home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Amiga Collections: MegaDisc
/
MegaDisc 06 (1988)(MegaDisc Digital Publishing)(AU)[m][WB].zip
/
MegaDisc 06 (1988)(MegaDisc Digital Publishing)(AU)[m][WB].adf
/
REVIEWS
/
EpsonLQ-850.rvw
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1988-04-09
|
4KB
|
87 lines
A REVIEW OF THE EPSON LQ-850 PRINTER
For the last few years I have owned an Amiga 1000 and an Epson LX-86,
which have served me well and were adequate for all my needs. However for
the last year I've used my computer at work for writing reports, letters
and memos.
Suddenly I found that my trusty Epson had major drawbacks. To start with,
in NLQ (Near Letter Quality) print, it was exceedingly slow. Printing a
long report 20 pages odd would take 10 minutes or more so while the printer
was churning it out I used to go and make a cup of coffee. Another drawback
was the mass of wasted continuous printed stationery it created. If I wrote,
say a memo, to take that piece of paper out of the printer would mean I had
to waste the next sheet. Over a period of time I have wasted a vast amount
of paper.
In addition the SelecType feature was very difficult to use, this selected
condensed or double strike etc. After a while I gave up trying to use it
and only used it to select draft or NLQ from the panel. I utilised my
software to select bold, underlining etc.
Enter the LQ-850, which is one of Epson's latest 24 pin models. It
completely satisfies all my needs for a printer. I looked around at other
printers, Brother, NEC, Star, etc but feature for feature I believe the
Epson is good value.
Some facts and figures on the LQ-850:
Draft mode: 264 cps
Letter Quality: 88 cps
Two selectable fonts with space for two extra slots for drop-in font
cartridges which are available from Epson.
The letter quality printing is excellent when compared to my old printer
and is as fast in this mode as my old printer was in draft! 24 pins make
a big difference compared to 9 pins and characters look very smooth. One
thing I have noticed that if you use better quality paper to print out on,
you seem to get a better result than just using photocopy paper.
The feature that appeals to me the most is what Epson call the `short
tear-off' function. This in essence allows you to print on one sheet of
continuous paper, and not waste the next sheet.
Here's how it works: You print out your letter or whatever on the first
sheet, then the printer automatically draws the paper forward until you
can tear off the sheet you have used, then when you come to print again
the printer draws the previous sheet back into the machine and aligns it
ready for printing. No more wasted paper!! Marvellous.
Another feature is paper parking which allows you to leave continuous
paper in the machine, disengage the tractor feed, which in this model is
a push tractor, and then insert a single sheet, print on that, take it out,
press a lever and feed the continuous back in, all of which saves masses
of time.
On the LQ-850 the SelecType panel is clear and easy to use. You press the
button you want to select the font you want which includes draft or NLQ.
There is another section of buttons for the pitch 10, 12, 15 or
proportional spacing. Below that there is one more button which selects
condensed type. Each button has a light next to it so you can clearly
see what has been selected. There are the usual buttons for on/off line,
form feed, line feed and load/eject.
Epson claim that it is a quiet printer, their pamphlet says `-only 55db(A),
measured by ISO standards'. I cannot dispute this but it still sounds to
me like a noisy printer. There is a fan which runs all the time and makes
a noise; then the printer adds to this when it is working.
There are many other features that I have not touched on and that other
people may find useful. The functions that I wanted out of a printer the
LQ-850 provide. I am sure that anybody who invests in one like me will
not be disappointed.
The printer comes with three manuals which are: a reference guide,
setting up, and user's guide. All written in plain english with simple
diagrams where necessary.
The price:- not cheap, around $1100.00 discounted, but like anything in
life quality and time saving features cost money.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ END OF EPSONLQ-850.RVW ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~