May June 1980 - Commodore Computers

MAY/JUNE. MAY/JUNE, 19S0. 198O. ISSUE 4. &. COMPUTE.
67
clears the screen of previous messages, then outputs
new information to printer, r , and subsequently prints
the same messages/information to monitor screen. The
result is a stable image which minimizes the impact
of printer output on monitor screen. .
A brief note on hardware. The unit is attrac­
tively housed, solidly constructed, aand appears to use
good quality components. We say ""appears" as the
manufacturer recommends very careful disassembly
(necessary to expose logic board and electronic
components) so as not to tear the ribbon n cable
linking the printer r base and the printing head. As a
number of PET owners may beb e electronic buffs and
could test!replace test/replace components, it might t be better belter if
the board were more readily accessible. We e decided
a working printer was preferrable to a more complete
inspection and can onlyy note that electronic
components are soldered, , not socketed. The stated
nominal life for the printer primer mechanism (40 million
characters MTBF; 1 million strokes minimum, 3
million usual) is reassuring given present usage of one
roll of paper per month (130 feet = ~ 7500 lines
or approximately 200,000 characters).
The M-100 Microprinter arrived promptly (4
days) via UPS, P was easily connected, and worked
immediately. Some two rollss of paper later
($6/roll,, Radio Shack) it continues to work. That
brief period of six weeks is not a fair test of
longevity, or even the warranty, but it is long
enough to explore potential capabilities and to learn
to use the printer r effectively in programming.
The Digiclocks unit was purchased because it waslis
was/is
the most inexpensive printer available that provides
all the PET characters and graphic symbols. When
the principal uses will be program listings and
programmed hard copy, , the Digiclocks printer would
appear to be aann excellent choice. For extensive
text processing it is a personal view that only IBM
Selectric or Daisywheel type output is satisfactory
and those alternatives are beyond d present means.
While the M-IOO M-100 Microprinterr lacks some of the programmable
features of the "intelligent" " Commodore
printer, the PET operating system makes it easy to
obtain formatted printer output for most uses.
OPEN6,5:CMD6
listing- 1 istin'~­ LIST
PRINT# -
PRINT#6, INTil6 , 'ANVTHIN6'
. ';' ING '
CLOSE6
CLOSES
prO'3r'am program output- 18 OPEN6 0PEN6,5:CHD6
26 PR!NT#6 PRINTttfi,'ANYTHING'
, ' ANI'THING '
:38 CLOSES
GRAPHICS (OFF)= (0FF)= lotl)er lower case( ease