rcd@ico.ISC.COM (Dick Dunn) (08/05/89)
A couple of weeks ago I asked what PostScript printers there are based on
the Canon SX print engine other than the Apple LaserWriter (tm) II NT (and
NTX). I said explicitly that I wanted a PostScript printer from the start,
not something like a LaserJet II plus add-on hardware/firmware. (Motiva-
tion, for those who missed the original posting: I like the SX quality and
the packaging and all, but I personally dislike Apple's industry politics and
current lawsuits, and their recently-announced intention to move away from
Adobe in what sounds like an NIH game to produce yet another proprietary
printer interface.)
I got a handful of responses, all suggesting the QMS PS-810. Comments on
that printer were uniformly positive. It's said to be faster than the NT.
It comes with 2 Mb (like the NT) but allows for an upgrade to 3 Mb. It's
also somewhat more expensive than the NT, although still under $4000. I'm
not sure just how much under; that will depend on local dealers and who-
knows-what-else.
One of my wishes was for a Centronics interface, which the QMS has. Yes, I
know that this parallel interface is not (usually) bidirectional, and a
PostScript printer really wants to talk as well as listen. But I want the
parallel interface for the high-volume data toward the printer; I can use a
serial interface for the back channel (I hope). I don't want to "fly
blind". This is going on an AT, though, so I don't want to send files via
a serial connection if I can help it since the parallel connection is
about an order of magnitude faster.
--
Dick Dunn rcd@ico.isc.com uucp: {ncar,nbires}!ico!rcd (303)449-2870
...Simpler is better.