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From: jacob@gore.com (Jacob Gore)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Adobe license changes.
Message-ID: <130112@gore.com>
Date: 10 Oct 90 01:32:41 GMT
References: <13363@cs.utexas.edu>
Reply-To: jacob@gore.com (Jacob Gore)
Organization: Gore Enterprises
Lines: 22

/ comp.sys.next / osborn@cs.utexas.edu (John Howard Osborn) / Oct  8, 1990 /
> In NeXTOS 1.0 [...] Adobe licensing [...] makes it
> illegal to effectively use printers like the HP-DeskJet.
> [...]
> So, my question is:  Has this changed under 2.0?  I *really* like the idea
> of having to spend $500 for a DeskJet rather than $1500 for a NeXT printer.

We should also note that Sun has just announced SPARCprinter, which is a
dumb Xerox-12ppm-engine-based laser printer for which NeWS does the
imaging.  The difference between their arrangement and the one on the NeXT
is that with NeWS, you CAN load drivers for other printers, high and low
resolution.  Drivers for many printers have already been done, and driver
writing kits will be provided.

If NeXT doesn't renegotiate this arrangement with Adobe, it loses an
important advantage.  (As I understand, NeWS was developed at Sun, in
parallel with Adobe's development of Display Postscript, so Sun does not
depend on a license from Adobe for this.)

Jacob
--
Jacob Gore		Jacob@Gore.Com			boulder!gore!jacob