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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!clyde!ihnp4!cbosgd!mark
From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.micro.cbm
Subject: Commodore printer info wanted
Message-ID: <653@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 27-Nov-83 19:32:02 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.653
Posted: Sun Nov 27 19:32:02 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Nov-83 23:03:20 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 29

I'd like to thank all the people who responded with information about
the differences between the VIC-20 and C-64.  It seems the consensus
is that there are enough advantages to the C64 to warrent getting it.
While the major peripherals are compatible, the cartridges are not,
nor is the memory map.  There are also rumors that the 20 is on the
way out.  Also, the word was to get the real Commodore tape drive,
as it's much smarter than a regular cassette tape recorder.

Well, as events would have it, a printer is to be hooked up to the
C64.  I looked at the 1515 and was not impressed.  It prints at only
30 chars/second, won't do dot addressing, and isn't bi-directional.
The print quality isn't all that great, either - I wouldn't want to
use it for output from a word processor.  (Descender chars are raised.)
In short, its only good characteristics are that it costs only $250
and prints on regular paper.  I heard rumors that there is a 1516
nearly out, but it was recalled by the factory.

My questions are:

(1) is there anything special about the 1515 that makes it better than
some dumb printer for the C64?  I know it knows the C64 graphics character
set, but that isn't real important.  Is the interface between the two
based on Commodore's nonstandard version of ASCII?

(2) Does anyone know anything about the 1516?  Extra features?  Speed?
Cost?  When it will be out?

(3) Has anyone connected any other kind of printer to a C64 or 20, and
if so, what do you recommend and what's involved?