tfabian@falcon.lerc.nasa.gov (Teddy Fabian) (02/09/91)
note: I've tried to post this several times.. if you see duplicates, I'm
sorry.. I don't think it's leaving my site properly...
Hello,
the following is quite long.. if you've got specific experience with an
Okidata 840 printer, I would please ask that you continue reading, and
provide comments as appropriate...
I'm trying to put together a proposal to my management for purchases of
a number of laser printers.. a brief thumbnail sketch of my environment
includes a number of different host platforms ranging from AT class, through
386 class machines, and up into the workstation world (Apollo DN3000s,
and VAXStations), as well as a VAX host (6000-340).. we are looking to
connect postscript capable printers to the AT and 386 class machines..
we've already got a nice mix of postscript printers, (eg. OMS 1500,
TI Omni, LPS40, LPS20, HPLJII, etc..) but do not currently have enough
to go around to cover all users.. we've also got a fair number of non-
postscript laser printers and dot matrix printers... most of the printers
can be reached via our network, although in most cases, the path is
very awkward..
anyway, given that background.. I've been trying to put together a
series of specifications for printers.. I've got a specific model in
mind on which the characteristics were based upon, but alas, as in any
big business, the "Mercedes" of postscript laser printers is too darn
expensive for our budget...
I'm told that the machine I can probably afford is in the price range
of the Okidata 840.. thus the problem.. I have no working experience
with an Okidata 840... and I'd like to ask to hear about yours...
attached you'll find the basic specifications I've put together..
granted there is nothing holding me to these specs yet.. it's just a
draft version.. I'd like your comments on whether you believe
that the Okidata 840 would meet these specs, and if not, why not..
please, let me hear your "war stories".. and your candid opinions...
if you don't feel confortable posting to the newsgroups, then reply
via email...
one more caveat.. the software environment we're working in dictates
that the printers can handle either POSTSCRIPT or ASCII without the
user having to reconfigure the printer physically..
thanks...
Ted Fabian
tfabian@falcon.lerc.nasa.gov <----- general purpose address
/PN=THEODORE.FABIAN/ADMD=TELEMAIL/PRMD=LERC/C=US/@SPRINT.COM <---- preferred if
you can reach
it with your
mailer..
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specs follow:
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1) The printer engine life shall be at least 600000 pages.
2) Printing speed shall be an average of 16 seconds after
receipt of data (first page). Subsequent pages shall print
at a rate of 8 pages per minute or better.
3) Warm up time shall be a maximum of 2 minutes from a cold
start.
4) Printing capabilties shall be 300 x 300 dpi.
5) The printer shall emualte an Hewlett Packard LaserJet Plus
(supporting HP PCL) and an Hewlett Packard 7475A plotter
(supporting HPGL) as a minimum.
6) The printer shall contain an Adobe Postscript interpreter in
hardware or firmware. The printer shall be capable of
printing Adobe Postscript.
7) Other than a standard serial or parallel board, no external
boards (eg. those that might be contained in a PC) shall be
required to drive/control the printer.
8) Contain additional two cartridge slots not used by the
postscript language for further expandability of fonts or
contain additional random access memory above the required
minimum of 2 meg for software downloadable fonts.
9) Shall contain at a minimum, the following Adobe Postscript
fonts: Courier, Helvetica, and Times in standard and bold
typefaces.
10) Interface shall allow Centronics-type parallel, RS232
serial, as well as direct network connection. The RS232
portion shall meet the EIA RS-232-C standand. Direct
network shall support DECnet and TCP/IP via Ethernet.
11) Memory shall be at least 2mb RAM with the capabiltiy of
modular memory upgrades of at least 4mb.
12) Toner shall last at least 3500 pages before needing
replacement when printing at normal 5% coverage.
13) The printer shall have a duty cycle of at least 10000 pages.
14) Mean time between required preventative maintenance or
failures shall not be less than six months.
15) Input Paper handling - 250 sheet input drawer (or multiple
drawers that will handle at least a total of 250 sheets
between the drawers). Also, the printer shall handle manual
sheet input.
16) Output Paper Handling - printer output shall be at least 100
sheets sorted order and at least 20 sheets reverse sorted
order.
17) Paper Sizes - the printer shall handle letter, legal,
envelopes, labels, and transparencies; Paper weight, 16-21
lb. from the automatic input drawer, and 16-24 lb. from the
manual paper feed source in both portrait and landscape
orientations. Label sheet weight, 28-33 lb. Transparency
weight 28-33 lb.
18) The printer shall be a tabletop model with dimentions that
do not exceed 20 inches wide, 22 inches deep, and 25 inches
high. The printer shall weigh less than 100 pounds.
19) Acoustic Noise shall not exceed an average of 55 decibels.
(A-weighted).
20) The printer shall operate in a range of 50 degrees to 90
degrees Farenheit and a humidity range of 20% to 80% non-
condensing.
21) The power requirements shall not exceed 120 VAC plus/minus
20%, 60 Hz, 4.8 A
----------------------------------------------------
Thanks, Ted Fabian NASA Lewis Research Center
tfabian@falcon.lerc.nasa.gov *my opinions
tfabian@mars.lerc.nasa.gov *are my own..
or even
/PN=THEODORE.FABIAN/ADMD=TELEMAIL/PRMD=LERC/C=US/@SPRINT.COM
if you can get to it...
--
----------------------------------------------------
Thanks, Ted Fabian NASA Lewis Research Center
tfabian@falcon.lerc.nasa.gov *my opinions
tfabian@mars.lerc.nasa.gov *are my own..