mhampson@wpi.wpi.edu (Mark A. Hampson) (08/11/89)
I am interested in information about commercially available software for
the MS-DOS family of computers that will allow the interpertation of
PostScript code that can generate output to other printing devices. THe
purpose of this is for proof work that we do not want to tie up the printer
with.
Things that are important:
1) would like to know version of PS that is supported
2) would like to know output devices supported
3) rough estimate of price (if known)
4) approx. speed (fast/slow)
5) Vender
I have heard of two:
1) Freedom of Press ($495) -- Has anybody used it? What did you think?
2) GoScript -- Only over the net and in one add.
Any help would be great.
--
Mark A. Hampson Worcester Polytechnic Institute
mhampson@wpi.wpi.edu Worcester, MA 01609 USA
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A great solution dosen't have to be complicated. (something to think about)geof@apolling (Geof Cooper) (08/25/89)
In article <3508@wpi.wpi.edu> mhampson@wpi.wpi.edu (Mark A. Hampson) writes: >I am interested in information about commercially available software for >the MS-DOS family of computers that will allow the interpertation of >PostScript code that can generate output to other printing devices. THe >purpose of this is for proof work that we do not want to tie up the printer >with. > >I have heard of two: > 1) Freedom of Press ($495) -- Has anybody used it? What did you think? > 2) GoScript -- Only over the net and in one add. add to this: 3) QMS UltraScript PC I have clear opinions about the merits of each of these packages, but I'll keep quiet about the others since I'm involved with #3. Since you asked, I'll take the opportunity to answer your specific questions. > 1) would like to know version of PS that is supported Based on LaserWriter V38 & V46, fonts by IMAGEN from the Linotype et al outlines. All advance widths compatible with Adobe's. > 2) would like to know output devices supported LaserJet, DeskJet (& DJ+), Canon BJ-130, EpsonLQ, FX-80, TIFF. Color epson and PaintJet supported in release 2, soon. The DeskJet+ is a real price/performance win. > 3) rough estimate of price (if known) $195 wi/25 faces - $445 wi/47 faces. The faces are the "standard" 13 and the "standard" 35 with 12 Lucida faces thrown in. > 4) approx. speed (fast/slow) Depends on the PC and the memory. The biggest feature is that the speed is not heavily dependent on having an FPU. You can run the package very slowly on a 640K machine but 1MB is needed for reasonable performance. On an 10MHz 80286 it is about .5-.7 LaserWriter+'s. On a 386/20 about 1.5 LW+'s. This refers to processing speed only - time to print depends on the speed of the printer's parallel interface. Uses the DOS16/M protected mode DOS extender (the one Lotus is using now) so it uses extended memory and protected mode. Hence it will not run on an 8086/8 machine (80286 & 80386 (+ 486, presumably) only). An advantage of DOS16/M is that you can load the interpreter as a TSR in extended memory and process PostScript data without leaving your application. (I guess I got excited and said something that you didn't ask specifically...) > 5) Vendor Available from "The Laser Connection" (QMS Subsidiary) and by calling IMAGEN (QMS Subsidiary) in Santa Clara, CA. - Geof Cooper IMAGEN