rc3h+@andrew.cmu.edu (Ross Ward Comer) (01/18/90)
Sorry if it's been a recent topic, but... What are the problems/limitations of the HP Deskwriter? How compatible is it with the rest of the world? Will it work when System 7 comes out? I'm not too worried about fonts, but I'm really interested if it works with Finale 2.0. Thanks, ross rc3h@andrew.cmu.edu
stevem@hpvcfs1.HP.COM (Steve Miller) (01/19/90)
>What are the problems/limitations of the HP Deskwriter? How compatible >is it with the rest of the world? Will it work when System 7 comes out? Here's my biased response (I worked on the DeskWriter at HP): The most common problem that users run into is when running large applications on a 1 Meg Mac. I have little problem doing this on my 1 Meg machine, but some large applications like Word 4.0 print more slowly. Also on 1 Meg machines, if you have things that chew up system memory like Inits, RAM cache, or desktop pictures, then this will make the problem worse. The common applications don't work with DeskWriter: Very old versions of MacPaint FullPaint Microsoft BASIC Adobe Illustrator only prints a 72DPI Some HyperCard Features only print at 72DPI Red Ryder and MicroPhone didn't used to work, but the latest versions do work! Every day the list of applications that have problems or don't work with DeskWriter is growing smaller. All the major applications that work well with DeskWriter: MacDraw, MacPaint, MacPaint II, MacWrite, Word, PageMaker, Excel, WingZ, Quark Express, FullWrite, Full Impact, SuperPaint, Canvas, MacDraw II, MacProject II, Filemaker, WordPerfect, WriteNow, Works, Digital Darkroom (latest version), Chart, Power Point, Ready Set Go, etc.. As far as System 7.0 is concerned, HP is totally committed to the Mac market and will defintely support 7.0 when it comes out. Steven Miller Vancouver Division Hewlett Packard
pff@beach.cis.ufl.edu (Pablo Fernicola) (01/20/90)
The DeskWriter is great, you get laser quality output (really!) for a price that is lower than any laser printer and the price for refills is much lower than for laser printers ($35 against $100). Drawbacks: Sometimes it may be slow, there is no spooler for it, some applications don't work with it, and if you use the "wrong" kind of paper it may bleed. Overall Comment: HP did a wonderful job and it is great printer (price, quality, speed, specially if you compare it with an ImageWriter II). -- pff@beach.cis.ufl.edu - Pablo Fernicola - Machine Intelligence Laboratory - UF IF YOU CARE ENOUGH TO READ SIGNATURES ... I am graduating Spring 1990 and I am looking for a job. MS EE, my graduate work incorporates OO-DBMS/Graphics/Robotics/AI