On Sat, Feb 06, 1999 at 08:03:50PM -0500, Sean Breheny wrote:
>
> I don't have enough money to buy a regular laser printer, but I see that
> Okidata makes LED-type "laser" printers at almost half of the usual laser
> printer prices. I think they are the same as laser printers as far as the
> paper is concerned (they still use toner).
>
> I would appreciate it,too, if anyone has any general "caveats" about LED
> based printers, that they would let me know,please.

I have an Okidata OL400e that I've been using for about
three years. I've been extremely happy with it.
The way it works is that there is a bar on the underside
of the cover with a row of red LEDs the width of the
paper. The paper transport moves the paper against this
light bar, which has the same effect as the laser beam
in a laser printer. Mine is set up to do 300dpi, but there
are 600dpi units. Generally it has been very reliable,
except for occasionally getting hungry on me (*). One
nice thing is that the toner cartridges are separate
from the fuser mechanism, so that when you run out of
toner that is all you have to replace. In three years
I've put maybe 40 or 50 reams of paper through it and
have maybe replaced the toner four or so times and
the fuser never. The toner cartridges usually run me
abuot US$ 20-25.

Generally, I find that print media that is designed for
laser printers are almost always compatible with the
Okidata. (I haven't found any that wasn't but I don't
want to claim that there this never happens). One nice
thing the OL400e is that if you extend the back tray and
supply the paper from the single-sheet tray in the
front, then the paper goes straight through the
printer without being bent over a roller; this is
really nice for envelopes and labels.

--Bob

* for some reason it seems to want me to give it some jam
-- "FEED JAM" it always says -- and it sulks and won't
print anything until I take the paper away from it and
make it restart. I refuse to give it any, however, 'cause
I figure it will just get my printouts all sticky :-).
I think that sometimes it must talk someone into giving
it some, because I find that I have to clean the paper
rollers on occasion.

--
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Bob Drzyzgula                             It's not a problem
bob@drzyzgula.org                until something bad happens
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