Message-ID: <3842@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Oct-84 10:04:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.3842
Posted: Fri Oct  5 10:04:35 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Oct-84 06:34:05 EDT
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Does anyone have any experience with machines which are basically electric
typewriters, but which have optional computer interfaces?  I know of three:
(1) at least one of the Brother models, (2) The high-end Sears typewriter,
and (3) a new Royal typewriter.

Last time I looked, the only interfaceable Brother was a dot-matrix type.
The other two are daisy-wheel.  The Sears costs ~$500 + ~200 for the 
interface, while the Royal costs ~$300 +  for the interface.

On the surface, one of the daisy-wheel typewriters seems ideal for my 
family.  We need a typewriter (do you really want to fire up the computer just
to type an envelope address?), and I would like to have a slow letter 
quality printer on my PDP-11 as well.  However, I have never seem them 
discussed anywhere.  How well do they work in each mode?  How durable
are they?  Etc etc.

Thanks for any help you can offer!  Please reply directly...I do not 
subscribe to these newsgroups.  I will post a summary of replies.

Burns


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Message-ID: <5131@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 8-Oct-84 14:13:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.5131
Posted: Mon Oct  8 14:13:40 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Oct-84 20:03:59 EDT
References: <3842@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistics Research Lab
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I have a Brother CE-50 daisy wheel typewriter w/computer interface.
I have no problems with the interface other than the typewriter is
no overly fast.  It is a fairly reasonable typewriter with correction
and things like decimal tab stops (others in the line also have automatic
centering).  It is also fairly light and comes with a lid so you can
carry it around.  It doesn't look that durable so I wouldn't do something
like checking it as luggage on a plane.

The typewriter is rather nice with the exception of the type styles
available.  They are rather limitted.  The one that comes with it
is called PRESTIGE 1012.  The idea is that you can use it at either
10 or 12 pitch.  It looks kind of dumb at 10 pitch and is best at 12.
They also have a different style (Oracle?) that looks good at 10 pitch.

-Ron

Message-ID: <555@turtlevax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Oct-84 01:48:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: turtleva.555
Posted: Mon Oct  8 01:48:25 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Oct-84 20:14:57 EDT
References: <3842@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: CADLINC, Inc. @ Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 7

The computer interfaces I've seen are one-way (computer-to-typewriter)
and have only CTS/RTS handshaking.  When are the wizards of UNIX
ever going to supply hardware handshaking standard with UNIX?
-- 
Ken Turkowski @ CADLINC, Palo Alto, CA
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ARPA: turtlevax!ken@DECWRL.ARPA

Message-ID: <394@hlwpc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 12-Oct-84 12:37:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: hlwpc.394
Posted: Fri Oct 12 12:37:51 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Oct-84 07:27:57 EDT
References: <3842@decwrl.UUCP> <5131@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Short Hills, NJ
Lines: 14

Along these same lines, does anyone know if it is possible
to convert an electronic typewriter into one that can serve
as a computer printer?  I own a Royal Alpha 2001
(same as an Adler Satellite II), the predecessor of the
Royal Alpha 2002 which has a computer interface.  I'd
like to upgrade my old typewriter if possible.  I haven't
called Royal's USA office in Union, NJ yet, but even if I
do, they'd probably tell me that they couldn't do it, and if
anything went wrong, it would be my problem, etc. . . .
I'm not skilled at electronics, so I'd have to find a shop
or person to do it for me.

Carl Blesch
. . . hlwpc!cb