Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bbn!lawrence
From: lawrence@bbn.COM (Gabriel Lawrence)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Laserwriter IISC gripes...
Message-ID: <6642@ccv.bbn.COM>
Date: 5 Feb 88 22:45:13 GMT
Reply-To: lawrence@ccv.bbn.com.BBN.COM (Gabriel Lawrence)
Distribution: na
Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Lines: 35


This is a summary of the paltry amounts of information I received regarding
the new Apple LaserWriter IISC (GCC-like Personal Laserwriter):

The SC uses a vanilla 68000, 1Meg of memory and QuickDraw as the imaging
mechanism.  To the Mac it looks more like an Imagewriter LQ than a LaserWriter.
All image processing is performed by the Mac and the fonts are all bit mapped
limiting you to currently available screen fonts which have a 4x font size
equivalent. (eg. a 12 pt. screen size requires a 48 pt. size for printing.)

Gripe:  I thought Apple could have done _much_ better.  1) By putting
QuickDraw in the printer ROM, the SC could have been made to print as fast or
_faster_ than any of the postscript printers, in addition, the bandwidth on
the SCSI port could have been noticeably decreased.  2) Outline bezier-curve
based fonts such as those from Adobe or BitStream might actually prove to be
cheaper in the long run for potential users.  Large font sizes take up an
appreciable amount of room on a hard disk (floppies??, hah!!), enough space
such that one might consider whether a one time license fee to a font-factory
might be worth it.  There is really no reason why this couldn't have been
a user option.  What's the scoop Apple? Why couldn't a copy of QuickDraw
be placed in the printer?  I sincerely doubt if it would have taken very much
a development effort.  Why the limited font mechanism?  GCC seems to be able
license BitStream's fonts and font displaying routines and still retail
their QuickDraw printer for approx. the same list price as Apple.
Inquiring minds want to know!  

=Gabriel Lawrence=
=BBN Communications=


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