tj@gpu.utcs.utoronto (tj) (03/15/87)
(submission for laser-lovers)
We currently have a Texas Instruments 2115 PostScript Laser Printer
here on site. We ordered 2 of them last Sept 30 (86) and the first one arrived
Feb 5 (87) and we are still waiting for the second one.
There are problems.
The print quality is as poor as the rumours have said. It seems to stem
from the write white technology. On a write black printer if the "spots"
get a little thick there is no real problem. I suspect that PostScript
fonts actually were designed with write black in mind and look best this way.
In write white, if the spots get a little fat you are eating away at the
character. This gets serious on thin lines where they actually disappear.
This is not the only thing that is a little discouraging.
The documentation that comes with the beast looks OK at the start. Then
you start to realize what is missing. They don't give you any Supplement
to the PostScript Language reference manual, they refer you to the
standard PostScript Language reference manual (and cookbook). When you
contact Adobe they will tell you there is a supplement.
There are a number of features that you take for granted on the Apple
LaserWriter that aren't there.
Manualfeed: The paper transport and paper trays are much larger and better
than the LaserWriter but there is no manualfeed!
Product: Yup, it returns Omnilaser or some such thing... What you would
expect right... I can't tell you how many programmers with tunnel vision
around here get fooled by this. I admit they deserve it. We have a LaserWriter
a Linotype and the Omnilaser. Before we got the Omnilaser they did dumb things
like test for product LaserWriter and if it isn't then it must be the
Linotype!!! They sent it to the Omnilaser when we got it and it failed cause
it thought it was a Linotype and did Linotype functions.
note, letter, legal: Not sure which ones are and aren't supported yet since
my supplement isn't here and I haven't bothered to test, but they are
described in the LaserWriter specific section of the manual. PROGRAMMERS
PLEASE NOTE... THERE ARE OTHER PostScript DEVICES THAN A LASERWRITER!!!
dvi2ps <<<------ biggest offender to date. Uses note etc to save memory
and stuff. Get functional guys. If you want to use LaserWriter specific
functions than at least test to see if they exist. Right now TeX output
can't be printed on the TI Omnilaser cause it bombs when dvi2ps converts the
TeX dvi output to BAD PostScript (yes I call it BAD PostScript caused by
nearsighted programmers). There is this amazing PostScript function
called where!!! /note where {pop note} if This is better... it tests
to see if note exists then uses it if it does or skips it if it isn't there.
There are a number of features that we haven't tried on the printer yet
Like the HP 7475 HPGL Plotter emulation, HP LaserJet emulation, TI 855
dot matrix emulation, but the rest of the stuff works real well.
Oh, it takes longer (yes longer) to turn on than the LaserWriter. Must be the
increased ram etc.
TI is looking into the print quality problem, we are not sure whether to accept
the second one when it arrives if it arrives.
2108.... Another department ordered the 2108 from TI, never arrived even when
the 2115 arrived. Engineering Hold. They cancelled and went with a QMS PS800.
We were going to have 2 TI's in our area and give the sloooowwww LaserWriter
to the systems group, but we need the quality of the LaserWriter so I suspect
that systems will live with a fast TI and we will stay with a LaserWriter and
a TI 2115. It is actually really good to have all of the different devices
around as it helps you to write device independant PostScript.
AND YOU PROGRAMMERS..... start writing good PostScript. I am fed up
with commercial products coming along with crud printer drivers for
PostScript Devices.
Terry Jones
416-978-4924
[[Editor's note: dvi2ps is a public domain-style program and its
development proceeds with volunteer labor. You are welcome to improve
the PostScript programming style and are encouraged to make your
modifications available to the larger community.
--Rick ]]