I have been lurking and reading this group for about 3 months because my
Epson C84 had become unreliable. Ok, so I knew I was going to eventually
have to replace it. At first I leaned toward a different model Epson. Then I
leaned toward the Canon. Then the HP had its chance (nozzles in the
cartridge). Art Entlich was most helpful in offering suggestions to correct
the problems. Nothing worked (thanks again Art). Today I unhooked it and
deleted all printer driver references.

My solution? Is there any way I can hook up a #2 lead pencil to my computer?
I remember they were rather reliable about 70 years ago when I was in the
first grade.................. I can live with just text printouts.

Walter

On Fri, 27 May 2005 22:03:25 GMT, "Walter Johnson"
<seea-big-train@the-att.net> wrote:

It's called a PLOTTER. It's a device which employs a motorized
armature that holds a writing implement (usually some sort of felt tip
marker) and motorized rollers which manipulate the paper. By moving
the paper and armature head around, and having the head contact and
pick up the writing implement from the paper surface, it creates
images and text using strokes as a person with a pen might. While
it's very cool to see one in action actually draw something before
your eyes, the technology is extremely slow.

I don't think any one produces one for consumer use anymore
---------------------------------------------

MCheu

Tiger direct still shows new Canon I960 printers for $79 after rebate.
Check to be sure these are new and not refurbished as they also sell them
refurbished. If Text printing is all you need you might consider this
printer with third party inks. I use mine with MIS ink and refill. There
are also aftermarket prefilled cartridges available. If you are interested
in following up on this solution read old posts byTaliesyn and Ron Cohen on
this NG regarding vendors they have found reliable. I have seen the IP4000
available, after rebates, for around $100. You can also consider an
inexpensive laser printer. There is a Brother available for around $100,
but it isn't rated for high output. Supposed to be quite good for the
price.

If your Epson is still printing black ok, just throw some el cheapo color
carts in, set the printer to grayscale (if it has such a setting), and
you've got a text printer. You won't care if the color jets clog if all you
want is text printing.

"Walter Johnson" <seea-big-train@the-att.net> wrote in message
news:NOMle.841976$w62.523039@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

Walter
You are even older than me! I'm sure you don't lurk!
Do you remember those mechanical devices that allowed you to copy a drawing by
tracing the original with a pointer that was mechanically linked to a pencil or
pen holder and reproduced the drawing on the target paper? A fascinating toy
called a Spirograph was developed from this ancient idea.
Well, you could always modify one so that you could trace your computer
generated text from your monitor and therefore reproduce it on paper. It might
be easier to do this with a flat screen monitor placed in a cutout on your desk
so it is flush with the desk surface. The process would be very slow unless you
have very steady hands; and many years of practice may be needed to get the
quality to an acceptable standard.
I have assumed that your message was "tongue in cheek", please understand that
my reply is offered in the same spirit.
Another solution occurs to me......Heaven forbid that you skip the use of a
computer altogether but you could write directly to the paper using a hand held
pencil but that would be retrograde to say the least!
Regards, keep the faith!
Tony

"Walter Johnson" <seea-big-train@the-att.net> wrote:

In message <NOMle.841976$w62.523039@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
Walter Johnson <seea-big-train@the-att.net> writes
Obviously you need to get a plotter and adjust its arms to fit a pencil
rather then a felt tip pen!

--
Timothy

In article <+IwxllDPKCmCFwkk@town-village.demon.co.uk>, me@privacy.net
<me@Privacy.Net> writes
--
Thoss

In article <yeNle.2173$kS3.146@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com>,
sfbjgNOSPAM@pacbell.net says...
If you only, or most often, print simple black/white text, get a LASER
printer. Much cheaper per-page cost than most any inkjet. Use the inkjet
only when you need color. You could use a color laser, but they are much
more expensive, and the print quality still isn't up to photo printing,
although it's OK for graphs and text.

--
If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law!!
http://home.att.net/~andyross

Tony (tongue in cheek), and all others who commented........

