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From: gerard@tscs.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.computers.laser-printers
Subject: Submission for mod-computers-laser-printers
Message-ID: <8703152313.AA16915@usfvax2.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Mar-87 18:09:43 EST
Article-I.D.: usfvax2.8703152313.AA16915
Posted: Sun Mar 15 18:09:43 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Mar-87 05:08:38 EST
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Path: tscs!gerard
From: gerard@tscs.UUCP (Stephen M. Gerard)
Newsgroups: mod.computers.laser-printers
Subject: Re: Submission for mod-computers-laser-printers
Keywords: TI OmniLaser 2115
Message-ID: <107@tscs.UUCP>
Date: 15 Mar 87 23:09:42 GMT
References: <8703102353.AA14571@gvgpsa.UUCP>
Reply-To: gerard@tscs.UUCP (system administrator)
Distribution: world
Organization: Total Support Computer Systems, Tampa, Florida
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In article <8703102353.AA14571@gvgpsa.UUCP> davew@gvgpsa.UUCP ("David C. White") writes:
>I also am in the process of trying to select a laser printer to be used
>on a MVAX, mainly to spool off files coming from a bunch of AT clones
>on an ethernet network.  I have ruled out the Apple Laserwriter because
>of its low paper capacity and it is very slooooowww at doing graphics
>(maybe they all are).  How about the TI 2108 and 2115?  The specs on
>them look good but I have been getting some bad reports about them, and
>the last I heard from a TI distributor was that the 2115 had an
>engineering hold on it because of poor print quality.  Any
>recommendations and horror stories would be appreciated.

We have a Texas Instruments OmniLaser 2115, it works fine except for the
following SMALL problems:

Software switches for the following functions do not work.
1 - Changing input bins (250 pages each)
2 - Output jogger selection
3 - Switching software emulation modes (PostScript Batch,
    PostScript Interactive, HP7475 Plotter, Diablo 630,
    TI 850 printer).
4 - Control panel behaves strangely, but does work.
5 - Manual leaves a great deal to be desired, it is photocopied and stapled
    together, not what you would expect with a 8K printer.  The manual gives
    no insite on how to use PostScript, it says to get the "PostScript
    Language Reference Manual" and the "PostScript Language Cookbook and
    Tutorial".  These books are fair books for the beginner, but were
    written for version 23, and the TI used version 45.  I have no idea
    what has changed during those 22 revision levels, I would assume more
    than just the number.

On the plus side:

1 - The print quality looks good to me, although it seems to be a little
    thirsty for toner.
2 - 15ppm is good for mutiple copies or character printer emulations, but
    there is no way to get 15ppm when using PostScript.
3 - The blacks are good and black, much better than the Canon engine.
4 - Supports Centronics, RS-232, RS-422, and AppleTalk interfaces.
    The serial interfaces support many baud rates up to 57600.
5 - Lots of memory, 2Mb memory for the 2108 and 3Mb for the 2115.
6 - The pages come out face down, so collation is not needed.

I have been complaining to our distributor about the problems, they have
not had much word back from TI, hopefully new ROMS will be out shortly.

Overall I would rate the printer very highly, all of the problems should
be fixed shortly if TI gets on the ball.  I have previously looked at
Apple LaserWriters and Imagen Innovator, and choose to buy the TI.

If anyone has found any solutions to the above problems, please let me know.