Good dot-matrix printers should be able to do the following:
* Organize power and data cables so that they do not interfere
with, the paper path
* Pull fanfold paper up through a slot in the bottom of
the printer
* Push fanfold paper up to the print head so that you can
tear sheets off immediately after the print head. Many printers
force you to print a second document before the first can
be torn off. Otherwise, a sheet of paper is wasted.
* Park fanfold paper out of the way without removing the
paper
* Enable you to manually insert single sheets of paper
easily without having to touch any buttons or move any knobs
on the printer
* Provide a straight-through paper path so that you can
use thicker, heavier paper, and light paper does not curl
during humid weather
* Have no printer knobs, removable printer knobs, or printer
knobs with a clutch to disable the motor that moves the
knobs while the printer is on
* Have a switch that chooses tractor feed or friction feed,
and a system of levers that prevents tractor and friction
feed from being chosen at the same time
* Pull at least 10 fanfold sheets of paper using the friction
feed without scrolling the paper off the platen
* Paper trays (not cut-sheet feeders) have proved so successful
in the laser printer market that one can hope that dot-matrix
printers will develop paper trays. In fact, some models
exist already. Paper trays are much easier to use than snaking
tractor-feed paper out of a box: paper trays take up much
less space; the sheets of paper coming out of the printer
can stack in order, saving the time of tearing the fanfold
sheets apart; and company letterhead, fancy paper, and stationery
is much easier to find in single-sheet form.
Dot-matrix ribbons can cost alot - a huge price difference. But, because you can use the ribbons
over and over again, the ribbon cost can be mitigated. And,
when you compare the ribbon costs to toner, ink, carbon
and thermal transfer technologies, the difference is minor.
On a tight budget, you may want to compare dot-matrix ribbon
costs. Okidata made a few printer models that used the spool-type
ribbons of typewriters and teletypes. This is the cheapest
ribbon around, yet this factor did not turn out to be a
selling point.
A more important problem is how dirty your fingers get
when changing the ribbon (typewriter-type ribbons are the
worst.) In fact, plastic gloves are shipped with some ribbons.
The ink picked up from these ribbons can spread all over
the office, creating smudges everywhere.
When you are printing on stencils, mimeographs, and occasionally
forms, sometimes removing the ribbon increases the impact
and the quality. If the ribbon is easy to remove, you save
time. Ribbon changing can require a flash-light held by
a second person at just the right angle. Ask to remove and
insert the ribbon before you purchase a printer.
Inkjet cartridges printers come in all sizes and shapes. These ink cartridge printers
have really not found a market niche yet, except in the
portable printer market. Because most inkjet printers are
either competing with dot-matrix or laser printers, they
have the paper handling features of a dot matrix or the
paper trays of a laser. Inkjets have the font-manipulation
capabilities of a dot matrix or the capability to receive
downloaded fonts and behave like a character laser printer.
No object inkjet printers exist.
The trouble with the inkjet printer is that the ink bladders
are too expensive. The liquid ink has always had plumbing
problems- leaking and clogging up. If you are intent on
purchasing an inkjet, make sure that it will work after
sitting all weekend without you having to fiddle with the
ink bladder inkjets have a tendency to clog when not in
use. Hewlett-Packard seems to have solved the problem with
the DeskJet inkjet printers, but the bladders are still
expensive. IBM's Quietwriter printer series had the same
problem. Although the print-out looked great, the ribbons
cost S15 each, could only be used once, and did not last
very long. The Quietwriter was a very expensive printer
to operate.
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