lantz@orc.olivetti.COM (04/14/88)
Several months ago I posted a request for information about high-speed
Postscript printers. I received some input about the following:
Diconix Dijit 1/PS: processor couldn't keep up with print engine;
could print double-sided; 68020-based version rumored
Dataproducts LZR-2665: lots of people have these; some favorable
remarks, but a fair number of complaints about speed (the
BEST reports said 12 ppm with simple pages, whereas MacWEEK
reported a 190% DEGRADATION compared to the LaserWriter Plus
on complicated graphics images... this for a print engine
rated at 26 ppm); several people had problems replacing the
toner
QMS PS2400: "really bad Xerox engine... it gave us constant trouble ...
Avoid if you can"
TI Omnilaser: write-black yields some print-quality problems, but not
overwhelming; prints Scribe "articles" (mostly Roman with some
bold or italic) at 15 ppm, TeX output somewhat slower, complex
graphics a lot slower (but faster than a Laserwriter)
DEC LPS-40: widely acclaimed; Scribe and TeX text output at 30-40 ppm;
complex graphics 2.5 times a LaserWriter; but rather painful
operating environment, networking wise
Based on this information, the TI OmniLaser looked like the best bet at the
time, with the LPS-40 for those to whom price and DECNET expertise are no
object.
However, we've been off fighting other fires and are just getting back to
this one. So I'd appreciate any additional input -- on the above or new
machines. Note that the principal use of this machine will be as a
"lineprinter" (i.e. simple, fixed-width font, for code, mail messages,
etc.), with "technical documents" coming in second, and truly complex
graphics (of the sort typically tested in the trade rags) rather rare.
Thanks in advance, Keith
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Keith A. Lantz Phone: (415) 496-6235
Olivetti Research Center Internet: lantz@orc.olivetti.com, or
2882 Sand Hill Road, Suite 210 lantz%orc.uucp@unix.sri.com
Menlo Park, CA 94025 UUCP: {acornrc,oliveb,sri-unix}!orc!lantz