images. When in (bitmap) graphics mode, the LA50 can receive and print Sixel graphics format. Centronics 101 The Centronics 101 (introduced 1970) was highly innovative and affordable at its inception. Some selected specifications: Print speed: 165 characters per second Weight: 155 pounds (70.3 kg) Size: 27 ½" W x 11 ¼" H x 19 ¼ D (approx. 70 cm x 29 cm x 49 cm) Shipping: 200 pounds (approx. 91 kg), wooden crate, unpacked by removal of 36 screws Characters: 62, 10 numeric, 26 upper case and 26 special characters (no lower case) Character size: 10 characters per inch (10 "pitch") Line spacing: 6 lines per inch (6 LPI) Vertical control: punched tape reader for top of form and vertical tab Forms thickness: original plus four copies Interfaces: Centronics parallel, optional RS-232 serial IBM 5103 The IBM 5103 was the only IBM printer that could be attached to the IBM 5100, an early day portable computer. Printing was 8 DPI, 10 pitch, 6 LPI, and capable of printing bidirectionally from a 128 character set. Two models were offered: 80 and 120 characters per second. Near Letter Quality (NLQ) Near Letter Quality mode—informally specified as almost good enough to be used in a business letter—endowed dot-matrix printers with a simulated typewriter-like quality. By using multiple passes of the carriage, and higher dot density, the printer could increase the effective resolution. In 1985, The New York Times described the use of "near letter-quality, or NLQ" as "just a neat little bit of hype" but acknowledged that they "really show their stuff in the area of fonts, print enhancements and graphics." NLQ printers could generally be set to print in "draft mode", in which case a single pass of the print head per line would be used. This produced lower quality print at much higher output speed. PC usage In 1985, PC Magazine wrote "for the average personal computer user dot matrix remains the most workable choice". At the time, IBM sold Epson's MX-80 as their IBM 5152. Another technology, inkjet printing, which uses the razor and blades business model (give away the razor handle, make money on the razor blade) has reduced the value of the low cost for the printer: "a price per milliliter on par with liquid gold" for the ink/toner. Personal computers In June 1978, the Epson TX-80/TP-80, an 8-pin dot-matrix printer mainly used for the Commodore PET computer,