Epson EPL-6000 (HP LaserJet II-compatible)
                         Copyright 1989 David Batterson


     As the leading printer manufacturer, Epson had a slow start in the laser
printer field.  I guess it's because they wanted to get it right, not just be
among the first to sell HP LaserJet clones.
     With so many companies now offering laser (and laser-class) printers, even
Hewlett-Packard is fighting back by offering a lower-priced model, with slower
speed and less features.
     Let's see what the new Epson EPL-6000 has to offer.  It's fully compatible
with the HP LaserJet II series, so any software supporting the HP will work
with the EPL-6000.
     It comes with 512K RAM onboard, with options for 2MB or 4MB upgrades (more
on that later).  The EPL-6000 supports HP-compatible soft fonts, and accepts HP
font cartridges.  Optional is the Epson FX Identity Cartridge.
     Printed output is at 300 x 300 dpi, at six pages per minute (for standard
letter-size paper).  The EPL-6000 uses the Motorola 68000 microprocessor,
running at 10 MHz.  Printouts can be delivered face-up or face-down.
     There are three interfaces: parallel, RS-232C (standard serial), and RS-
422A.  The size is very convenient:  8.3" high x 16.1" wide x 15.4" deep.  The
EPL-6000 weighs in at 36 pounds (including paper cassette, drum unit and toner
cartridge).
     The resident fonts consist of Courier 12 pt., Courier 12 pt. Bold, and
Line Printer 8.5 pt.  All are available in both portrait and landscape, adding
up to six fonts.
     The SPL-6000 will accept four standard sizes of paper: Letter (8« x 11"),
Legal (8« x 14"), A4 (8.3 x 11.7"), and Executive (7¬ x 10«").  Capacity of the
paper cassette is 150 sheets.
     Through manual feeding, you can use a minimum of 3.2 x 5" up to 8« x 14"
paper sizes.  You may also print business envelopes and transparencies.
     The printer's "durability" is rated at 5 years or 300,000 sheets
(whichever comes first).  MPBF (Mean Prints Between Failures) is 30,000 sheets
per month, and MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) is 3,000 hours.
     OK, on to the actual printing.  If you plan on using the RS-232C or RS-
422A ports, you'll have to reset the DIP switches.  There's easy access to the
DIP switches in back, along with easy-to-follow instructions in the manual.
     I particularly like the EPL-6000's well-designed Control Panel, consisting
of LCD, buttons and lights.  There are no mysteries here, no intimidating
commands, and no nonsense.
     With the Control Panel, you can always tell just what the printer is doing
(or not doing), such as PROCESSING data, OFF LINE, running a SELF TEST or FONT
PRINT test, filled with DATA IN BUFFER, or instructing you to PUSH MANUAL KEY
to print an envelope.
     The SPECIAL button is used to select a higher fuser temperature.  This is
recommended for printing envelopes and heavy paper (27-34 lb. weight).  You may
also press SPECIAL for transparencies and labels.
     The SelectType button takes you into a new command menu, where you have
precise control over the EPL-6000's extensive features.  (NOTE: DIP switches
are used ONLY for serial port usage, not for other changes.)  Users who don't
care much for messing around with DIP switches will appreciate SelecType.
     Using SelecType you select such desired options as default PAPER SIZE,
EMULATION, COPIES, I/F (parallel or serial), DATA BUFFER size, and BUZZER.
     In the HP emulation submenu, you select your FONT SOURCE (internal,
cartridge or downloadable soft font), FONT NUMBER (based on FONT SOURCE
option), FORM (number of lines printed on a page), and SYMBOL (character sets,
like ROMAN8, IBM-US, IS06 (ASCII), SPANISH, and so forth.
     For serial port users, the I/F submenu lets you set BAUD RATE, PROT
(protocol), DATA BIT, PARITY, STOP BIT, and ROBUST-XON options.
     I printed all kinds of text and graphics documents, with software
including Finesse, PFS:First Publisher, Professional Write, PUBLISH IT!,
Pinstripe Presenter, PaintShow Plus, The New Print Shop, Formtool, and
Diagraph.  I printed on copier paper, laser paper, envelopes, labels and
transparencies.
     My review unit came with the 2MB memory card.  If you plan on printing
extensive graphics, the extra memory is a requisite, not a luxury.  Make sure
you get it.  If you order it at the same time, ask your dealer to install it.
But it's easy to install yourself.
     This is one powerhouse, hassle-free, super-quality laser printer.  Usually
a reviewer can find something that needs to be redesigned, a feature added, or
a drawback.  The EPL-6000 is mistake-free as far as I could determine.  It
rates an A+ for value, features and performance.
     Epson dropped its suggested list price for the EPL-6000 to $1,499.  The
2MB memory upgrade board lists for $899, and the FX identity cartridge, $299.
     For dealer information, contact Epson America, Inc., P. O. Box 1842,
Torrance, CA  90505; 800-922-8911, 213-539-9140, FAX: 213-539-5561.
                                       #
     David Batterson looks forward to the day when dot matrix printers go the
way of the Dodo Bird!  Send your comments via MCI Mail: DBATTERSON.