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From: jweeks@umnd-cpe-cola.d.umn.edu (John A. Weeks III)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Apple Printer Drivers (was: Another Microsoft Slam)
Message-ID: <474@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU>
Date: 30 Aug 88 04:16:12 GMT
Sender: root@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU
Reply-To: jweeks@umnd-cpe-cola.d.umn.edu (John A. Weeks III)
Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth CSE
Lines: 45



A bit of devil's advocate might fit into the printer driver discussion:

Software developers always try to appeal to the widest audience possible
when writing general purpose software.  To meet this goal, the
programmer will often assume the user has the least common denominator
hardware.  If two printers of unequal function are in general use,
the special features of the better printer will not be well supported
(it will not allow the program to work as is with the widest array
of printers).  

If a number of dot-matrix printers are available for the Mac, the
overall quality of dot-matrix printing may become much worse.
Even if several super good printers come on the market, its special
features may not fit into the context of programs written to 
support a $79 Star Print-o-matic.

Perhaps Apple has raised the quality of printing by withholding
the documentation on printer drivers.  This might make the
ImageWriter II a few dollars more expensive that if it were
an open market type item, but it is a small price to pay for uniform
printer quality and all programs working with the same printer.

One only has to look at the IBM world for "proof".  Several times
applications have crossed my desk containing several disks full
of printer drivers, only to overlook one of my printers.

The ImageWriter II is supported by several IBM programs, but only
the basic features.  The Imagewriter II allows font downloading.  
Do you ever see printer drivers supporting this feature?  Anything 
the Epson can't do doesn't get done.


Get out the flame guns and go to it...


And an afterthought:  UltraScript is not 100% PostScript compatible.
Is Apple going to alter LaserPrep to compensate?  


OS/2: Just Say No!        An Apple-A-Day Takes My Credit Card Away. 
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John A. Weeks III                             jweeks@luke.d.umn.edu
Disclaimer: I know nothing, I don't exist.    jweeks@cola.d.umn.edu
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