Putting printers in perspective

Redding: Science & Technology: "Putting printers in perspective

By JAMES DERK

Aside from the computer itself, one of the most oft-used peripherals I would imagine has to be the once-lowly printer. We've come a long way since the dot-matrix days, both in terms of print quality and pricing.

I thought I had hit the big-time on my Commodore 64 when I could print out my pages of BASIC code on my $499, nine-pin dot-matrix beauty. I later upgraded to an impact printer that gave my work the appearance of being typewritten, which was really impressive for the time.

In my IBM days there was nothing finer than the workhorse HP LaserJet, which would print lovely black and white copies until the cows came home. If the print got dark you took the toner cartridge out, shook it up and put it back. That trick was good for another 500 pages every time.

My, how times have changed. Laser printers are under a hundred bucks now; inkjets seemingly come in Happy Meals. Dell usually tosses one in with every computer sold unless the moon is high. A cheap color Lexmark will run 40 bucks.

What happened, of course, was cheap offshore manufacturing and competition. The printer market is as bloody as any out there and the main game is to get the unit in the house or office. (Because that's when the fun starts.)

All of the manufacturers have patents on their ink cartridge designs so the goal is to get the printer purchased and in use. After that, it's all about the consumables. Paper is paper, of course (although they try to convince you to use a certain brand for photos.) The money is in the ink."

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