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From: akw@osupyr.UUCP (FarOff MicroDesigns)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: 68020 Box, laser printer, Eastern Pa. Expo
Message-ID: <110@osupyr.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Mar-87 20:52:31 EST
Article-I.D.: osupyr.110
Posted: Tue Mar 17 20:52:31 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Mar-87 06:44:47 EST
References: <10162@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Reply-To: akw@osupyr.UUCP (FarOff MicroDesigns)
Lines: 30
Keywords: questions, questions and more questions

In article <10162@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> appelbau@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU (Marc L. Appelbaum) writes:
>[..]
>print up to 300 X 300 DPI.  In order to layout a full page at 300 X
>300, you'll need about 4 megs.  This is because the LaserPrinter has
>no memory of it's own.  It uses the ST to do all the work.  When we
>asked the ATARI rep. at the seminar (I forget his name), about memory
>upgrades he said ATARI does CONDONE upgrades from 3rd party companies.
>
This is (or I think is) *slightly* incorrect.  An Apple LaserWriter does not
have 4Mb of RAM, nor does a stock Mac Plus.  The Mac (and hopefully the Atari
laser printer) takes PostScript input, which is an object and line-oriented
printer graphics language.  It doesn't require a complete bit-map of what-
ever you want to print out.  This saves the hassle (and slow speed) of
trying to bit-map an 8 1/2 x 11 page w/ 300x300 dpi in RAM instead of doing
it by objects.   *Hopefully* this will be an option on the Atari printer
so that programs that produce PostScript output (i.e. Publishing Partner,
Graphic Artist, etc.)  A bitmap is too inefficient, expensive (at this
time) and *slow*.  I hope that Atari will consider the PostScript or
QMS language for its printer.  Sheez!  Even IBM is going to use PostScript
on its laser according to what I've heard!

>I saw a BLITTER in action!

For goodness' sake HOW WAS IT?  And when can we see one in our local
Atari dealership (OK Atari...enough Real Soon Now's and some concrete
dates...like Summer '87, Autumn '87...but a _real_ date.)

Andy Weaver / akw@osupyr.UUCP / 614.293.1195  - 614.292.1741 / ========> IX0YE
The Ohio State University / Columbus, OH / "Go Bucks." / Peanut Butter & Jelly
"Like cold water to the bones, so is good news from a distant land." Prov25.25