Epson LQ-860 - Letter-Quality 24-pin Color Printer
                         Copyright 1990 David Batterson

     As graphics programs grow more popular by the minute, more users are
wanting color output to match the fine color graphics they create.  The color
printer has traditionally been a very expensive item.
     A PostScript color printer (like the QMS ColorScript 100) is fine if your
budget is open-ended.  This thermal transfer printer uses a wax-based ink to
print graphics in 300x300 dpi.  At $8-10,000, most of us can only afford to use
one at a service bureau.
     That means a color inkjet, such as the HP PaintJet.  The output caliber
is first-rate, but again we are talking fairly expensive ($1-4,000).
     So in order to get color printing without asking for an increase in your
VISA credit line, the solution is the color dot matrix printer.
     Epson has come out with a praiseworthy one called the LQ-860.  It is
much better than slow 9-pin models, and the output quality is commendable.
     Let's review the LQ-860 specs.  For one, you can print graphics in 360x360
dpi resolution.
     The text printing speed is 98 cps with LQ elite, or 82 cps with LQ pica.
There's a SuperDraft mode of 300 cps, while normal draft elite is 295 cps and
draft pica, 246 cps.
     Graphics-printing speed varies, depending on the color and complexity of
your graphics.  Obviously, printing pure reds, yellows and blues is the fastest
since there's only one pass.  (Good for printing "Dick Tracy" colors!)
     The LQ-860's resident fonts are Roman and Sans Serif in elite, pica and
proportional styles.  You get the usual international character sets, a legal
character set, extended characters and user-defined characters.  Pitch choices
include 10, 12, 15, 17 or 20 cpi.
     Besides the push feed tractor, there's friction feed and automatic single
sheet loading.  A pull tractor is optional.  You can load single sheets without
removing your continuous form paper.
     One has the choice of using the short-form tear off mode to stop wasting
paper.  You advance the printed sheet, tear it off, and the paper returns to
print position.  The LQ-860 can accomplish this automatically with a DIP switch
setting, or you can do it from the handy control panel.
     Speaking of DIP switches, these are placed exactly where they should be.
Flip down the control panel cover, and voila!  Besides short tear-off mode, you
can select character sets, print direction (uni- or bi-directional), cut sheet
feeder mode, page length, auto line feed, and more.
     As for the control panel, it's well-designed and easy to use.  There's
micro-adjustment, which allows fine modifications of the loading and short
tear-off positions.  The LOAD/EJECT button allows smooth paper loading and
ejecting.  Holding this button down upon powering up enables/disables the input
buffer.
     I tested the LQ-860 with The New Print Shop, printing some banners and
calendars.  Those came out nicely.  Then I tested some PC Paintbrush IV Plus
supplied graphics files.  The colors matched the screens approximately.
     Keep in mind that the color-printing process used in dot matrix printers
has its limitations.  You just aren't going to get spectacular and true colors
with complex graphics.
     Why?  Well, for the same reason that a top-quality dot matrix printer
simply cannot match a laser printer or typesetter.  Secondly, the colors are
created by a ribbon containing red, yellow, blue and black strips.
    To create green for instance, the printer does two passes, one in yellow
and one in blue.  Other colors are done similarly.  This is fine for major
colors, but the overall color capabilities are limited as a result.
    I also tested the color capability using Twist & Shout, printing some text
files sideways in color.  These also looked attractive, and could be useful for
spreadsheets to emphasize certain sections.
    I next printed some sample graphics that came with GEM Artline, a
sophisticated draw program.  GEM Artline doesn't support the LQ-860, but I was
able to print the color PostScript drawings to disk.  Then I used Freedom of
Press, a PostScript interpreter, to print the drawings on the LQ-860.  These
came out quite well.
     The LQ-860 comes with a black nylon ribbon and a color ribbon.  I found
that the color ribbon wore out rather fast, and the colors tend to get smeary
after awhile, due to the multiple passes.  So you'll have to stock up on fresh
color ribbons for best results.
     An optional black film ribbon is also available.  I wasn't able to test
this but I imagine the print quality is better, as it is with a typewriter.
     For many uses, the LQ-860 will do just fine.  For extremely high quality
color output, you'll probably want to use the LQ-860 for draft use only.
     The M.S.R.P. is $949, but look for deep discounting.  There are several
optional accessories, most of which you won't really need.
     For more information, contact Epson America, Inc., 20770 Madrona Ave.,
P. O. Box 2842, Torrance, CA  90509-2842; 213-782-0770, FAX: 213-782-5220.
                                       #
     David Batterson reviews PC hardware, software and peripherals.  Contact
him via MCI Mail: 273-7218.