dot-matrix printers still in use, was Re: The best CP/M machine ever? was Re: Kaypro II

I support a couple of companies that still use current-production dot-matrix printers. It is actually not true that you can print three (or whatever) copies faster on a laser printer; most of the time it's just a sales receipt on a pre-printed form, and you're only printing a few dozen to a couple hundred characters on it. Keep in mind that the speed of paper through a laser printer is constant regardless of the amount of text on it, which is not the case for most types of impact printers. One retail chain I support prints and form-feeds a typical two-part receipt in about four seconds. Combine that with the fact that they don't want to put a laser printer at each register, and the fact that they *like* their pre-printed forms...that's why dot-matrix printers are still being made. -Dave