Best DOT MATRIX printer for Amiga

[robinsonb5]

Originally Posted by drHirudo

Like for example automatically printing on three layers of paper - you handle invoice or receipt to the consumer for signature, then leave the top copy for him and get the remaining.

Indeed - that use case is the reason you can still buy dot matrix printers brand new.
I found myself wondering what they cost these days, and how many types are available - I'm astonished on both counts!
https://www.printerbase.co.uk/printe...?is_ajax=1&p=1

[Overmann]

There are many uses for dotmatrix printers, but in a non-professional setting they have been pretty much completely replaced. I still enjoy using them with my retro systems. They are very easy to set up and configure and I actually enjoy the sound. Atleast of the 24pin models. The 9pin models are usually higher pitch.

[lesta_smsc]

Originally Posted by Overmann

There are many uses for dotmatrix printers, but in a non-professional setting they have been pretty much completely replaced. I still enjoy using them with my retro systems. They are very easy to set up and configure and I actually enjoy the sound. Atleast of the 24pin models. The 9pin models are usually higher pitch.

Reminds of the old receipt machines we used to have at work lol... nowadays it's all thermal printing.

[Havie]

A was desperate for a Star colour printer but never managed to get one.

Ended up with a Canon BJ10 (mono). The saved up empty cartridges, bought a sheet feeder and spend hours cleaning out the black cartridges so they could be refilled with cyan, yellow and magenta. The had a bit of software that split pictures in two CYM and black. The had to put the same bit of paper through the printer four times (hence the need for a sheet feeder). Voila - colour printouts from a mono printer... was hard work though and eventually upgrades to a BJ240! Happy days!

[lesta_smsc]

Originally Posted by Havie

A was desperate for a Star colour printer but never managed to get one.



Ended up with a Canon BJ10 (mono). The saved up empty cartridges, bought a sheet feeder and spend hours cleaning out the black cartridges so they could be refilled with cyan, yellow and magenta. The had a bit of software that split pictures in two CYM and black. The had to put the same bit of paper through the printer four times (hence the need for a sheet feeder). Voila - colour printouts from a mono printer... was hard work though and eventually upgrades to a BJ240! Happy days!

That is ingenious! Such a lot of effort but seems like a worthwhile endeavour back in the day.

I had a Canon Inkjet BJC-4200. This was supported and Canon kindly sent me disks repeatedly with the drivers... unfortunately they were MSDOS formatted so I couldn't read them on the Amiga! Lol


Here is a Citizen colour printer for sale:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/citizen-c....m46890.l49292

[DDNI]

I had a Star LC 24/200 until about a decade ago. The ribbon has long dried up. It was the noisiest thing I’ve ever had in my office. How you could want that back leaves me speechless

[Havie]

I remember there was a dye sublimation printer too but can't remember it's name. Obviously not dot matrix. Could go the whole hog and get a golf ball or daisy wheel printer but obviously no good for graphics!,

[Havie]

Originally Posted by lesta_smsc

That is ingenious! Such a lot of effort but seems like a worthwhile endeavour back in the day.

I had a Canon Inkjet BJC-4200. This was supported and Canon kindly sent me disks repeatedly with the drivers... unfortunately they were MSDOS formatted so I couldn't read them on the Amiga! Lol

Yes it was ingenious and time consuming but produced really good results as it was basically producing the same sort of prints as the much more expensive 4 colour printers.

[redblade]

Get a 3D printer (Creality Ender 3 Pro), they make noise like the dot matrix printer.
I think you have to code a driver if you want to use the dot matrix printer, it's amazing how those old manuals provided you with the data or schematics so you could tinker with it or code your own drivers.

[robinsonb5]

Originally Posted by DDNI

I had a Star LC 24/200 until about a decade ago. The ribbon has long dried up. It was the noisiest thing I’ve ever had in my office. How you could want that back leaves me speechless

How could you *not* want to experience this?
[ Show youtube player ]

Originally Posted by Havie

I remember there was a dye sublimation printer too but can't remember it's name.

