Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!aplcen!samsung!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!rochester!kodak!brandy!mark
From: mark@brandy.UUCP (mark hilliard)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: NEW POSTSCRIPT HARDWARE FOR UNIX (LOW COST)
Message-ID: <179@brandy.UUCP>
Date: 8 Jan 90 19:11:39 GMT
Reply-To: mark@brandy.UUCP (mark hilliard)
Organization: Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester, NY
Lines: 43

With all the talk about the new Post Script printer cartridges that have come
on the market, it is refreshing to see another option for HIGH SPEED
postscript.  

How about a FAST hardware based postscript that drives ALL HP Laserjet
clones, as well as the DESKJET?  Well I just tested this new board in
my 386 running Interactive's 2.02 UNIX and it is the best product for post
script that I have seen short of a IINTX! It blows the doors off of the
PacificPage postscript cartridge as well as the HP cartridge!

There is a new company called "ABATON" which is really owned by EVEREX, 
that has come out with a HIGH SPEED Post Script card called
the POSTCARD PLUS. The card plugs into any slot in a 386 based UNIX 
system, and communicates with the printer via a standard printer 
parallel port.  If you wish to use the dedicated link to the 
Cannon SX there is a option for that as well.  The card just plugs 
into the backplane, and uses 2 I/O adresses and 1 int. 
The software is installed using installpkg, and after a kernal rebuild, you
are up and running.  The card has 35 fonts for postscript, and with a simple
command switches between postscript and HP modes.  The card has 3 meg of ram,
(with the option of a 2 meg addon), a dedicated 16 meg 80186 main processor
and for the real speed a 82786 graphics coprocessor. This board really
screams!  

For those of you who use MS-DOS there is also a software package for that.

I have tested the card with every software package that I could find, and
everything worked.  All of the GREENBOOK examples work without a hitch.
The card is sells for $1795 (list), and I am told that discounts are offered
for resellers and developers.  I think that the 2 meg addon is around another
$700.  I know that this is twice as much as a postscript cartridge, but is
is as fast as a IINTX and can be switched between HP and postscript via a 
simple shell command. There is no going to the printer and messing with
panel switches!

You can contact William Lee at Abaton/Everex at 1-800-444-5321 ext 2727, or
Lisa at ext 4725. Both have given great support for this product.

I have no connection with Abaton or Everex other than a SATISIFIED customer!

Mark Hilliard
N2HHR
rutgers!rochester!kodak!gizzmo!mark