Q. I own a ZX Spectrum, and next year I may upgrade to a QL, but I'm currently faced with a printer problem.

I need a typewriter-cum-printer for my private letter writing, small business work plus some work printing from the computer. I have been looking at the Silver Reed EX44 and EX55 with memory and interface and the Brother CE51 and CE70 with memory and interface.

There is no technical guidance for selection available in Kuwait. Please advise me of your opinion, especially in view of the price difference between the two makers.

Are they compatible with the Spectrum?

J. M. Ali
Ahmadi, Kuwait

A. The machines differ in price because they differ in sophistication. The Brother CE51 is a printer/typewriter, and differs fromo the earlier CE50 in that it already has the cable you need for it to operate as a computer printer fitted.

The CE70 resembles the CE51, but has been considerably upgraded. It has 8K memory built in (the CE51 doesn't have any) so you can perform limited text processing operations. It also has extra typing functions, and can be interfaced to a disk drive.

We'd rather not think about how you'd operate a Spectrum, CE70 and disk drive, bearing in mind that it's the CE70 that has the drive, not the Spectrum. If you wanted disks you'd be far better off getting some sort of system for the Spectrum.

As far as functions are concerned the EX44 and EX55 don't differ quite so much from one another. The 44 is sold as a portable printer/typewriter, whereas the 55 is more of a full office system. The EX55 has some extra functions, and though it doesn't have memory as such it has a two-line correction memory.

Now we assume your requirements are as follows. You need a daisywheel typewriter that can be used as a printer for the Spectrum and for the QL, and while a daisywheel printer would be adequate for the QL you feel it's not really advisable to use the Spectrum keyboard for office work.

Any of the typewriters you suggest would fit the bill for the computer printer, so your decision must be based on the level of sophistication you need in an office machine. If you simply want a typewriter, go for the CE51 or the EX44, while if you want to be able to store and manipulate your text, go for the CE70.

The CE70 and the EX55 should be around the same price, and the CE70 is decidedly better value for money.

You might also like to consider the Brother HR15. This is a daisywheel printer, but you can get a keyboard for it, so you'll get a more flexible system for around the same price as the CE70.

As for interfacing, all these use an RS232 interface, which is fitted as standard on the QL. In order to use them with the Spectrum you'll need to buy yourself Interface 1 and a Sinclair cable.