Can it print carbonless multi-part forms, and how many copies?
Yes: up to 4 copies in a single pass, i.e. 1 original and 3 copies, thanks to impact printing with its 24 pins through the ribbon. To do this, it accepts single-part and multi-part paper: delivery notes, dispatch slips, multi-part invoices.
Which ribbon should you buy, and how many characters does it last?
The black ribbon C13S015633 (also listed as C13S015633BA), shared by the LQ-350 and the LQ-300/+/+II. It lasts up to 2.5 million characters in draft mode, and a first ribbon is already supplied in the box.
How long does the print head last before it gives out?
It is rated for 400 million strokes per pin, and the machine's mean time between failures reaches 10,000 hours of operation. These are the figures of equipment designed to run all day, in the front office as well as the back office.
Is a dot matrix printer noisy at a counter?
Yes, let's be frank: 53 dB(A) measured during operation. The 24 pins mechanically strike the ribbon against the paper, and it is clearly audible in a quiet room. That is the trade-off for printing multi-part forms in a single pass.
Does the Epson LQ-350 print in colour?
No, in black and white only. It works with a black ink ribbon, whose yield is in fact expressed in “black draft” characters. For delivery notes, labels and administrative documents, that is exactly what is expected of it.
How does it connect to a PC or a point-of-sale system?
Three interfaces are fitted as standard: USB 2.0 Type-B, RS-232 serial and bidirectional parallel. Older management software that drives a parallel or serial port therefore works without a converter, just like a recent computer over USB. It has 128 KB of memory.
Does it accept continuous paper, labels and envelopes?
Yes: cut sheets, continuous paper, labels, roll paper and envelopes, including multi-part versions. Paper is both fed and ejected at the rear: make sure you leave enough clearance behind the machine.
Can it be used with a roll of paper?
Yes, roll paper is one of the supported media, and a roll paper holder (C12C811141) is available as an optional accessory. Loading is done from the rear, as with continuous paper; the accessory is ordered separately.
Does it use a lot of power if left on all day?
No: 22 W when printing and 1.3 W in standby, which earns it ENERGY STAR certification. You can leave it switched on at the counter with no noticeable effect on the electricity bill. It runs on 200-240 V and operates between 5 and 35 °C.
Which operating systems and emulations are supported?
The supplied drivers cover Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 and 8, together with the Epson Status Monitor utility. For business applications, it includes ESC/P2 and IBM 2390 Plus emulations: point-of-sale or management software written for these command sets drives it directly.
What is the real speed, and what changes between draft and letter quality?
At 10 characters per inch: 347 characters per second in High Speed Draft, 260 in draft and 86 in letter quality (LQ). LQ mode, the most refined, is three to four times slower: keep it for documents handed to customers.
What exactly is in the box?
The printer, an ink ribbon already supplied, the setup instructions, the warranty document and three CDs: drivers and utilities, software, user manual. As the ribbon is included, there are no consumables to buy at the outset; the complete boxed package weighs 4.43 kg.
How much space does it take up on a counter?
348 × 275 × 154 mm and 4.1 kg, a compact format designed to fit on a desk, to which you must add the rear clearance needed for paper input and output. It prints on 80 columns, the standard width of business documents.
Is the printer new and under warranty?
Yes: new equipment, supplied with its invoice, which serves as the
1-year warranty document. It is made in Indonesia and carries the manufacturer reference C11CC25001; full specifications are in the
Epson datasheet (PDF).