c3ar@zaphod.uchicago.edu (Walter C3arlip) (09/01/90)
How about a discussion of the new "personal" laser printers? Recently,
several models of (relatively) inexpensive laser printers, both postscript
and quickdraw, have appeared on the market. I am primarily interested in
the postscript versions, but I think a discussion including all models
would be appropriate. These printers often use the same laser engine, but
differ in significant ways, e.g., some use 68000's, some 68020's; memory
ranges from 1 to 3 Mb; some use "real" postscript, some have "clone"
interpreters; etc.
Models I've seen advertised include:
GCC Technologies: BLPII ($2399)
BLPIIS ($2899)
QMS: PS-410 ($2795)
PS-810 ($2995)
Texas Instruments: micro-LaserPS ($3150)
micro-LaserPS17 ($2499)
Hewlett Packard: LaserjetIIP ($2300?)
LaserjetIII ($2600?)
QUME: ???
Okidata: ???
Panasonic: ???
ABATON (Everex): ???
and, of course,
Apple: Personal LaserwriterNT ($2400)
These prices are probably not an accurate representation of what these
actually *cost* and are taken from sources that are not really comparable
(some are manufacturers list prices, some, like Apples, are with the
academic discount, etc.).
Does anyone out there have any real experience with these (or other)
printers? Is there any good reason to buy the Apple over any of the
others? All facts and opinions are welcome!
--Walter
_____________________________________________________________________________
Walter Carlip **** c3ar@finite.chi.il.us ****
(the "3" is invisible) **** . . . clout!finite!c3ar ****
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Walter Carlip c3ar@zaphod.uchicago.edu
(the "3" is invisible) c3ar%zaphod@UCHIMVS1.bitnet
**** c3ar@finite.chi.il.us ****dyer@spdcc.COM (Steve Dyer) (09/01/90)
I bought the TI Microlaser PS a few months ago and love it.
I recently added an RS232/Appletalk interface to hook it
up to a Mac II (I'd been using via a parallel port to an RT/PC.)
It works like a charm with both, although you have to manually
switch between the different interfaces from the front panel
(no problem for me, since I'm the only user.) I ended up paying
about $2K for the printer w/ Postscript. You get LaserJet
emulation too, which is nice to know, though I haven't used that.
Maybe if I were buying a printer now, I'd go with the Apple Personal
Laserwriter NT, simply because I can get it for roughly the same
price as the TI (the new Apple wasn't available back then.) But
I don't regret my purchase one bit. The TI is fast (enough);
I haven't done any timings, but I haven't had any reason to complain.
--
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
dyer@arktouros.mit.edu, dyer@hstbme.mit.edu