Y'all have given me some information to think about. Guess what I really
need is a way to hook up the old IBM selectric typewriter with the jumping
ball. I was always amazed at how that thing worked. It was the communication
on the IBM 1410 computer back in the 1950s. See how old I really
am??????????

W.



<Tony> wrote in message news:119f8rcmc846692@news.supernews.com...

Walter, you might find this website interesting.
http://www.thegalleryofoldiron.com/ It has some great photos of old systems.
I didn't get into software support until nearly the end of the s/360 era at
the beginning of s/370 although I'd been with IBM for nine years at that
point. Even then, some of those old boxes were still chugging along.

Ron Cohen

"Walter Johnson" <seea-big-train@the-att.net> wrote in message
news:BW%le.260081$cg1.53154@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

Walter Johnson <seea-big-train@the-att.net> wrote:
[Please don't top-post, as it makes replying to your messages
difficult.]

There were daisy wheel printers, and before that, a module that attached
to a Selectric typewriter and used solenoids to press the keys.

Both methods had problems, mainly with speed and reliability.

If you want reliable printing, get a laser.

--
Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota * USA

I think you may be referring to a pantograph.

The spirograph used a bunch of disks with holes in them to allow one to
draw different types of elliptical spirals.

Art

Tony wrote:

Ron,

This is surely not the place to discuss old computers but thanks for the
link. We should get together privately and talk about the "good"? old
computers? My valid e-mail is: big-train at att.net you know how to
make it work.

Warren,

I have seen both top and bottom postings and I use top because I prefer to
read current comment without having to scroll through what has gone before.
Readers: what is correct protocol?

W.

"Ron Cohen" <d+r+c+0+2+3@sbcXXXglobalYYY.ZZZnet> wrote in message
news:In8me.3809$3D6.1021@newssvr12.news.prodigy.co m...

Walter Johnson <seea-big-train@the-att.net> wrote:
You should take a few seconds to trim the previous post and leave just
that to which you are responding.

Like with speech, answers normally follow questions.

http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/oe-quotefix/

--
Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota * USA

Thanks Art,
I was trying to remember the name....the memory took me back to my youth.
Tony


Arthur Entlich <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote:

You really don't want to go there... It's a very "hot" subject to which
there is no real answer. Every open newsgroup I have ever been on
(including this one) has been through the debate more than once and
there is NEVER a conclusion, because it comes down to personal
preference and style, and both work for some and not for others.

You will find zealots on both sides, and you will find bogus and valid
arguments for both. I'm not suggesting the question is a bad one, just
that you will not get an answer that is definitive, and it will probably
heat up into some major battle again.

I suggest doing what feels most comfortable or efficient for your needs
and hope that anyone who finds your information interesting enough will
adapt even if begrudgingly.

Art


Walter Johnson wrote:

For me, on this NG, it's not so much top posting or bottom posting -
although there has been mucho discussion on the topic, as it is inline
comments that are almost impossible to find within the body of the entire
post because of the excessive amount of quoted text. If extraneous text is
snipped, then top or bottom posting isn't really such an issue. Either way,
it's easy to find. Personally I prefer top posting, but I suspect that I'm
in the minority on that point.

Ron


"Arthur Entlich" <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:VMYme.1527451$6l.690758@pd7tw2no...

particularly annoying is our very own village idiot who makes innane inline
comments and changes messages to make it appear that the person he is
responding to wrote something else. I wish he would leave sections intact
and respond with whatever he wishes to say either before or after any given
section. Just another way to distort, twist, and attempt to discredit what
is posted. What a total jerk.

"Ron Cohen" <d+r+c+0+2+3@sbcXXXglobalYYY.ZZZnet> wrote in message
news:%F1ne.778$RV5.509@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com. ..

Burt wrote:

Measekite the putz strikes again. Keep it up as it totally discredits you
as a contributor to this NG!!! Just the same as your unintended
consequence of giving wider exposure to the very vendors and their products
that you rant and lie about.

"measekite" <measekite@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:AE4ne.862$wy1.451@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com. ..

Burt wrote: