Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!wuarchive!emory!dixie.com!jgd From: jgd@Dixie.Com (John G. DeArmond) Newsgroups: comp.periphs.printers Subject: Re: Texas Instruments Microlaser Message-ID: <9472@rsiatl.Dixie.Com> Date: 11 Apr 91 04:07:24 GMT References: <1991Apr10.040605.28078@fs7.ece.cmu.edu> Organization: Dixie Communications Services Lines: 64 dpm@cs.cmu.edu (David Maynard) writes: >Actually, this isn't quite accurate. The printer blows the fuse as soon as >you install a new consumable. When it blows the fuse, it restarts its >counters on how long that consumable should last. You are correct. What an interesting concept. I had assumed that when I pulled the old bottle out and saw the fuse blown while the new one was intact, that it had been blown when the toner ran out. Never occured to me that it might be a change indicator. I have some more information re the Microlaser that anyone should consider before buying one. We bought the "minimal postscript" unit that contains only 17 fonts and 1 meg of RAM. We did this based on the strength of information given us by the salesman that when we needed more RAM and/or the full postscript implementation, we could upgrade with a moderately inexpensive board. WRONGO!! We hit the memory limit yesterday with a complex print involving a couple of downloaded fonts. I called the IT order line today. Asked for the upgrade kit. No such kit exists. What you CAN buy is the postscript board for the full 35 font implementation (which contains exactly 4 ROMS and a couple of TTL packs). This beauty costs >>>>>>>> $1000 <<<<<<<< That would push the cost of the printer to over $2400 which is ridiculous. There are vastly better machines available, not the least of which is the NEC postscript printer that comes with 2 paper bins and a place to pour toner from an honest to gosh bottle as opposed to expensive little plastic cartridge. To further gauge the TI ripoff, consider some other accessory prices: Developer Cartridge Kit. PN 2559880-0001 $130.00 OPC Cartridge Kit. PN 2559881-0001 $160.00 Tech Ref Manual. PN 2559876-0001 $40.00 Maintenance Ref Manual. PN 2559877-0001 $95.00 Serial interface board. PN 2555741-0002 $49.00 1 MB memory. 2555739-0001 $345.00 Env Feeder. 2559875-0001 $395.00 Paper Feeder. 2559874-0001 $395.00 Letter Paper Tray. 2559882-0001 $79.00 The paper feeder and envelope feeder in particular are complete rips. Same with the RAM. I had to buy another meg of RAM, which I got discounted at about $240. TI did it's own little proprietary board instead of using industry standard SIMMs or SIPS which would cost right now about $50 per meg. Learn from my experience. Don't get burned. (Yes it was me awhile back singing the praises of the machine. Loss- leaders always look good until you poke under the cover.) John -- John De Armond, WD4OQC | "Purveyors of speed to the Trade" (tm) Rapid Deployment System, Inc. | Home of the Nidgets (tm) Marietta, Ga | jgd@dixie.com |"Politically InCorrect.. And damn proud of it