MAC111@psuvm.psu.edu (PAMUG user group, Adrian Sullivan) (07/10/90)
Below is a Press release of two new Personal LaserWriters, the NT and SC. Disclaimer: this isn't an Advertisement, just an informational posting. Adrian Sullivan Vice President - PAMUG user group (814) 867-8367 Developer - Anonae Software axs@psuarch.bitnet Technical Consultant - AMSW Software PAMUG - Pennsylvania Apple Microcomputer User Group mac111@psuvm.psu.edu Mac111@psuvm.bitnet ===== Apple Introduces Low-Cost Laser Printers for Macintosh CUPERTINO, CaliforniaQJuly 9, 1990QApple Computer, Inc. today launched a new line of LaserWriter printers that give Macintosh computer users the full power and flexibility of laser printing at a more affordable price. Two new printers comprise the line: the Personal LaserWriter SC, at $1,999, is a single-user laser printer for customers requiring basic text and graphics. The Personal LaserWriter NT, at $3,299, is a multiuser laser printer for individuals and small work groups with more advanced graphics needs. As with all Apple LaserWriter printers, the new line is high-quality, easy-to-use and configure, and compatible with all Macintosh computers. ROur new Personal LaserWriter printers not only make laser-quality printing more affordable, they also take full advantage of the rich text and graphics capabilities of the Macintosh,S said Randy Battat, vice president of product marketing. RWeUve standardized important features at a lower price so more Macintosh users will be able to enjoy the benefits of high-quality laser printing.S Personal LaserWriter SC The Personal LaserWriter SC, for individual Macintosh users, meets basic productivity and simple desktop publishing needs, including correspondence, presentations and reports. It is well-suited for single users who require high-quality output, but donUt need networking or more advanced text and graphics capabilities. The printer uses the QuickDraw graphics routines that reside in every Macintosh to create sharply defined text and images. The Personal LaserWriter SC incorporates the Motorola 68000 microprocessor and includes 1MB of random access memory (RAM), the amount required for imaging a full page of text and graphics at 300 dot-per-inch (dpi) resolution. Times, Helvetica, Courier and Symbol typefaces in sizes 9 through 24 point are included on floppy disks packaged with the printer. A SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) interface provides high-speed data transfer capabilities for fast printing and the flexibility for daisy-chaining up to six additional peripheral devices. The Personal LaserWriter SC can be upgraded to the more advanced capabilities of the Personal LaserWriter NT simply by replacing the controller board. Personal LaserWriter NT The Personal LaserWriter NT is a multiuser laser printer for individuals and small work groups with more advanced graphics needs. It performs a range of productivity and publishing tasks from basic correspondence to complex newsletters and illustrations. The printer includes Adobe PostScript, the page description language that gives users sophisticated text and graphics capabilities. It also includes AppleTalk QAppleUs built-in network capabilityQwhich allows the printer to be shared among small groups of Macintosh users or Apple IIe and Apple IIGS users via a built-in LocalTalk connector. The Personal LaserWriter NT can be shared in a mixed environment of Macintosh computers and other computer platforms such as MS-DOS, OS/2 or UNIX -based systems via an optional LocalTalk PC peripheral card. In addition, the Personal LaserWriter NT incorporates an RS-232 serial interface, which provides connectivity for non-Apple computers. Via the serial port, users can print non-PostScript documents using the built-in HP LaserJet Plus or Diablo 630 printer emulation. The Personal LaserWriter NT incorporates the Motorola 68000 microprocessor and has 2MB of RAM. It can be upgraded to 8MB of RAM to improve speed and allow additional room for downloading fonts. Thirty-five standard typefaces are included with the printer to give users a choice of print styles. Two other fonts that are used in Diablo 630 ECS emulation are included. The printer also supports hundreds of downloadable fonts available from third-party computer typography companies. Benefits The Personal LaserWriter printers offer users the following benefits: -High-resolution, high-quality printing: The combined power of a Motorola 68000 processor and the Canon LBP-LX laser engine provides users with the capability to print documents with 300-dpi near-typeset quality text, graphics, and scanned images. -Space-saving desktop design: The printers feature a new compact design that measures 15S x 