Carbon paper 1, technology 0: the latest printers do little for a company that must process bulky multipart forms
Article Abstract:
Fat forms - multipart documents that require many copies - cause troubles for small-business computer printers. Troubles seem to peak early in the year when companies start trying to print W-2 forms. In New York State, for an example, six copies can be needed in a form, with five sheets of carbon paper, for a total of 11 sheets. Advances in printer technology have not relieved the problem of fat forms. Paper jams and thick forms drift out of alignment. Even if a printer can squeeze forms through its rollers, bottom copies sometimes are illegible. What's a user to do? For one thing, look for a 'maximum forms thickness' specification, usually expressed in thousandths of an inch. Actually, there is only one reliable way to judge a printer: take the office's fattest form to your dealer and run the form through the printer, noting ease or difficulty of loading and unloading; then, check the last leaf.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1990
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Printers are improved
Article Abstract:
Dot-matrix printers offer a low-priced alternative to today's relatively expensive non-impact laser and ink-jet printers. Even the cheapest laser printers sell for over $750, with high-end models costing $6,000 or more. Dot-matrix printers from such companies as Panasonic Communications and Systems Co offer 24-pin quality for under $500. Such printers offer speeds of approximately 63 characters per second (cps) in letter-quality mode and faster draft modes with speeds of up to 240 cps. Price is not the only consideration when buying a printer. A dot-matrix printer is the only choice for businesses that print multipart forms such as invoices and receipts because non-impact printers do not make contact with the paper to produce carbon copies. Laser printers are quieter than dot-matrix products, however.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
2 new laser printers from Apple
Article Abstract:
Apple introduces the $1,999 Personal Laserwriter SC and the $3,299 Personal Laserwriter NT. Both are low-cost additions to Apple's printer line, but they are still priced well above what MS-DOS users pay for a low-end laser printer. Both printers use the Canon LBP-LX print engine and Motorola's 68000 microprocessor. Both printers are rated at four-pages-per-minute. The 1Mbyte SC uses Apple's Quickdraw printer language, while the NT uses the more powerful PostScript language and comes with 2Mbytes of expandable RAM. According to Apple, the printers fill a gap in the firm's product line, but analysts feel Apple may be entering the low-end market with too little, too late. The new $2,795 QMS PS 410 laser printer, which works with both Apple Macintoshes and IBM microcomputers, may be a better choice.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1990
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: A hot computer technology cools; the shares of leading network companies have fallen to new lows. But niche players may be the safest bets
- Abstracts: The latest laptops: faster, sleeker, more powerful; companies disagree over whether customers want diskette drives built in
- Abstracts: Microchip Technology names new president. Advanced Micro moves to fill president's post. Vice president named to Intel's top team
- Abstracts: Preparing tax returns on home computers. 3 ways to face tax preparation. Software as accountant
- Abstracts: One-two punch for PC makers: market pummeled at top and bottom. Silicon Valley is changing programs