egapmh@uncecs.edu (Paul M. Hudy) (12/04/90)
I am in the market for a laser printer and was looking for recommendations, experiences, etc. from the net. The requirements are that is must be *Adobe* postscript - the later the version the better, in the $1,500 to $2,500 *street price* range - the lower the $ the better, and as quick a through-put as possible for the documents I will be using it most for, that is *book length* Pagemaker docs (no graphics, just boxes, lines and text) and Adobe Illustrator files (simple, medium and complex). I have narrowed it down to several printers, but would be open to any other suggestions. I am also willing to go mail order - so suggestions on vendors would be appreciated. In the running so far are: 1) Apple Personal NT - advantages: its Apple, reasonable price thru University, supplies readily available, plug n' play; disadvantages: price still higher than non-Apple competition, RAM is non-expandable, according to benchmarks, relatively slow for what I need it for-especially Illustrator docs. 2) QMS-410 - advantages: reasonable price (lower than Apple), fast processor (16.? mHz 68020), benchmarks good for Illustrator, software port sensor in case I decide to hook up a PC, and 45 fonts in ROM; disadvantages: 50 page paper tray, 250 sheet tray available for $180, disappointing benchmarks on some Pagemaker tests - QMS claims test model had out-of-date firmware and that the Appletalk routines have been re-written.....hmmmmm. 3) TI PS35/PS17 - would probably go with the PS17, since most of the fonts I work with the printer won't have in ROM anyway (I will be downloading before hand for books) and I understand that other than that these are the same printers; advantages: good prices available (sub $2000), small footprint, consumables might be slightly less costly - only toner is replaced, rather than an entire cartridge; disadvantages: only 1.5MB RAM, would have to upgrade to at least 2.5MB at an outrageous TI retail price of $400 a meg! 4) NEC Silentwriter 2 Model 90 - advantages: good prices, good midrange performer on all tests; disadvantages: just don't know about NEC; they seem to flitter in and out of the MAC market on several fronts, but never really get a *hit* product. Plus the product seems to be backordered nearly everywhere. The result of NEC supplying, or customers demanding? Any other suggestions? Anyone know about the Panasonic offering that is out? Thanks in advance! -Paul Hudy <egapmh@ecsvax> ps: A wild hope...but can any of these printers be upgraded to Postscript v2.0 when it comes out?