18.3S, weighs 32 pounds, and requires top and front access only, minimizing the amount of space required. -Full functionality and compatibility: Apple tightly integrates the computer, the operating system, the printer and the printer software, thus optimizing the entire system to provide full functionality and ensuring compatibility with all Macintosh computers, virtually all Macintosh applications, and all other LaserWriter printers. -Versatile Paper Handling: The printers offer an automatic-feed 250 sheet paper cassette as well as a multipurpose paper tray that can be used for letterhead, envelopes, labels, card stock and other non-standard papers. -Low-Maintenance: The parts of the printer most sensitive to normal wear are replaced automatically with the printerUs toner cartridge, ensuring sharp print quality, smooth printer operation and less maintenance. Combined with a lower price, Apple believes these qualities make the Personal LaserWriter printers an attractive choice for students, home users, and small or large businesses with lower volume printing needs. With the introduction of the Personal LaserWriter printers, Apple has broadened its LaserWriter family to include two distinct printer lines. The Personal LaserWriter line gives users with low-volume printing requirements two low-cost options for quality laser printing. The LaserWriter II line gives users with more rigorous and sophisticated printing needs a choice of two high-volume, high-performance laser printers. The LaserWriter family now includes the following four printers: - Personal LaserWriter SC (replaces the LaserWriter IISC); - Personal LaserWriter NT; - LaserWriter IINT, a higher volume, network-capable laser printer with advanced graphics capabilities; - LaserWriter IINTX, AppleUs high-performance laser printer with advanced graphics and networking capabilities, and expansion options for additional font storage and faster printing. Pricing and Availability The Personal LaserWriter printers are available immediately in volume worldwide through all Apple authorized resellers. Apple products carry a one-year limited warranty. ManufacturerUs suggested retail prices in the United States are as follows (prices outside the United States may vary): -Personal LaserWriter SC $1,999 -Personal LaserWriter NT $3,299 -Personal LaserWriter Toner Cartridge (one included standard with printer) $99 -Personal LaserWriter NT Controller Card $1,300 (To upgrade a Personal LaserWriter SC to a Personal LaserWriter NT, requires return of SC card.) -Personal LaserWriter Letter Cassette (one included standard with printer) $79 -Personal LaserWriter Legal Cassette $79 -Personal LaserWriter Envelope Cassette $89 -LaserWriter IINT $4,499 -LaserWriter IINTX $5,999 -LaserWriter IINTX Controller Card $1,500 (To upgrade a LaserWriter IINT to a LaserWriter IINTX, requires return of IINT card.) -30- Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, LaserWriter, AppleTalk, Local Talk and Apple IIGS are registered trademarks and QuickDraw is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T. LaserJet is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Corp. Diablo is a trademark of Xerox Corp.
c3ar@zaphod.uchicago.edu (Walter C3arlip) (07/11/90)
OK, now that Apple has announced the new laserwriters: does anybody
know the University Consortium Price of these things?
--Walter
_____________________________________________________________________________
Walter Carlip c3ar@zaphod.uchicago.edu
(the "3" is invisible) c3ar%zaphod@UCHIMVS1.bitnet
**** c3ar@finite.chi.il.us ****
**** . . . clout!finite!c3ar ****
**** c3ar%finite.chi.il.us@gargoyle.uchicago.edu ****
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Walter Carlip c3ar@zaphod.uchicago.edu
(the "3" is invisible) c3ar%zaphod@UCHIMVS1.bitnet
**** c3ar@finite.chi.il.us ****brion@cbnewsh.att.com (brion.n.feinberg) (07/11/90)
From article <90191.015015MAC111@psuvm.psu.edu>, by MAC111@psuvm.psu.edu (PAMUG user group, Adrian Sullivan): > Below is a Press release of two new Personal LaserWriters, the NT and SC. ... > > ===== > Apple Introduces Low-Cost Laser Printers for Macintosh > > CUPERTINO, CaliforniaQJuly 9, 1990QApple Computer, Inc. today launched a new > line of LaserWriter printers that give Macintosh computer users the full > power and flexibility of laser printing at a more affordable price. Two new > printers comprise the line: the Personal LaserWriter SC, at $1,999, is a > single-user laser printer for customers requiring basic text and graphics. The > Personal LaserWriter NT, at $3,299, is a multiuser laser printer for > individuals and small work groups with more advanced graphics needs. As with > all Apple LaserWriter printers, the new line is