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From: V2002A@TEMPLEVM.BITNET
Newsgroups: comp.laser-printers
Subject: Theoretical Machines (Was: Laser Server)
Message-ID: <8710022140.AA19320@brillig.umd.edu>
Date: Sat, 3-Oct-87 05:33:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: brillig.8710022140.AA19320
Posted: Sat Oct  3 05:33:07 1987
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Hi,

     Vince Pugliese (apollo@ecf.toronto.edu) describes a theoretical
machine that incorporates a laser printer, cpu and hard disk.  Such a
beast would require some innovative soft/firmware to control it.
Any PC could spool its program load requests to the server just like
a print request.  The problem gets complicated when the program needs
additional data from the disk.  If the printer is interpreting Post-
script at the time, then response time may become unacceptable.
     A better suggestion (already in use?) would be intelligent
workstation software for a network of PCs with a large central server
connected to a standard laser printer.
     A few weeks ago a suggestion appeared on unix-wizards about a
cpu with 300 meg of memory and no hard disk.  Should a new discussion
group be created to discuss the future of computer HW?  I don't know
if one exists already.  JUNTO%UMSLVMA.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU might be
a good place for it since they are a new promising server node that
are open to suggestions about new topics.

          Andy Wing      V2002A%TEMPLEVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU