Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!lll-winken!cert!netnews.upenn.edu!gradient.cis.upenn.edu!warden
From: warden@gradient.cis.upenn.edu (Robert Warden)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: StyleWriter/DeskWriter - Which to buy?
Message-ID: <43645@netnews.upenn.edu>
Date: 23 May 91 00:10:57 GMT
References: <1991May21.214337.794@csc.canterbury.ac.nz> <1991May22.205501.13138@terminator.cc.umich.edu>
Sender: news@netnews.upenn.edu
Reply-To: warden@gradient.cis.upenn.edu (Robert Warden)
Organization: University of Pennsylvania
Lines: 59
Nntp-Posting-Host: gradient.cis.upenn.edu


 danno@css.itd.umich.edu (Daniel T. Pritts) writes
>>The deskwriter is two to three times as fast.  I printed a 3pg MS Word
>>document, times 12pt with a headline, on a classic.  
>> Deskwriter:  3:30                         ^^^^^^^
>> Stylewriter: 10:00

>>This is the most real-world of my tests.  The DW is just SO much faster.
>>I did several tests, the results were similar.  a 36-page pagemaker
>>doc took 49 mins on the SW but 29 on the DW.  


I disagree.  Note the use of a Classic.  The speed of the StyleWriter
is greatly dependent on the processor's speed.  I just purchased a
SW and use it at home with my IIci.  I too printed a 3pg MS word
document in times 12pt with a bold headline.  The time was exactly
3:37 minutes.  Similar tests with graphics and multiple fonts
were approximately equivalent in speed (although I do not have a
DW to compare against).


>>Far as we know, the lifetimes are about the same.  Of course the apple
>>printer is brand new, so if they all turn 1yr old and croak, this could
>>be a problem.  Haven't heard of any problem with HP.

  Good point.

>>The Stylewriter with its dopey flimsy crappy little paper tray opened
>>up still takes only about 1/2 to 2/3 the desk space of the DW.

Once again I disagree.  The SW's small size is very nice whenever I wish
to tidy up my workspace.  With it's paper tray fully extended, it
easily fits atop my IIci which is off to the side of the monitor.  It
is not as imposing as as a DeskWriter is.


>>In summary:  Go with the DeskWriter.  You won't grow old waiting for
>>output.  The ink doesn't smear as badly.  The ink cartridges are refillable
>>(not recommended by HP but it works) while the SW's aren't.
>>It's an easy choice unless you just can't afford the desk space (I'd
>>buy a table for my DW before buying a SW).


I am very pleased with my StyleWriter.  It fits my personal need very
well, but if you frequently pump out 20pg papers then the DeskWriter
will be speeder (but only with slower Macs, faster Macs result
in comparable speeds).  Another note, the SW cost me $365 at the
educational price (including cables, software, etc..) while the
DW would have run me $568 (cables not included) at the same dealer
with the same educational price.  The DW does not warrent the
additional $200 if you ask me.

**************************************************************************
**  Robert Warden                         warden@grad1.cis.upenn.edu    **
**  University of Pennsylvania                  @gradient.cis.upenn.edu **
**                                                                      **
** "Even a broken clock tells the time correctly twice a day"           **
**                                            - Withnail & I            **
**************************************************************************