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From: neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM (Dave Neff)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: HP DeskWriter question
Message-ID: <19640021@hpvcfs1.HP.COM>
Date: 13 Aug 90 16:22:51 GMT
References: <8120@ucrmath.ucr.edu>
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Vancouver, WA
Lines: 31

> Things are in transition. HP has just announced a $200 price cut, and
> I think this is for a new model which does not have the AppleTalk
> interface - i.e. the cheaper model runs off the modem or printer port
> and is usable for a single machine only. ...

The DeskWriter with AppleTalk has replaced the serial only DeskWriter.
The price reduction was regarding the DeskWriter with Appletalk (also
does serial of course), which now has a suggested list of $995.  Street
prices should fall corresponding to this price reduction.  I would expect
below $700 street prices to be common.  The Warrantee on DeskWriter is
1 year.

The above paragraph is fact, now I will enter personal opinion mode:
Personally, I wouldn't buy ATM for use with the DeskWriter.  The outline
fonts that come with the DeskWriter driver are fine, and with system 7
coming up, and its built in support for outline fonts, I wouldn't spend
any extra money for an interim solution (personal opinion of course).
Now if you have no intention of upgrading to system 7, or if you already have
access to Adobe fonts, or for some reason absolutely need font outlines
identical to PostScript, these may be reasons for getting ATM.  But
in general, I would just use the standard fonts that come with the
DeskWriter until all these "font wars" settle out.  If you have a couple
hundred extra dollars, you might do better spending it on extra RAM
so you can run system 7 and its outline fonts, rather than buying
fonts in what may be an interim solution.  ATM is a fine product,
giving outline font capabilities to printers that otherwise would
have no such support.  But outline fonts come "for free" with the
DeskWriter so I would save my money and wait for system 7.

Dave Neff
neff@hpvcfs1.hp.com