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Brother EP44

Brother EP44

OH BROTHER: by NEVILLE WILLIAMS Look what they've done to ! was a case for something much simpler Meet the Brother EP-44, a mains/battery and cheaper: portable electric typewriter, a (or mini "Let's envisage a computer type keyboard and circuitry, with an integral ), a high quality 80-column of one kind or another, styled printer, and a four-function calculator with print- externally like a typewriter. "In the MANUAL mode, it might out facilities --- all in one unit and at an affordable operate in the manner of an electric price: $399 plus $20 for a 6V 1A mains supply. typewriter . . . in the PROCESSOR mode, operation would be controlled by a word processing program . . . the text The EP-44 is certainly portable, form it should take. It just seemed the would be displayed, one or more lines at weighing 2.5kg (including batteries) and right thing to do! a time, on a liquid crystal display . . . it measuring 331(W) x 262(D) x 55(H)mm Reacting to this, I prepared the would be stored in RAM (with battery — small enough to be carried in a brief- "Forum" article which appeared in back-up) sufficiently capacious to case. It is quiet in operation, even when November last under the heading: "Do accommodate the contents of a typical printing but, when into memory, microcomputers really have a place in or a useful segment of an article." the only sound to be heard is the contact your home?". I expressed the conviction Having written that around Aug/Sept between fingers and keyboard. Brother that, for many people, the answer could '83, we were naturally intrigued to see an claim that it is quiet enough to be used in only be "No" — at least in terms of advertisement in the Sydney Morning lecture situations, in libraries or in currently available equipment. However, Herald (28/2/84) for the "New Brother passenger aircraft. But more of that later. I went on to suggest that a valid EP-84". Under the slogan "It does Basically, our involvement with the domestic role for computer type everything but make the tea", it was EP-44 followed on from a situation equipment would be as a word processor, credited with letter-quality printing, which arose part way through last year. able to cope with letters, lecture notes, memory store for up to three pages of In rapid succession, the writer had met essays, etc. copy, text editing facilities, a calculator up with a number of friends and relatives For this purpose, a normal function with printout, and the ability to who were planning to buy a personal microcomputer, optioned up to a full- function as an on-line printer for typical computer, apparently with very little scale word processor,was really too bulky microcomputers. We had to know more! idea as to why they needed one or what and too expensive. I reasoned that there Enquiry at in Below: the clip-in ribbon cartridge is good for about 40,000 characters. Sydney established that the EP-44 was the latest in a series of "personal electronic printers" which the company had developed and marketed during the past couple of years. Even those earlier models, they said, had cut deeply into the sales of conventional portable electric typewriters which, by nature, were heavier, more bulky, more noisy and less versatile than the new electronic printers. The EP-44, with its extended facilities and much-improved printing quality, should prove even more attractive. It does not match up in every respect to our suggestions in the November issue; it would be surprising if it did. However, it is aimed at the same market sector and represents what Brother Industries considers to be a practical and affordable product. So let's have a closer look at it. the operator, both directly and by way of This is a sample of the print quality of the new coded status signals. Brother EP-44 using plain paper: The EP-44 is equipped with an 18x24 print head which can produce the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. type quality virtually indistinguishable from a quality electric typewriter. The THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPED OVER THE LAZY DOG. letters have curved serifs and vertical strokes of graded thickness, the matrix structure becoming apparent only under This is a sample of the print quality of the new inspection with a reading glass. Brother EP-44 using plain paper: For printout, it is possible to use either thermal paper (up to A4 size) or plain the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. paper. For the latter purpose, a clip-in THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPED OVER THE LAZY DOG. cartridge is provided containing what Brother Industries describe as a "one- The print quality compares favourably with that produced by an electric typewriter. time heat transfer ribbon" — with a life of about 40,000 characters. For good The EP-44 has a rectangular body controlled by a blue "CODE" pad, have letter formation, the paper must be fairly shell of grey , with removable to do with the text editing and printing smooth, although we got good results keyboard cover, a lift-up flap over the functions. Others, controlled by a green with ordinary magazine offset stock. paper feed and printing