high-quality, easy-to-use and > configure, and compatible with all Macintosh computers. > Well ... in my opinion (and its only mine - my employer could probably care less) if you want a non-Postscript, cheap laser printer set up, go for the following: 1. An HP Laserjet IIP (available now for < $900 after rebate) 2. The MacPrint printer driver (< $100) 3. Adobe Type Manager (< $60) I use this all of the time, and it works great. For text only documents, I can use the built in fonts and get great 300 dpi output very quickly. Even simple graphics print quickly using an option in the print driver (although the output sometimes prints hidden items when this option is turned on). For full 300 dpi text and graphics that looks just as good as postscript, you give up some speed, but no quality. Admittedly, the slow communication (19.6 K) of this set up can be a bottleneck, slowing printing down to over 10 minutes a page sometimes. But other than this, I don't see any advantage to the new Apple Personal LW SC. Well, I bet the SC works with PrintMonitor - background printing with MacPrint requires SuperLaserSpool , but that's another $100 (well, mine was free with my Dataframe harddisk). One BIG advantage of this set up, at least to me, is that I can use the IIP to print from DOS (using SoftPC or an A/B switch box). You can't do that with the Apple SC (I'd guess). Oh yea, for a little more money, you can put the IIP on Localtalk. I use a Shiva NetSerial, but I understand HP now sells a LocalTalk version of the IIP (price unknown, rebate doubtful). This would probably bring the price up to a discounted Personal SC, but now the printer is shareable. So, that's my input for lower cost printing options (you want really low cost 300 DPI, price out the DeskJet Plus + MacPrint). I'm happy with my set up and I wanted to let others now that this alternative works. Brion brion@honet9.att.com P.S. I lied a tiny, little bit. I actually use an HP LaserJet II. But MacPrint works with the IIP also.
gt4586c@prism.gatech.EDU (WILLETT,THOMAS CARTER) (07/12/90)
In article <1990Jul11.131926.5416@cbnewsh.att.com>, brion@cbnewsh.att.com (brion.n.feinberg) writes: > > Well ... in my opinion (and its only mine - my employer could probably > care less) if you want a non-Postscript, cheap laser printer set up, go > for the following: > > 1. An HP Laserjet IIP (available now for < $900 after rebate) > 2. The MacPrint printer driver (< $100) > 3. Adobe Type Manager (< $60) > One more item needs to be added to the list to get the most out of the HP LaserJet IIP: 4. An additional megabyte of memory for the printer. In order to print high quality text and graphics (300dpi), the IIP requires an extra megabyte over the 500k with with it comes stock. This extra memory will cost about $500 if purchased from Hewlett-Packard and about $250 if purchased from Pacific Data Products. That makes the total cost of a completely usable IIP about $1300. If you have to share the printer with IBMs, it is a very good option. If you have only macs hooked up to the printer, then GCC makes some good postscript laser printers for about the same $1300 which will be much faster than the IIP. Also, if you are sharing the IIP with other computers, take note of the fact that your warranty is voided if you use a switch box that doesn't suppress voltage surges during switching. I expect other laser printer warranties have the same condition. -- thomas willett Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta gt4586c@prism.gatech.edu "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." - Salvor Hardin (Foundation)
mjv@brownvm.brown.edu (Marshall Vale) (07/12/90)
In article <1990Jul11.131926.5416@cbnewsh.att.com> brion@cbnewsh.att.com (brion.n.feinberg) writes: > Oh yea, for a little more money, you can put the IIP on Localtalk. I > use a Shiva NetSerial, but I understand HP now sells a LocalTalk > version of the IIP (price unknown, rebate doubtful). This would > probably bring the price up to a discounted Personal SC, but now > the printer is shareable. Well the AppleTalk board for the LaserJet 3 is $215 retail and I'd suspect the IIP would be the same. I find the LaserJet, MacPrint,ATM set up works like a charm and if I want, PostScript is just a mere $500 away. > Admittedly, the slow communication (19.6 K) of this set up can be > a bottleneck, slowing printing down to over 10 minutes a page > sometimes. One advantage of having a Mac with a parallel port is that I can transfer it over at 57.?k baud (or whatever that top setting is.) It transfers pages very fast. (I case your wondering, its an Atari with Mac emulation.) Cheers, Marshall --mjv@brownvm.brown.edu
fiddler@concertina.Sun.COM (Steve Hix) (07/12/90)
