PSA: 9-pin Dot Matrix Printers are still available today (2024). Epson LX-350

[dragontamer5788]

LX-350 Impact Dot Matrix Printer | Products | Epson US

Epson, world leader of Impact Printers, introduces a new printer with the same technology, reliability and quality of its predecessors, but with a more compact presentation and robustness. The new LX-350 has fast and durable EPSON 9-Pin technology, prints up to 347 characters per second and is...

epson.com

Apparently Epson is still making a line (actually, 6 different lines!!) of Dot-Matrix printers for the ultimate 1980s nostalgia. The cheapest of which is the LX 350, that I'm seeing around $270 from various sources (Amazon, Staples.com, Office Depot, etc. etc.).

Ummmm... but why? Well, the youtuber "Nostalgia Nerd" points out that Dot Matrix printers are pretty much the only thing that can make 1980s style banners out of continuous paper. So there's at least one strange use, albeit with software issues as so few people seem to be using modern software for this job. But the printer still works and a bit of experimentation (maybe MS Word still supports it??) should give us some hope for good banners.

I know that for security purposes at some job I had 10 years ago, they had a continuous feed paper that emitted a log every line. (the printer was "always printing", every single log). So there's still some security assurances that Dot-Matrix can do (since each character is guaranteed to be output one-at-a-time, unlike modern printer pages that are sent page-by-page). So I guess that's also a thing.

I'm not thinking of buying one, but... there's a ton of nostalgia-factor here. And as I look at these printers, its amusing to me to see $10 ribbons still being made today, showing that yes, Dot-Matrix is STILL the cheapest, most economical, printer available. But with its exceptionally low quality and slow speeds, I can't imagine that typical people would use them. (https://www.staples.com/epson-ribbon-cartridge-for-lx-350-black/product_2270741)

I'm still going to be recommending the old Brother Laser printer to people today. But does anyone out there have a good use-case for the seemingly undying Dot Matrix technology?

 

[Onasi]

I'm still going to be recommending the old Brother Laser printer to people today. But does anyone out there have a good use-case for the seemingly undying Dot Matrix technology?

There is one. They are very durable and low maintenance. Extremely so. So I am fairly sure that there are still mission critical and military installations that use them.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Plus, when you need a print out, the paper is cheap compared to separate sheets.

 

[Lost_Troll]

Or you need to print out ASCII dungeon maps for your raiding party!

 

[Wirko]

They can print copies. The huge and heavy Epson DFX can print on a thick stack of one original and, I think, up to 9 copies! Bureaucrats must love that.

its amusing to me to see $10 ribbons still being made today

For those who can afford that. Others buy ink. Don't ask me how you get ink into the ribbon, I just know I used to know. Perhaps some cartridges have a small reservoir filled with foam where you can add ink, or something.

 

[gurusmi]

1. Try to read printed papers after 10 yrs of storage. For german governmental reasons professionals have to store i.e. invoice copies for at least 10 yrs. After that 10 yrs they have to be fully readable.
2. Try to print 3 copies of one paper and let them sign at once.

 

[dragontamer5788]

And as I look at these printers, its amusing to me to see $10 ribbons still being made today, showing that yes, Dot-Matrix is STILL the cheapest, most economical, printer available.

Assuming 2000 characters per page and 4-million characters per $12 ribbon, that leads to 0.6 cents/page. Copy paper around me is $100 for 5000 sheets, or 2 cents/page. Brother Toner (ex: TN760 toner) is $100 for 3000 pages, or roughly 3 cents/page. Which means yes, even "cheap" laser printer toner is more costly than the paper you're printing on. Interesting.

So we're looking at 2.6 cents/page of Dot-Matrix printing vs 5 cents/page of LaserJet (which I'd consider pretty cheap, especially compared to ink based printers).

You'll need to print many, many pages before all the downsides are worth it. Laser truly is far faster and easier to use. Alternatively, DotMatrix obviously supports the continuous-feed paper for banners (as the Youtube video points out). But hey, I can imagine a mailroom somewhere that goes through thousands of pages/day that may actually benefit from Dot-Matrix economical costs.

They can print copies. The huge and heavy Epson DFX can print on a thick stack of one original and, I think, up to 9 copies! Bureaucrats must love that.

Is this special paper that you'd buy? I have to imagine that the paper must have carbon-paper inside of it or something for that to work.

EDIT: Hmmm, so this stuff? 3 Part Color Carbonless Computer Paper 9-1/2'' X 11'' White/Canary/Pink, 1200/Ctn (rapidsupplies.com)

I found a 3-part copy-paper. And it even says:

Item # 883 is manufactured for use in all dot matrix printers

1200 x3 == 3600 sheets for $120, which... is likely cheaper than Laserjet (especially because copies #2 and #3 are from the carbon-paper, and not actually using up ribbon ink). I'm kind of surprised that this still is economical to use this technology.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Dot matrixes are still popular in the office due to the very low cost and high durability of the print. The primary problem is that they cannot print images, only hard characters, so any type of "font" goes missing on them. Without this ability, you can't print out anything certified to academic standards.

 

[natr0n]

I like that they have color ones and I'm good at modding cartridges with ink. One day in the future.

 

[Wirko]

Dot matrixes are still popular in the office due to the very low cost and high durability of the print. The primary problem is that they cannot print images, only hard characters, so any type of "font" goes missing on them. Without this ability, you can't print out anything certified to academic standards.