The words "Fargo Primera" are rattling around in a dusty corner of my memory - is that the one you're thinking of?

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by robinsonb5

How could you *not* want to experience this?
[ Show youtube player ]

ROFL

That's so appropriate for me as I'm currently rewatching the Rocky series that I haven't seen since a teenager.

Just finished Rocky III; now that was awesome

Rocky and Rocky II, a little too boring

Really looking forward to Rocky IV with Dolph Lundgren

[Havie]

Originally Posted by robinsonb5

How could you *not* want to experience this?
[ Show youtube player ]





The words "Fargo Primera" are rattling around in a dusty corner of my memory - is that the one you're thinking of?

I think that's it - by all accounts amazing printing of graphics especially for the time.

[Havie]

Originally Posted by redblade

Get a 3D printer (Creality Ender 3 Pro), they make noise like the dot matrix printer.
I think you have to code a driver if you want to use the dot matrix printer, it's amazing how those old manuals provided you with the data or schematics so you could tinker with it or code your own drivers.

Just got a delta printer and only makes that noise when it catches on the print -grrrr!

[aeberbach]

I don't think there was a great color dot matrix. In fact I can't think of an affordable color printer that wasn't slow, prone to wasting expensive consumables and poor quality before color lasers which are obviously still not quite photographic quality.

But I loved the Epson LQ570+ B&W printer. Give me that, a box of fanfold tractor paper and some code to debug...

(It's still on the Epson site - maybe still a current product!)

[YouKnowWho]

Originally Posted by drHirudo

The best Dot Matrix printer I used is the Panasonic KX-P2130.
[ Show youtube player ]

It has some features that even the most modern printers can't replace. Like for example automatically printing on three layers of paper - you handle invoice or receipt to the consumer for signature, then leave the top copy for him and get the remaining.

I think I'm going to get one of these Panasonic printers in the end. Some of the models are advertised as "quiet".

I actually want the complete experience here. I want the sound! I want to remember what it was like. I'm thinking I'll print a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" banner, see how long it takes. Supplies seem available here or there. Dot matrix had some interesting features - the impact allowed for multiple copies as you note, and that is still valid and used widely today. The continuous feed paper allowed for longer continuous prints - like banners for example.

If you think about it, it was amazing really that they even became color.

[YouKnowWho]

Originally Posted by lesta_smsc

Citizen did some good ones back in the day. Think a few of these still about.

I had a Roland, and then moved to a Citizen color - which I liked quite a bit back then. Supplies are an issue for Citizen printers though, so I am going to go Panasonic in the end I think.

[YouKnowWho]

Originally Posted by Predseda

I hated and still hate the noise of dot matrix printers. I can not stand it and I am thanking God every day he wiped them out from the Earth surface.

So the answer to the question of best matrix printer is: no matrix printer.

I bet you Tiesto used the sound in a song already! ...if not, he should.

I actually want the sound experience. A reminder.

"Mom, are you a sleep? I need to print out my assignment. OK, I'll do it in the morning then."

[YouKnowWho]

Originally Posted by robinsonb5

The words "Fargo Primera" are rattling around in a dusty corner of my memory - is that the one you're thinking of?

I remember all those dreamy adds for Fargo Primera in Amiga World!

DYK - continuous paper is still sold, but a box of it cost as much as many excellent condition dot matrix printers! That's right - paper cost as much as printer!

[YouKnowWho]

LIVE THE EXPERIENCE!

[ Show youtube player ]

#dotmatrix4ever

Look, let's not kid ourselves. If the Computer Gods keep a list of Amiga Users that keep the dream alive, you know it is printed out annually for records keeping on a DOT MATRIX printer.

[robinsonb5]

Originally Posted by YouKnowWho

DYK - continuous paper is still sold, but a box of it cost as much as many excellent condition dot matrix printers! That's right - paper cost as much as printer!

<me imagines Hewlett Packard casting envious glances...>


(I haven't been asked for printed continuous stationery since 2014, but there are still a number of companies that can produce it pre-printed with your own logos or forms.)