Epson's LQ-850 Letter Quality Printer
                       Copyright 1989 David W. Batterson

     Here's a brief note in case you somehow missed it.  Seiko Epson Corp. is
the world's largest manufacturer of microcomputer printers.  The company's
performance in "offering reliability and economy in high performance products"
has made it a powerhouse in the microcomputer printer industry.
     Although the Epson LQ-850, 24-pin printer has been out for some time, I'm
just now getting around to reviewing it.  The enhanced versions of the LQ-850
and LQ-1050 feature new improvements.  (For owners of earlier LQ-850/LQ-1050
models, there is an upgrade kit with new EPROM chip, available from Epson
dealers.)
     The LQ-850 now prints at a zippy 264 cps in 12-pitch (elite) draft mode,
and 88 cps in elite letter-quality (LQ) mode.  Using 10-pitch slows it down
slightly to 220 cps and 73 cps, respectively, for draft and LQ.  Graphics
resolution is 360 x 360 dpi.
     Other new features include an international legal character set, double
underlining, shadow and outline attributes, and "enhanced word processing
commands."  There are optional accessories such as the dual-bin cut sheet
feeder, pull tractor, and the LQ Multi-Font Module.
     The LQ Multi-Font Module offers seven LQ fonts: courier, prestige, script,
OCR-A, OCR-B, orator and orator-S.
     The printer has a "SmartPark" paper handling feature, for switching
between single sheets and continuous-feed paper.  The front control panel has
been redesigned for easier use too.
     One feature I particularly liked was the short tear-off feature.  If you
are tired of wasting one sheet of paper at the end of every print batch, you'll
appreciate it too.  You tear off the last sheet, and then the printer reverses
the paper back to the print head position.
     While the printer is basically a good machine, I found a few minor
problems.
     One is that the print darkness was not as good as it could have been.  (I
loaded it with a brand new Epson ribbon, so that wasn't the problem.) I
adjusted the paper thickness lever (normally set at 2 for single sheets) to a
higher level (4), and it helped some.
     Another glitch occurred with the location of the parallel interface. 
Since I use a printer stand, I put my paper supply underneath the printer.
     With the LQ-850, this was a problem since the paper path was not clear on
the right after plugging in the cable.  I had to put the paper in the catch bin
behind the printer instead.  This is a design problem that should be corrected.
     Thirdly, with its default DIP switch settings, the printer prints in
bi-directional, logic-seeking mode.  That is fine for text, but NOT for
graphics.  When you print graphics bi-directionally, you don't get proper
alignment.  With many printers, it's a simple matter of flipping a DIP switch
to change to unidirectional printing.
     Unfortunately, the LQ-850 doesn't permit this using a DIP switch.  Instead
you must use a control code (ESC U) to turn unidirectional mode on/off.
     DIP switches DO allow you to change between graphics and italics character
tables, to select cut sheet feeder mode, page length,  the short tear off mode,
auto line feed, and other choices.
     The LQ-850 comes with your basic Roman and sans serif fonts, both regular
and proportional, in 10, 12 and 15 cpi choices.  You can print multi-part
(without carbon paper) forms of one original and up to three copies.
     For overall value and performance, I give the printer a B+ grade.
     The LQ-850 lists for $849, but you'll find the street price much less. 
For further information, contact Epson America, Inc., 23530 Hawthorne Blvd.,
Torrance, CA  90505; 800-922-8911, 213-534-4234, FAX: 213-539-5561.
                                       #
     David W. Batterson churns out pounds of printer paper, writing articles
and reviews for various publications.  Contact him via MCI MAIL: DBATTERSON.