7 Sep
2011
7 Sep
'11
1:58 p.m.
On 7 Sep 2011 at 21:22, Tony Duell wrote:
This of course assumes you don't rgard laser
printers as part of
computer history and therefore worth preserving. I cuuld mention that
many computers hve nice mais transofrmers in them too (PDP8s, PDP11s,
P850s, HP9800 calculators, HP9826s and HP9836s, etc), but anyone who
strips those for parts is liable to be LARTed
After a time, it simply becomes uneconomical to operate one, compared
to a modern laser printer. Take, for example, the Panasonic KX-
P4451, fairly representative of these old beasts. Circa 1990, uses a
massive print engine that was also shared with their plain-paper
faxes and compiers. 13 PPM, Appletalk interface as well as the usual
serial and parallel. Nice printer, but the separate toner, OPC drum,
developer and ozone filter units will set you back a lot now per copy-
-assuming you can find a functioning OPC unit (they do have a shelf
life).
Why bother when you can buy a Brother desktop laser that costs almost
nothing to refill, runs just as fast and even has ethernet
connectivity? And printers appear to have very little collector
value, judging from the units I can't even give away.
For big jobs, I like my Xerox Docuprint.; can duplex-print 11x17"
paper, can be operated remotely and even accepts a hard disk for job
spooling. Since an extra kit came with it, I'll probably be using it
10 years from now.
If anyone wants a perfectly operable Panasonic KX-P4455 (postscript)
printer, they're welcome to it for shipping (it's heavy, so shipping
will cost a small fortune).
--Chuck