[fa.laser-lovers] FAST laser printers

laser-lovers@uw-beaver (06/29/85)

From: Brian Reid <reid@Glacier>

I learned today that Dataproducts Corporation (one of the companies
listed in Xerox's multicompany Interpress announcement) will soon be
offering a medium-speed PostScript printer. The Dataproducts LZR-2660
will print approximately 30 pages per minute on 8.5 x 11 paper, at 300
dots per inch. It will also print on 11 x 17 paper, though I have no
information about how fast the machine will run when printing 11 x 17
pages, or even if you need to buy additional options or additional
hardware to make it work with 11 x 17 paper. It is built on top of a
marking engine that feeds 11 x 17 paper.

I have now told you almost everything I know about the machine. Like
all PostScript printers, it implements full PostScript (text and
graphics). I have a photograph of one of these machines in front of me,
but no documentation. It appears to have two paper-feeders, one for
small paper and one for large paper. It also looks like it has a
single-sheet feeder on the side. Physically it is shaped like the Apple
LaserWriter, though it is about 50% bigger in all dimensions. It fits
neatly on a tabletop.

Knowledge of the existence of this printer increases my suspicion that
some of the "Interpress agreement" companies plan to implement
Interpress by means of a front end translator to a PostScript printer.
This Dataproducts machine is going to be a really nice printer, and
if I were a printer manufacturer I think I would want my printer to be
able to print as many different formats as possible, whether Diablo 630
or Interpress or PostScript.

If you want more information about this machine, don't ask me, ask
Dataproducts. I've told you all I know, though if I find out more I
will certainly pass it on.