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From: shwake@raysnec.UUCP (Ray Shwake)
Newsgroups: comp.laser-printers
Subject: Re: NEC LC890 Pageprinter Shortcomings
Summary: Reliability problems, short-sighted engineering
Keywords: reliability Powermate memory
Message-ID: <9007200322.AA07264@crayola.cs.UMD.EDU>
Date: 13 Jul 90 14:13:44 GMT
References: <9007120321.AA28460@crayola.cs.UMD.EDU>
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In article <9007120321.AA28460@crayola.cs.UMD.EDU> borriell@aecom.yu.edu (Frank Borriello) writes:
>
>$90 converter, I think that NEC should have done something to make the 
>machine do what it was sold to do - communicate with an RS-232 device!  Their
>attitude showed me that NEC has no interest in end users and little pride in 
>the quality of thier product or their public image.  I therefore can only
>warn users of SUN equipment that NEC laserprinters may not be compatible 
>with thier ports!

	While our NEC laser printers haven't exhibited the serial interface
	problem you described, we have experienced numerous hardware
	(reliability) problems. I think we've got two or three of them in
	the storeroom awaiting repair. 

	We've also had experience with NEC's Powermate 386 series. We
	waited months for their 3-1/2" floppy drive. Unavailable. Since
	NEC uses non-standard mounting rails, alternative drives won't
	fit - unless one can find NEC rails! We're also paying the price
	for their restrictive - and very proprietary - memory architecture.