mechanism, and "2nd SHIFT" tab, provide 40 or more Carbon copies are not possible. a fold-away carry handle. The unit is additional print symbols — a handy mix The EP-44 provides for three distinct readily portable in this form although, of mathematical signs, Greek letters, print modes, selectable by a small slide for longer journeys, one would normally French accents, diphthongs and even the switch. In the "DP" (Dire& Print) mode, carry it in a satchel or brief-case. symbol for the Japanese Yen. it operates more or less as a straight The inclined keyboard has a normal On the left-hand side of the keyboard typewriter, printing characters as they QWERTY (typewriter) layout, with soft- are pads to do with tab and margin are input from the keyboard. The touch calculator type key pads. It positions while, at the top left, are pads characters appear in the readout but they provides numerals, letters in upper and and switches for memory and printing cannot be corrected in this mode because lower case, bar, shift keys and lock, control. Some of those at the top right they have already been printed. The back space, and a full have a similar role, while others relate to manual suggests that the DP mode is complement of signs and the calculator function. mainly useful for setting margins and marks — all aimed at simplifying user The only display available on the tabs, although we used it also for making adaption to the electronic keyboard. And EP-44 is a liquid crystal panel which last-minute amendments to finished it certainly achieves that. normally shows the last 15 characters to copy. However, unlike an ordinary have been typed. However, the display In the "CP" (Correction Print) mode, typewriter, each pad has a can be shuffled or cycled back along the characters are printed only as they supplementary function, as marked on line, or back through the memory, to emerge from the display, giving the the panel immediately above it. Some of examine its contents. It also provides a operator the opportunity to correct these functions, printed in blue and means for the system to "talk back" to typing or spelling errors before they ELECTRONICS Australia, August, 1984 115 Look what they've done to the typewriter by inserting blank lines, as required. Provision is also made to program half- Specifications line shifts to provide superscript or Number of keys 44 subscript characters, or to have selected Printing speed . 16 characters/sec lines (or words) print against the right- Paper width. 220nini maximum hand margin, or centrally between Printing width. 203.2mm maximum margins. Characters/line 80 Practical experience RPrinting metodh 24x18 thermal dot matrix How does the newcomer get to cope ibbon Cassette with these and other tricks? I decided to DisplaY ' 15-digit LCD (7x5 dot matrix) find out the hard way by refusing on-the- Calculator 4-function with percentage spot instruction from a Brother Interfa.ce Conforms to RS-232C Industries executive, deciding instead to Paper Smooth plain or thermal rely solely on the Instruction Manual, as PowerDim source 4 size D cells or mains adapter supplied. Accordingly, I spent an hour or ensions 331(W) x 262-(D) x 55.2(1-1)nini so reading as much as seemed Weight 2.5kg (inct batteries) appropriate, before addressing myself to the keyboard. become hard copy. Where a near- as lines of text, corresponding to the It would be nice to be able to suggest simultaneous printout is required, the original typing procedure. The content that everything went smoothly but such correction facility is a boon to an error- of lines can be changed within the limits was not the case. As with most keyboard prone operator. of the predetermined line length; devices, all the wonderful things you can Our tip, however, is that the "NP" unwanted lines can be deleted and new do become things that go wrong when (Non Print) mode will be the one lines inserted. The text will contract or you don't do them correctly! It was some preferred on most occasions. Certainly, it expand to accommodate such changes hours later, after many attempts, many would be the one to use for jotting down but there is no provision to shuffle words errors and much searching through the notes in lecture, library or travel within the memory from line to line. manual that the EP-44 began to respond situations. Provided the batteries are left In practice, the line-by-line memory in a reasonably predictable manner. in place, the contents of the memory can format is quite manageable for text You can teach yourself but it does be retained indefinitely for later printout. which can be broken up naturally into involve a certain amount of time and However, even for normal typing - short paragraphs such as a letter, for patience. letters, instructions, assignments, example, or the text of this very article. In fairness, Brother Industries' have magazine articles, &c — there is In these circumstances, it is no great put a lot of effort into preparation of the everything to be said for making full use hassle to re-type portion of a paragraph Instruction Manual and most of the of the memory, before anything at all is or even a whole paragraph, where information required can be found, when committed to paper. As in the CP mode, extensive revision is necessary. you go searching for it. The problem is it is possible to correct typing errors as As with a normal typewriter, the that so much has to be taken in at first they occur but, in addition, other text in EP-44 can type or print with 1-line, reading that essential clues to correct the memory can be corrected or revised. 11/2 -line or 2-line spacing, pre-selected by operation are not recognised as such in In this respect, the EP-44 is less a slide switch. However, it is possible to the 24-odd pages of how-to-type versatile than a full-scale word processor program additional spacing between, say, instructions. because the text is formatted in memory heading and text or between paragraphs, Our firm conviction is that, next time

