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From: egv@aicchi.UUCP (Vann)
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: LaserWriter
Message-ID: <397@aicchi.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 12-Mar-85 22:00:31 EST
Article-I.D.: aicchi.397
Posted: Tue Mar 12 22:00:31 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Mar-85 03:01:08 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Analysts International Corp; Chicago Branch
Lines: 57


We just got our LaserWriter into the store where I work part-time.
As you might imagine we all took turns trying out our favorite MacPaint
files.  Each of us also tried out the wordprocessors with which we were
most familiar in an attempt to put the beast through its paces.  Therefore,
I have some observations.

The box is similar in size to that produced by Hewlett-Packard.  It is
as they describe it relatively quiet.  I will certainly co-inhabit any
office space in a friendly fashion.  Unlike the Mac it is a stark white
color, like the Apple IIc line of products.

The output from MacPaint documents, while very impressive pointed out two
things to me.  First, the Imagewriter does a VERY creditable job of serving
as a poor man's laser printer.  While the images made by LaserWriter were
crisp and even in tone, they were not that much better than those made by
my Imagewriter.  Secondly, where the LaserWriter did shine was in producing
text via its OWN fonts.  These are sharp and look just great.  This allows
a user to produce text that is head and shoulders above even a daisy wheel
printer.

If any educators are listening in, please keep this tool in mind for your
use.  It will make all the difference to students too long accustomed to
reading smeared and fading purple mimeographed copies of lecture notes and
tests.  This beast produces copy that is a joy to read.

Along with our LaserWriter we got a demo disk from Aldus, Inc.  They are the
ones who make the electronic pasteup system called PageMaker.  This is the
same one being used in-house by Apple Computer.  The demo file produced by
the package looked quite nice.  It is done in magazine style complete with
merged graphics and unbalanced columns.  For the in-house publications
department of companies and schools this is going to be a real boon.

The LaserWriter is relatively slow in operation.  Because of the size of
the PostScript interpreter and printer driver, not much else can fit on
your MacWrite disk should you be using that wordprocessor.  MacWrite does
NOT properly handle underlining.  For one thing it calls forth a rule that
it too thick and secondly cuts through the bottom portion of characters
with descenders, such as g,j,y and p.  I will have to test WORD to see if
it is more successful.

It would be quite nice in fact to be able to define the thickness of rules
used in underlining.  But this will have to be a future enhancement for one
or both of these wordprocessors.

Accompanying the LaserWriter is a rather impressive acrylic stand outfitted
with samples done on the LaserWriter.  This is a rather nice touch.  I can
see a great deal of potential in business in the production of forms and  
other mundane but often used documents.  I think Apple Computer has a winner
here.  A few added touches to WORD and/or MacWrite and we all stand to
benefit.  Just imagine your thesis or dissertation done on this printer!
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***
-- 
Eric Geoffrey Vann
Analysts International (Chicago Branch)
(312) 882-4673
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