In article <44794@brunix.UUCP>, mjv@brownvm.brown.edu (Marshall Vale) writes: > In article <1990Jul11.131926.5416@cbnewsh.att.com> brion@cbnewsh.att.com > (brion.n.feinberg) writes: > > Oh yea, for a little more money, you can put the IIP on Localtalk. I > > Well the AppleTalk board for the LaserJet 3 is $215 retail and I'd suspect > the IIP would be the same. > > > Admittedly, the slow communication (19.6 K) of this set up can be > > a bottleneck, slowing printing down to over 10 minutes a page > > sometimes. > > One advantage of having a Mac with a parallel port is that I can transfer > it over at 57.?k baud (or whatever that top setting is.) It transfers pages > very fast. (I case your wondering, its an Atari with Mac emulation.) And if you have the AppleTalk board, your bits go down the wire at around 230K bps. (750K with FlashTalk?) If you have AppleTalk (or LocalTalk, this week). ------------ The only drawback with morning is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of day. ------------
russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) (07/12/90)
In article <44794@brunix.UUCP> mjv@brownvm.brown.edu (Marshall Vale) writes: > I find the LaserJet, MacPrint,ATM set up works like a charm and if I want, >PostScript is just a mere $500 away. > >> Admittedly, the slow communication (19.6 K) of this set up can be >> a bottleneck, slowing printing down to over 10 minutes a page >> sometimes. > > One advantage of having a Mac with a parallel port is that I can transfer >it over at 57.?k baud (or whatever that top setting is.) It transfers pages >very fast. (I case your wondering, its an Atari with Mac emulation.) > The mac, or the Mac II anyway, has no problem transferring data that fast over the serial port... the bottleneck must be in the printer... -- Matthew T. Russotto russotto@eng.umd.edu russotto@wam.umd.edu ][, ][+, ///, ///+, //e, //c, IIGS, //c+ --- Any questions? Hey! Bush has NO LIPS!
derosa@motcid.UUCP (John DeRosa) (07/12/90)
The new NT version looks very nice but is it faster than the NTX? Also, there are dual paper trays. Will there be included new drivers to take advantage of this feature?
brion@cbnewsh.att.com (brion.n.feinberg) (07/13/90)
From article <138771@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>, by fiddler@concertina.Sun.COM (Steve Hix):
... Lots of discussion about using MacPrint and and LaserJet rather than
the new Personal SC. Limitation is communication speed (basic LJ II
only supports 19.6K)
>
> And if you have the AppleTalk board, your bits go down the wire at around
> 230K bps. (750K with FlashTalk?) If you have AppleTalk (or LocalTalk, this
> week).
Does this work? Can MacPrint talk to a Localtalk equipped LaserJet?
The version I have seems to only use the serial drivers.
Brion
brion@honet9.att.comchris@imagine.ADMS-RAD.Unisys.COM (Chris Sterritt) (07/13/90)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: New Personal LaserWriters announced Summary: Expires: References: <90191.015015MAC111@psuvm.psu.edu> <1990Jul11.131926.5416@cbnewsh.att.com> <44794@brunix.UUCP> <1990Jul12.133343.300@eng.umd.edu> Sender: Reply-To: chris@ADMS-RAD.Unisys.COM (Chris Sterritt) Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: Unisys/Automated Document Management Systems, Radnor, PA Keywords: In article <1990Jul12.133343.300@eng.umd.edu> russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) writes: >In article <44794@brunix.UUCP> mjv@brownvm.brown.edu (Marshall Vale) writes: >> I find the LaserJet, MacPrint,ATM set up works like a charm and if I want, >>PostScript is just a mere $500 away. >>> Admittedly, the slow communication (19.6 K) of this set up can be >>> a bottleneck, slowing printing down to over 10 minutes a page >>> sometimes. >> >> One advantage of having a Mac with a parallel port is that I can transfer >>it over at 57.?k baud (or whatever that top setting is.) It transfers pages >>very fast. (I case your wondering, its an Atari with Mac emulation.) >The mac, or the Mac II anyway, has no problem transferring data that fast >over the serial port... the bottleneck must be in the printer... The Mac Plus can do this as well; GDT Softworks (who make the JetLink+ software that drives my DeskJet+) makes a box that turns the plus's serial port data at 56kb (roughly... I forget the exact numbers) into parallel for the DeskJet+'s parallel port. This can be used for all the HP printers, I believe. --chris sterritt ============================================================================ = Chris Sterritt - chris@adms-rad.unisys.com = = "Look! A Noise!" -- Jenny, age 2 = ============================================================================ Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam
