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Level 1

8 points

impact printers (dot matrix) and 10.6

I am the process of converting a database from an ancient PC based dinosaur to Filemaker Pro running on an Apple.

The one problem I keep coming up against is printing labels. We print about 100-150 labels a week- with the cost of Dymo or Brother labels for their small thermal printers being 4x or more the cost of the old fan-fold tractor feed labels, it seemed obvious we should stick with an impact printer. Several companies still make impact printers. They are simple, bullet proof and inexpensive to run. (And though the cost of the printer itself is 2x the cost of the little Dymo or Brother, the savings in labels makes up the difference quickly.)

HOWEVER, Epson doesn't support Apple's operating system. There is a generic "Epson 24-pin" print driver option in Snow Leopard, but the image quality of the labels is abysmal - and there doesn't seem to be any options to improve the print quality. A call to Epson tech support reveals that they don't support the Apple environment and suggested calling Apple. The other big player in the tiny 24-pin impact printer market is Okidata - but the research there looks to be about the same. (And there are a few other companies still making impact printers, like Panasonic, but I think the story is the same.)

Does anyone have any suggestions?

One of the ideas I have heard is to have another Apple machine running 10.4 or 10.5 and run my labels through that - that seems crazy to me. I know dot-matrix printers are dinosaurs, but, if you have to printer more than 20 labels a day, they are MUCH more cost effective than anything else I am aware of.

I am open to suggestions.

Thanks

- Rob Rinaldi

Several, Mac OS X (10.6.8), I work with several different model Apples

Posted on Jul 13, 2011 1:45 PM

25 replies

doivey

Level 1

5 points

Feb 24, 2012 11:27 AM in response to RobRR

Thanks for the response, Rob. I'm not after pretty labels, but legibility is a must. I want to get my newspapers delivered.

RobRR Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 24, 2012 11:35 AM in response to doivey

I hear you. I publish a small magazine and I USED to print out thousands of labels four times a year. Then, I would print out hundreds for reminder postcards ("time to renew") now I just make labels for sending out orders from the magazine. It still amounts for 3-4000 a year, so using a Dymo is out of the question (just from the expense point of view.)

Let me know how you make out. Happy to help however I could.

If you need me to go poke at the database machine, I will do it.

doivey

Level 1

5 points

Mar 2, 2012 9:57 AM in response to RobRR

The LQ-590 works great with OS 10.6.8 for address labels using the generic Epson 24-pin driver. In fact, it's better than I need for a label. I'm using the 180 dpi setting. The next step down is a little too difficult to read.

Perhaps Epson is losing out in some sales by not mentioning that it can work with a Mac at a basic level. Tractor feed printers just don't exist for the Mac anymore.

I'm very satisfied with the printer and delighted that I still don't own a PC.

RaMac10

Level 1

6 points

Feb 24, 2014 3:56 PM in response to RobRR

Just a thought. I have moved to Mac platform and I use Filemaker to run my shop. I also am looking at using impact printer/dot matrix for my workorders/invoices. I know FileMaker Pro allows 5 connections to the database (database sharing) on a net work. That said, if you have a PC an option would be to get Filemaker PC edition on your PC and share the DB on the Mac then you could print your Labels with the quality you choose from the PC and not worry about Mac support. If your PC is not up to par NEWEGG DOT COM OR TIGERDIRECT DOT COM have very cheep but good PC's that will do the job and then Mac upgrade worries will go away. ;-) hope this might help with options.

Robert

mlbyc

Level 1

0 points

May 2, 2014 9:25 AM in response to doivey

Do you connect the printer through the USB port?

doivey

Level 1

5 points

May 2, 2014 9:42 AM in response to mlbyc

If that question was directed to me (Doivey), yes, I use the USB port.

doivey

Level 1

5 points

May 2, 2014 9:53 AM in response to doivey

RaMac10:

I missed the notification of your response back in February. Thanks for the suggestion. This is getting off the topic, but I don't see how to contact you otherwise. I'm interested in converting my old AppleWorks address list to Filemaker and I'm wondering if you have a suggestion for a good tutorial. Yes, I'm still using AppleWorks with 10.6.