116 ELECTRONICS Australia, August, 1984 around, Brother Industries could make it as an I/O printer, able to print out text or EP-44 printer could form the subject of a much easier for new buyers if they were command lists from your small separate review. to re-design their manual along more computer, in addition to being able to Conclusions tuitional lines. In short, after a survey of print out through applicable daisy wheel units via an optional interface adapter. In the meantime, what was our the physical features — keyboard, reaction to the EP-44 as an intelligent The EP-44 can also be hooked up with a batteries, mains supply, paper feed, etc typewriter, a mini word processor, or a coupler and be used as a — the newcomer could be taken through text editor- call it what you like? terminal." a basic exercise in, say, direct printing of Well, if you really want and really straight text. Unfortunately, lack of time prevented us from putting these statements to a need a full-scale word processor, the This could be followed by exercises in EP-44 "personal electronic printer" practical test but we did discuss the Correction Print mode and No Print would be a disappointment. It has a matter with staff member Peter Vernon, mode, each a little more advanced than limited memory and it can't manipulate on the basis of the specifications, which the last. Against this background, it text to anything like the same extent. would be possible to introduce the more conform to EIA and JIS standards. We also made contact with another But a full-scale word processor, specialised facilities with minimal risk of involving a keyboard, a VDU and a confusion. enthusiast, who had checked out the EP-44 with several typical micros. printer, can clutter a limited workspace No less important, any such manual with mains-operated equipment costing should be tested with novices rather than Indications are that it should compare favourably with other small printers in anything up to "a couple of grand" -- a simply being approved by experts, who terms of versatility, and more than prospect that will not appeal to a lot of know all the answers anyway! people. Thats where the EP-44 fits in: it favourably in respect to print quality and is compact, portable, mains/battery Getting back to the EP-44 itself, our price. powered, usefully versatile and it carries impression of the four-function In fact, at the time of , Brother a price tag of $419 including power calculator facility is that, for most users, Industries have just released a separate supply. For many, it could be an it will be a bonus rather than a real printer which is virtually the rear section feature. It uses figures from the main of the EP-44. Designated as the HR-5 eminently practical compromise. Like any other "intelligent" keyboard, QWERTY keyboard in conjunction printer, it will retail for a modest $299, you do need to learn how to "drive" it with a separate row of mathematical although we imagine that many buyers and, like other printers, there is a symbols at the top right of the panel — will prefer to pay $399 for the printer an arrangement that takes some getting plus keyboard. Logically, the HR-5 and running cost occasioned by the need for used to. The calculator can be used in special paper or a special ribbon. This either Correction Print or Non Print needs to be taken into account. mode but it cannot be stored in memory On the other hand, with a unit as for subsequent printout. compact as this, it is a luxury to be able Most of the time it would be simpler to to correct typing errors as they occur and use a separate pocket calculator and type to revise things that could have been the figures into memory using the better said. Then to press the "Print" tab normal keyboard, which has all the and have it appear, line by line, free of necessary signs and brackets, anyway. errors and so cleanly printed. Although our purpose was to After having used the EP-44 to evaluate the EP-44 as a -top prepare this review, I felt quite cheated typewriter with memory, it can fill when Brother Industries rang to inquire another role, as mentioned earlier, of whether I had finished with it. They prime interest to computer buffs. To needed it for some exhibition or other. quote Brother Industries' own brochure: Suddenly, my faithful old portable had "Since the Brother EP-44 has a built-in begun to look positively archaic! RS-232C serial interface, it can be used (W.N.W.)

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