Um, I have never seen a dot matrix printer that could not print raster graphics. But let's see what happens if I install an Epson LX-300+, connected on LPT1: (do I have LPT1?) on my Windows 7 ... the driver lets me choose between 120x72 dpi, 120x144 dpi, and 240x144 dpi. What if I try a 24-pin printer such as the Epson LQ-300+? I get to choose between 120x180 dpi, 180x180 dpi, and 360x180 dpi. Printers achieve higher resolutions by running the head over the line in multiple passes, lowering the head speed, offsetting the printed dots by half a dot and/or moving the paper forward by half a dot. So the output from a 24-pin printer actually looked very nice (and simple graphics did too, if you had the time to wait).

 

[dragontamer5788]

What if I try a 24-pin printer

The idea of spending $300+ to $800+ to save on toner (erm, ribbon?) is hilarious to me. But its clear that many businesses print that many receipts or other documents that its worthwhile.

There's something about the "lowest cost tech", even if its inconvenient, that interests me. I want to use tape-drives and dot-matrix printer, if only because I know I'm saving those precious few pennies.

------

EDIT: That being said, I do think that DotMatrix is "more useful" than Tape Drives. I can actually imagine myself printing the ~10,000 pages needed for Dot-Matrix to become economically feasible vs Laserjet. But I can never imagine the ~200TB+ needed to make Tape-Drives economical.

 

[Wirko]

Is this special paper that you'd buy? I have to imagine that the paper must have carbon-paper inside of it or something for that to work.

EDIT: Hmmm, so this stuff? 3 Part Color Carbonless Computer Paper 9-1/2'' X 11'' White/Canary/Pink, 1200/Ctn (rapidsupplies.com)

Yes, that's the thing. The colours aren't there for nothing, they must have some purpose here (it might be defined by agreements or by law which party gets which colour, etc.) I remember banks used to have some coloured pre-printed forms, which they ran through very specific dot-matrix printers (flatbed, straight paper path, similar to this OKI, but always IBM or Lexmark). Some of those printers had the ability to print one additional copy on a roll of paper (journal) beneath the forms. Go counterfeit the data on that journal if you can.

The paper I often had in my hands had between 2 and 4 copies (plus original), all white, and was used for printing invoices, transport documents, accounting records and similar. There was some chemistry involved in copying, with a slightly unpleasant smell, but no carbon or any other dark subtance. Of course it could also copy handwriting (or writing with your fingernails). Of course the copying worked no matter if the ribbon cartridge ran out of ink. The copies had to be stored in a dark place, or else the white paper would become brown. Paper size was amusing too, metric width of 210 mm and imperial length of 12" (72 lines).

I like that they have color ones and I'm good at modding cartridges with ink. One day in the future.

Hey, now that you said that, I really want to see a colour dot matrix printer in action! But how would you "mod" the cartridges? Add gold and silver to CMYK?

 

[natr0n]

Yes, that's the thing. The colours aren't there for nothing, they must have some purpose here (it might be defined by agreements or by law which party gets which colour, etc.) I remember banks used to have some coloured pre-printed forms, which they ran through very specific dot-matrix printers (flatbed, straight paper path, similar to this OKI, but always IBM or Lexmark). Some of those printers had the ability to print one additional copy on a roll of paper (journal) beneath the forms. Go counterfeit the data on that journal if you can.

The paper I often had in my hands had between 2 and 4 copies (plus original), all white, and was used for printing invoices, transport documents, accounting records and similar. There was some chemistry involved in copying, with a slightly unpleasant smell, but no carbon or any other dark subtance. Of course it could also copy handwriting (or writing with your fingernails). Of course the copying worked no matter if the ribbon cartridge ran out of ink. The copies had to be stored in a dark place, or else the white paper would become brown. Paper size was amusing too, metric width of 210 mm and imperial length of 12" (72 lines).


Hey, now that you said that, I really want to see a colour dot matrix printer in action! But how would you "mod" the cartridges? Add gold and silver to CMYK?

I would get to a point and be like "oh shit" this aint gonna work.

By mod I mean use a syringe and ink. and a knife to open hard to open/glued cartridges

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Just don't update the firmware or you can't use third-party ink ribbons.

 

[natr0n]

Just don't update the firmware or you can't use third-party ink ribbons.

I my case you can still if you use original cart and mod it and use a bypass usually pushing a button for a few seconds.

Forgot to realize i hate printers because of issues that fall on me

 

[bonehead123]

funny story...

A few years ago I was interviewing for a job at an industrial design firm, which you would think would be up on all the latest & greatest tech stuff.....since everything they do is 100% digital and essentially paperless except for actual blueprints, signed contracts & a few regulatory documents.

While in the interview, the manager handed me a laptop that I would get if I started working there. It was brand spankin new 16" HP, which was running W10 from what I could see on the screen.

The interview was going well, and having piqued my interest, I asked for a printed copy of the actual job description and he said no problem, and proceeded to do a clikity clakity on his lappy, then waited about 5 mins, and walked over to a table near the back wall to a rather 80-ish lookin device and pushed the power button..... after about 5 more minutes, I heard that familiar swoosh, swirl and dat dat dat sounds of the print heads hitting the paper.

It was then that I turned around to look, and sure enough, there was that paper with the holes on the edges, spittin & sputtering out the front of the machine and piling up on the floor. When he handed me the large stack of papers, I knew why...cause it was all triple spaced in a huge font size AND BARELY LEGIBLE !

At the conclusion of the interview, I thanked him and made my way back to my car, all the while thinking what a nightmare it would be to work there if they are STILL using dot matrix printers... and when he called a few days later with an offer, I politely turned it down and thanked him again. I had already accepted an offer from a different company, so no biggie there...

Bullet dodged IMHO