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From: neri%nrl.DECnet@NRL3.ARPA.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
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Message-ID: <8703271256.AA06061@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: Fri, 27-Mar-87 07:46:00 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8703271256.AA06061
Posted: Fri Mar 27 07:46:00 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Mar-87 13:07:09 EST
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 Re: Laser Printers

  A large bit-mapped memory is needed for a laser printer, because of the
nature of the device.  Once the actual print cycle starts, the entire bit 
stream for the page must be ready to be fed to the laser.  It can't stop 
and wait for the processor to figure out what comes next.  A microprocessor
and some ROM can run fast enough to generate normal text, but for graphics
or PostScipt, the image needs to be formed in a bit map and then sent to
the laser.  PostScipt lets your computer send high-level, device-independent
commands to the printer, and the printer does the bit map.  The DMA port
on the Mega-ST is fast enough to send the data stream to the laser, so 
Atari plans on using the ST to form the bit map, and then stream it to the
laser out the DMA port. 
   So, one has to have enough memory for the bit map somewhere.  
The Atari laser will have it in the ST, most lasers printers have it inside.  
However, the Mega-ST and laser printer is estimated to cost $3000, 
which is very competitive with the price of anybody else's laser printer 
that can handle large bit maps.  You have the ST as a computer as well.
It seems like a bargain, if they get it to work!
 
                    Jess Neri

Neri@nrl.arpa            DISCLAIMER:  I'm on my own on this too!

"Just remember, no matter where you go, there you are."
                                   - Buckaroo Bonzai
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