[TheOtherHobbes]

For business printing the standard was the daisy wheel - which was insanely loud and sounded like a machine gun.

Between 2X and 6X as expensive as a dot matrix. So around $2k for a mid-price model and $4k for a faster and more reliable model at the high end.

Dot matrix printers were relatively affordable. But still expensive. Maybe $300 for a budget model, up to a few k for a high end model with a 132 chars and a double density print head.

Adjusted prices are roughly 2.7X. So almost $800 for a basic dot matrix, up to a ballpark $10k for a high end printer.

Just for printing.

Compare with today where a mono laser costs ~$150 for a basic model, $300-$600 for added scanning and copying, and $400-$800 for a colour laser with extra features.

[TedDoesntTalk]

Thanks for this. I was fortunate to have an Epson FX-80 dot matrix printer in 1983. My father bought it for me. I had no idea they were so expensive - at least $1500 in todays dollars (I could only find the price of the MX-80 in 1983, not the FX-80 which was even more expensive).

I wish my father was alive for me to thank him yet again for this marvelous gift that must have put him out quite a bit.