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From: ondich@stolaf.edu (Jeff Ondich)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: My very slow LaserWriter LS
Message-ID: <1991May6.164343.13594@news.stolaf.edu>
Date: 6 May 91 16:43:43 GMT
Sender: news@news.stolaf.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: St. Olaf College; Northfield, MN  USA
Lines: 26
Originator: ondich@ole4.math.stolaf.edu

I recently purchased a Personal LaserWriter LS.  When I print
from commercial software, the speed of printing isn't great, but
it is tolerable (from MS Word 4.0, a bit less than 1 page/min).
When I print from software I have written myself, I get about
1 page every 3 to 4 minutes (text only--nothing fancy).
This is not tolerable.

I am working on a Mac Plus with 2.5Meg and a 40Meg SCSI hard drive.
When I print from my program, I notice that the hard disk is
being accessed a lot.

So here are my questions.  Is there something about TrueType and
the way it interacts with QuickDraw that makes some QuickDraw
commands particularly expensive?  For example, should I try to
minimize my calls to DrawString()?  I've noticed that this printer
driver seems to be draft-mode only.  Is that relevant?

I would be greatly indebted for any help you can give me.  I do not
relish living forever with these four minute waits for every page.

Thanks.

Jeff Ondich
St. Olaf College Math Department
ondich@stolaf.edu
(507) 663-3115