#PRINTER HELP!!!!!
14 messages in this thread
HELP!
In just six short days, I will be packing to go off to college. I
have been meaning to get a printer to take with me to school, but I have
been extremely busy, and have not had a chance to sit down and look through
the available options. Now that I've finally realized I am running out of
time, I'm turning to the Amiga community for help <g>.
I'm looking for a parrellel port connection printer. I don't need
coloror just good quality black-and-white output, for the purpose of word p
proscessing. (Writing papers, letters, etc.)
I would prefer the printer be somewhat small (it doesn't need to be
t tiny- just small enough to be realistic for crowded dorm life.) and have
a printer driver that comes on the Amiga 1.3 workbench/extras disk. As for
price, something in the 300-800 dollar range. (I'm willing to pay a bit mo
more for good quality output.)
One last note- I have an HP Paintjet XL at home which I use for all
my serious printing needs, but its rather ridiculous size makes it unp
unpractical for school. So I don't need something amazing, just a printer
good enough to get me through school.
Any suggestions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. If you could also
provide the name and/or phone number of a mail-order place that carries the
printer you suggest, I would be eternally grateful <g>.
Thanks!!
Mark Allison
Mark:
In the price range you specified and considering that you'll be using it
for word processing of serious documents (school work) I would recomend
the HP DeskJet500 printer. It has a sheet feeder, and uses standard copy
paper, using inkjet technology. I've seen them for sale for $399.00 brand
new (When I bought my first DeskJet I paid about $600.00 for it) It is a
300 dot per inch printer that really works well with the Amiga, and there
are printer drivers for it with WB1.3 as well as WB2.0 (for when you
upgrade your machine :> ). It can print graphics very well too, and is
about the next best thing to a laser printer.
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
Thanks for the advice Mike! The HP Deskjet certainly does look like an
attractive option. I'll take it into consideration (and it will have to be
quick consideration considering my time restraints <g>.)
Thanks again!
Mark Allison
Mark:
I just got back from dinner with my nephew who is packing off for UT in
Austin tomorrow morning, and I'll tell you what I told him: Don't buy a
printer for college! Especially if you're going to be living in a dorm.
Printers are of every size, shape, style, type, and quality can be found
easily all over most any college campus. Friends, roomates, resident dorm
managers, department offices, libraries… darn near everywhere you look
will have printers. And because you can save your files to msdos disks by
using CROSS-DOS or an equivalent program, you can easily just take a disk
and print it out on most any PC or MAC that is connected to a printer.
It's easier than having having a local computer store! And then you don't
have to worry about the spcae or security in your dorm room.
If after a semester or quarter you decide that you just can't live without
one, take a look at the Canon bubble jet printers like the 10ex. It is
notebook sized, has excellent text output, and is may suit your needs just
fine. It sells for around $300.
But IMHO, your best printer choice is NO printer. At least for the time
being.
BTW, where are you going to school?
// Michael
\X/ …on AutoPilot
Michael,
Thanks for the advice! It is always useful to have someone point
out t there are more options to be considered. However, because of the
frequency and odd times I use my printer, I really wouldn't feel
comfortable without one of my own. Besides, I do a great deal of writing,
which requires a lot of printing of rough drafts, etc.
I'll be attending Kenyon College, a small liberal arts school in
Ohio. Never heard of it? Most people haven't. If it helps, Paul Newman
wenent there. (No, that really didn't impress me either…)
ANYWAY,
Mark Allison
Mark:
Well, I guess if you feel you must have a printer at hand, then nothing I
say is going to stop you from getting one <g>. But do consider that the
whole point of using a word processor is that you can edit a file and
create many drafts prior to paper output. Saves a tree or two, and
certainly lots of time. Do check out that small notebook bubble jet
printers, and as I believe it was Chris who pointed out, the HP DeskJet
500. These printers have exceptional text output and the are silent (good
for late night printing in a dorm room!).
Kenyon? Well, actually, I _do_ know of it! I live in Cleveland. Do keep
in touch once you get settled on campus.
// Michael
\X/ …on AutoPilot
MICHAEL Gerard
Did I read it right that your nephew is coming to UT?? (UTAH). If that is
so, and he needs any help or anything, have him give me a call and mention
your name. He can call my BBS (801) 576-1303. Check your EMAIL for the
voice number. Anyway, if SLC area is where he is going to be and he needs
any help, let me know.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
John:
Hehe… I just posted you a long reply via CMail, and I guess you have
gathered by now that my nephew, Bryan, is headed out to teh University of
Texas in Austin, not to Utah. Thanks very much for providing the BBS # and
offering to help! It's really very generous of you.
// Michael
\X/ …on AutoPilot
Mark,
Right now, you can get an HP500 (not the color one) for under $400. This
will give you excellent quality output, if it is not too large a printer
for you. If that is too big, I would suggest one of the Canon Bubble jet
printers that are made for laptops. I have the BJ-20 for my notebook
computer. It is also notebook sized, and by itself is almost the same
size as my notebook computer and has seven built-in fonts. IT weighs
about 3 pounds or so. It came with a paper feeder that just about doubles
its depth, but adds little to the weight. It also has excellent output,
and also costs somewhere between $300-400. CompUSA had excellent prices
on these printers when I was shopping only a few weeks ago. The BJ20
emulates the IBM proprinter or the BJ130, and drivers for both are
available for nearly everything I've looked at. I believe it also
emulates one of the Epson printers.
Betty,
Thanks for your input! Well it seems a run-off between the
HPDeskJets and Cannon Bubble printers. A difficult choice.
Thanks again for your input!
Mark Allison
Mark,
Definitely consider the Canon BubbleJet. Bitmap printing is SLOW, slower
than the DJ500. Fantastic quality, though. Very cheap, very small, auto
sheet feeder, very light, AC/DC. Driver's in the LIB here.
The DJ500 is perhaps a bit better and certainly faster but it takes up a
lot more desk space.
Malcolm
I would recommend the HP DeskJet 500. It is available locally around here
for $399 and has amazing output.
-mark=
– whappity whap whap… whap whap!!
Mark,
Until I caved in and got a laser printer, I found that the Star (NX-1000 at
the time) printer, which is a very inexpensive 9 pin printer was more than
adequate for my needs. You might want to check it out.
If you send me your address i'd be happy to send you some sample output.
AND, if you might be interested in buying mine, it's currently packed in a
box in my closet.
Let me know if you're interested.
.. Tim Trompeter…
Tim,
We have sold that printer for years. It is a good printer.
-mark=
– whappity whap whap… whap whap!!