Adam.Frix@f200.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Adam Frix) (07/07/89)
Let's straighten some things out here:
First, neither the HP DeskJet nor its incarnation as the Mac-compatible
DeskWriter are laser printers. This machine is an ink jet printer,
meaning it literally sprays a jet of ink onto the paper (actually, many,
many little jets of ink) to do what it does. Yes, its output is right
around 300 dots per inch; but, 300 dpi does not a laser printer make. The
two issues (laser printers and 300 dpi printers) are separate issues; the
confusion probably stems from the fact that until the introduction of the
DeskJet, the only popular 300 dpi printers were in fact lasers. It's time
to separate the two.
Another point of confusion seems to arise from Apple's heavy use of
PostScript technology in its laser printers. A laser printer -- any
printer, for that matter, but in this case a laser printer -- *can* exist
WITHOUT PostScript. Just because it's a laser printer does NOT mean it
uses PostScript. Look at the HP laser printers. Nary a PS interpreter in
sight.
Now, combining the two false impressions I've described above, could
easily lead one to believe that a $700 HP ink jet printer is laser and
PostScript. NEITHER OF THESE IS TRUE. Look at it this way: laser
technology is fairly expensive, and you won't find a sub-$1000 laser
printer anytime in the next few months. Secondly, PostScript is a complex
page description language, a programming language, owned and developed by
Adobe. It's pretty good as page description languages go, so Adobe
charges A LOT to license this technology. That's another reason
PostScript laser printers (read: Apple's laser printers, save the LW
IISC) cost so much. And, it's another reason you'll probably NEVER find a
sub-$1000 PostScript printer. Technology can always be improved and made
cheaper, but licensing fees are entirely decided by Adobe and so will
probably never come down.
To recap, the HP DeskJet/DeskWriter is NOT laser, and is NOT PostScript.
--
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