Ask HN: Did or do you still print to continuous form paper?

3 pointsnanna2 comments

Historically programmers would have printed their code onto continuous form paper ('continuous stationery' to a Brit?) using a dot matrix printer. I'm wondering if anyone still does that, and if you think it has any benefits? For example, the ability to proofread code more easily, like you would the draft of a book?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_stationery

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Not in decades.

Before slow dot matrix printers we used line printers -- print a whole line at a time rather than one character at a time. I remember working as a night computer operator taping the end of one box of paper to the start of the next, then taking a nap while the line printers churned out reports no one would read.

These were great! I had a "golf-ball" for a while. No printer drivers needed, just hook-up a centronics parallel port and use lpr command. We had stacks of the IBM paper, thin green 'stave' lines with holes and line numbers printed down the side.

One problem - really bloody noisy!! Like can't hear yourself thinking level of noise.

Would definitely recommend for post-apocalypse printing needs.

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