printer simulate a 9 pin.  The graphs aren't any 
better, but this at least eliminates the stretch problem which occurs when 
sending 9 pin Epson graphics to the 24 pin version.

One exception is ChiWriter, a scientific word processor, which does support
24 pin printers, including the LQ850.  Output which was substandard with
9 pin now looks quite professional with the 24 pin printer.

I am sold on the LQ850 for its economy ($500 is a good price -- I paid about
that, but had to shop around).  It would be nice to have more speed and 
quieter operation, e.g., a fast ink jet, but I don't think this is available
in this price range.

I would be interested in hearing about other people's experience in using
24 pin printers, especially for graphic output.

Jim Beauchamp   beaucham@uxc.cso.uiuc.edu