Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!mcnc!omo
From: omo@mcnc.org (Julie E. Omohundro)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Deskwriter Help III
Keywords: upgrade suggestions
Message-ID: <7453@alvin.mcnc.org>
Date: 16 Dec 90 18:55:43 GMT
Organization: MCNC; RTP, NC
Lines: 44


I'd like to buy some Christmas presents for my HP Deskwriter,
and would appreciate suggestions!

I currently have the Deskwriter and the fonts that came with it.
I'm thinking about buying:

SuperLaserSpooler - does it slow down printing much?

More HP Quickdraw fonts.

Adobe Type Manager - which I really don't understand.  It improves the
appearance of postscript screen fonts, right?  Does this mean it won't
help the appearance of the screen fonts I have on my Deskwriter (given
that they're Quickdraw?)  Does it affect the appearance of the fonts
that are printed?  Do anything else?  I don't use many fonts, but I'd
like to be able read the smaller type sizes on my screen better.

Freedom of the Press or Ultrascript - I gather both of these allow you
to print postscript fonts on a Deskwriter.  That would be nice, but...
I'm not *that* unhappy with the quality of the Quickdraw fonts, and
I wouldn't be willing to trade speed (especially if my spooler is going
to slow me down too) for better quality. Do these things slow down
printing?  Have any other disadvantages?  Do they affect screen fonts?
Any reason to buy one over the other?  FOP Light is the cheapest and
has 17 fonts--more than I'll ever use.  Do you only get more fonts with
Ultrascript or the regular FOP?  Or do they offer other features, too?
I often need to print out files on Mac systems other than my own.  Is
a postcript font (say Times) printed on a Deskwriter with one of these
packages *exactly* the same as a postscript font printed on the Apple
laser printers?

I find fonts very confusing, and it doesn't help to be using a off-variety
(especially since my only disappointment in owning a Deskwriter is that
HP doesn't offer the kind of support I'm used to from my other hardware/
software dealers--I get all kinds of useful info in the mail from Apple
and Microsoft, but nary a peep out of HP.)  So...please don't underestimate
my ignorance here.  I'm worried about buying one thing that will make
another obsolete (like I assume that, if I buy something to print postcript
fonts, I probably don't want to buy any more HP Quickdraw fonts?)
or that I'll buy something that won't work with or will duplicate
something else.

All replies appreciated!