v564huce@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Allen Hsu) (03/07/91)
Hey all!!
Seems to be a whole lot debate about the new goodies from Apple. Well
wait no more, here's the scoop:
First, let me say this, all of the words in this blurb are my own.
This University and my employers have no control over what I post. Also, much
of the hard numbers are from the OFFICIAL Apple spec sheets and video (yes,
it's a real cool one too). It ought to be obvious where I am speculating.
Okay, now to the goodies!!!
StyleWriter: Yup, it's here. I really hate to say it, but there's no
price!!!! I know, the retail is $599.00, but no campus price yet. Basically
it's a real nice rebuild of the Canon BJ-10e bubble jet. Usual Apple interface
(din-8) is implied (I don't have spec sheets in front of me, this is off
memory), no networking from Apple (like the ImageWriter/localtalk option).
Speed is rated at about 1/2 to 1 PPM (half as fast a DeskWriter). It is
slightly larger than the Canon unit. I deem this a good thing. I did worry
that the vertical orientation of the printer might be a problem as people
would knock it over. Apple seems to have solved the problem by increasing the
footprint enough to compensate, yet it is still small. It DOES NOT have a
tractor feed. The normally optional sheetfeeder for the Canon is standard.
READ: 50 sheet letter/legal. All paper sits vertical. There is also a manual
feed. Apple includes some stuff about "officially" recommended paper. While I
agree that cotton bond is nice, I think this is way too expensive for coomon
use. As soon as one comes in, I'll try all sorts of nifty paper on it
(including the Hammermill Laser Print that I use one my DeskWriter). If there
is interest, I'll post a summary in about 3.5 weeks (i'm outta here for break
!!!). Also, Apple has stated that this thing will do transperencies. They
specify a certain brand of 3M stuff, but that's not a real big deal, I hope.
looks like this could spell the end of the ImageWriter II for most uses. P.S.,
yes it does include 4 TrueType fonts.
Personal LaserWriter LS: With this product, the Personal LaserWriter
SC has been dropped! No kidding!! Apple sent a video along with the promo
stuff showing off their whole line (which I'll detail at the end), the SC was
not among them! Anyway, this is a real interesting beast. What you're getting
is a functional equivalent of an HP IIP! I mean, 50 sheet paper tray (250
optional), 512K RAM (Optional 2.5 megs I think), and, get this, NOT a SCSI
interface!!! It uses an RS-422 interface (READ: Normal Apple serial
connection). Technically, this is not networkable, but Apple adds a notation,
it say *up to 909K/sec with external clocking* (paraphrasing Apple words).
Might is be safe to assume that there might be some networking ability there??
I'm not familiar with the concept of external clocking, but if someone
would like to answer this please, do. Can it be possible for someone to
design/make a special box that can clock externally and interface with an
AppleTalk network? (I point to the EtherPrint box from Dayna that we use in our
offices).
Anyway, it is NOT Postscript upgradable (at least nothing was stated).
This beastie looks real promising. Honestly, I am giving serious thought to
getting one when the bucks flow in. I do mostly text anyway, and the price
shuld be a lot less than $1000. After all, GCC just dropped their PLP II to
$999. I think Apple will have to match that.
With that, I proceed to the next part. The official Apple lineup now
looks like this: StyleWriter, ImageWriter II, Personal LaserWriter LS,
Personal LaserWriter NT, LaserWriter IINT (yes, it's still here), and the top
end, the IINTX. I can't wait to see that demo unit!!!!
Allen Hsu
SUNY At Buffalo School Of Law,
UBMicro Sales Center and
Avid Fan Of Spring :-)drg@mdaali.cancer.utexas.edu (David Gutierrez) (03/12/91)
In article <63717@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v564huce@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Allen Hsu) writes: > StyleWriter: > > It DOES NOT have a tractor feed. At the demo of the unit I saw last week, the Apple SE said that it *did* have a tractor feed. Now that it's an official product, can anybody clear this up? David Gutierrez drg@mdaali.cancer.utexas.edu "Only fools are positive." - Moe Howard