Printer Prices Plummet

“I’m sure [Coleco] will sell a lot of Adams, but I think the majority of the buying public is still taking a component approach to the purchase of a computer system,” notes Bill Sobieski, vice-president of consumer marketing and sales for Alphacom, a manufacturer of inexpensive printers.

Alphacom recently closed a deal with Timex, estimated to be worth $54 million, to supply printers for the Timex/Sinclair computer line on an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) basis.

With the introduction of two other printers at CES, Alphacom is now claiming to be the only manufacturer of printers for all the major home computers. Instead of manufacturing printers for all the different brands, Alphacom has embarked on a strategy of manufacturing two low-cost thermal printers—a 40-column and an 80- column—with graphics abilities.

Each computer requires its own special interface cable, which Alphacom plans to manufacture for different brands.

With the addition of the appropriate cable, the two Alphacom printers essentially become commodity items that can be connected to other computers. The interface cables aren’t cheap— they range in price from S29.95 to over $44.95—but the concept offers a plausible option to the problem of printer/computer incompatibility.

Alphacom officials say the two printers have attracted a lot of interest from dealers because the cable-interface approach simplifies their inventory control. Those who decide to buy Alphacom’s concept need only to stock two basic printers and a variety of appropriate cables.