jness@umn-d-ub.d.umn.edu (Joel Ness) (07/13/90)
Here's what I've been trying to find out about these new printers. Aren't they using the same engine that's in the new HP printers? The one with the variable dot size? And, if so, does that mean it will be possible to get a better-than-300-dot-per-inch appearance out of them? Inquiring minds want to know. Joel Ness INTERNET: jness@ub.d.umn.edu Information Services BITNET: JNESS@UMNDUL University of Minnesota, Duluth
mjv@brownvm.brown.edu (Marshall Vale) (07/17/90)
In article <107@umn-d-ub.d.umn.edu> jness@umn-d-ub.d.umn.edu (Joel Ness) writes: > Here's what I've been trying to find out about these new printers. > Aren't they using the same engine that's in the new HP printers? The one > with the variable dot size? And, if so, does that mean it will be > possible to get a better-than-300-dot-per-inch appearance out of them? The new LaserWriters use the same engine as the LaserJet IIP. The LaserJet that has the Resolution Enchancement is the series 3 and it gets that feature from a propriatary HP chip in it. The series 3 LJ uses the Canon SX engine which is the same as the LaserWriter II series. So the answer is no, at least until Apple decides to licence the technology from HP but you remember what happened the last time Apple licenced printing technology (read: Adobe) :-) Cheers, Marshall --mjv@brownvm.brown.edu
mjv@brownvm.brown.edu (Marshall Vale) (07/17/90)
In article <1990Jul12.225834.15529@cbnewsh.att.com> brion@cbnewsh.att.com (brion.n.feinberg) writes: > Does this work? Can MacPrint talk to a Localtalk equipped LaserJet? > The version I have seems to only use the serial drivers. I believe you get a Chooser document that works over Localtalk when you buy the Localtalk add-on. At least that's what the HP dealer told me but then again, the one that I asked didn't know all his facts. I would suspect that the driver is little different from the MacPrint driver since they both come from HP. (Insight sure looks like an HP offshoot especially when the MacPrint manual has an HP reorder number!) Cheers, Marshall --mjv@brownvm.brown.edu
captkidd@athena.mit.edu (Ivan Cavero Belaunde) (07/18/90)
In article <11227@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt4586c@prism.gatech.EDU (WILLETT,THOMAS CARTER) writes: >In article <1990Jul11.131926.5416@cbnewsh.att.com>, brion@cbnewsh.att.com (brion.n.feinberg) writes: >> Well ... in my opinion (and its only mine - my employer could probably >> care less) if you want a non-Postscript, cheap laser printer set up, go >> for the following: >> 1. An HP Laserjet IIP (available now for < $900 after rebate) >> 2. The MacPrint printer driver (< $100) >> 3. Adobe Type Manager (< $60) >One more item needs to be added to the list to get the most out of the >HP LaserJet IIP: > 4. An additional megabyte of memory for the printer. >In order to print high quality text and graphics (300dpi), the IIP requires >an extra megabyte over the 500k with with it comes stock. This extra memory >will cost about $500 if purchased from Hewlett-Packard and about $250 if >purchased from Pacific Data Products. That makes the total cost of a >completely usable IIP about $1300. If you have to share the printer with >IBMs, it is a very good option. If you have only macs hooked up to the >printer, then GCC makes some good postscript laser printers for about the >same $1300 which will be much faster than the IIP. [Disclaimer: I *do* work for GCC Technologies, so feel free to take the following with a grain of salt] Actually, the GCC printer that goes for $1399 is the Personal Laser Printer II, which, is *not* a Postscript printer. The PLP II is a 4 ppm SCSI-connected QuickDraw based laser printer. The printing throughput, is, however, a *lot* higher than the 10 min/page mentioned earlier in this thread for the Laserjet IIP. It also includes a driver with Bitstream outline fonts (similar to the DeskWriter driver, but with more fonts), so neither ATM nor 4x fonts are required for high quality output. I believe, however, that the GCC printer that is really competitive with the LW SC is the PLP IIS, which is like the PLP II but uses the 8 ppm engine and has 1 meg of RAM on board (making it faster). It also comes with more fonts than the PLP, and it lists for $1899, ($100 less than the SC). IMHO, Apple's printers are too little, too late. The one new printer I like is QMS's new low-end PostScript; of course, we all know the Personal LWs will sell well anyway (I can see dealers bundling them with systems), just like the overpriced and underfeatured ImageWriter line sold like hotcakes. -Ivan Cavero Belaunde Design Engineer GCC Technologies, Waltham, MA captkidd@ATHENA.MIT.EDU Disclaimer: The above are my opinions and mine alone.