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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!floyd!clyde!ihnp4!cbosgd!mark
From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.micro.cbm
Subject: Re: What makes a good graphics printer interface?
Message-ID: <762@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Dec-83 12:14:15 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.762
Posted: Wed Dec 28 12:14:15 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Dec-83 00:35:25 EST
References: <259@inuxa.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 31

We recently bought a Gemini 10X and a Cardco interface.
One respondent indicated he had heard of reliability problems
with the Cardco, two others were satisfied.  My impression
of the Cardco is that the interface works fine, but it draws
its power from the cassette port through a kludged up board
that is inserted between the cassette plug and the C64.
This board is not in all that well, and if you move cables
around at all (as you are likely to when you use your cassette)
it tends to drag the plugs out.  In addition to the obvious
problems of not having your cassette plugged in, it could eventually
break the board or wear out the connectors.  (If anyone has a solution
I'd be interested to hear about it.)

The Cardco is a general purpose interface from the VIC 20 or C64
to any printer with a Centronics port.  However, in reading their
manual, you find there are some printer dependent translations done
to make it look like a 1525 printer.  They specifically mention
several printers it is known to work on with different degrees of
success: Star Micronics, Epson, Radio Shack, and by throwing a switch,
the Prowriter and Smith Corona TP-1.  You have to change software to
make an Okidata work.  The only ones that can dump graphics transparently
(it amazes me that any can) are the Star, Epson, and Prowriter.
A small change for graphics is needed for the Prowriter.

The Cardco manual is full of serious typos, hopefully you aren't going
to foist it on a beginner that will believe them.  They do include
a phone number you can call 1-5 PM weekdays to ask questions, and
emphasize that they want to make you happy.

We paid $50 for the Cardco at a local (Youngstown) computer store,
and the extra $50 for the Microware didn't seem worth it.