INFORMATIVE REPORT
ON THE
PRINTING OPTIONS
OF THE
APPLE MACINTOSH COMPUTER
by
Charles Gaudette
March 29, 1990
March 5 you stated that you need a clear idea of what printers we could hook into our new Apple Macintosh computers. With the emphasis placed on text rendering over graphic rendering — as you instructed, the enclosed report should be a timely objective look at the useful options for this office.
I have made use of most available sources: the area sales people, factual and objective computer user magazine articles, specifications and the like from advertisements, the online knowledge of experienced "power" users on General Electric's GEnie Service, and certain up-to-date books that proved helpful in seeing that no option was forgotten. These sources showed that there are several workable solutions to Macintosh printing and that the information exists to make an intelligent decision. (Though I must say the array of printers showed no end, making difficult picking.)
You may wish to follow the advice laid out in this report to its conclusion or use the data provided to arrive at a print solution for this (or any) small business.
Please feel free to show these findings to any interested parties. If you have any questions on the report or would like to have new printers appended to this document please don't hesitate — this information was a pleasure to prepare.
Sincerely
Charles C. Gaudette
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ii
TABLE OF FIGURES iv
INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT v
INTRODUCTION 1
Background 1
Purpose 1
Audience 1
Scope 2
COLLECTED DATA 2
Image Writer II 2
High-End Dot-Matrix Printers 4
Ink Jet Printers 6
Low-End Laser Printers 7
Mid-Range Laser Printers 9
Outside Typesetting 9
The Future of Macintosh Rendering 11
CONCLUSION 12
Summary of Findings 12
Comprehensive Interpretation
of Findings 12
Recommendations 12
INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT
The prosperity of Apple Computer Company's Macintosh computer has generated a wide-spread and varied selection of printing output choices. The output methods acceptable to a small business maintaining a few Macintoshes has been investigated. Attention in this report has been given to a method's resolution quality, ability to make carbon-copies, noisiness, and cost. Data indicates that Apple ImageWriter II, Hewlett-Packard DeskWriter, and some print shop use are a favorable collective choice for a small business. The author advises, anyone having comparable output needs should consider the Apple Computer and Hewlett-Packard product lines.
INTRODUCTION
Background
In 1984, Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh micro-computer and with it a new way of printing text, requiring unique printing devices. When the Macintosh grew in utility and popularity, the vendors of Macintosh printing devices increased their efforts to provide a competitive assortment of quality rendering device. Macintosh printing options for the past few years have been numerous and varied. Macintosh compatible dot-matrix printers starting at $215.00 to Linotronic typesetters costing tens of thousands of dollars are readily available.
Purpose
This report will serve to clear-up the muddle of printing options of Apple Computer's Macintosh systems.
Audience
This report centers upon the needs of a small business, involving a few Apple Macintoshes doing office tasks like accounting, letter writing, and check writing. This report is also useful to Apple Macintosh users who's one-time-expenditure for printing devices is limited to $3,000.00 yet desires a quality output.
Scope
The printing options in this informative report are as follows:
- Apple Image Writer II
- 24-pin Dot-Matrix printers
- Ink Jet printers
- Low-End Laser printers
- Mid-Range Laser printers
- Outside Typesetting,
while not included are as follows:
- Cheap dot-matrix printers — below quality needs of a small business
- Daisy wheel printers — an outdated method & no true Mac sources
- Expensive laser printers — beyond the budget of the small business
- Plotters — as their primary goal is not rendering text.
COLLECTED DATA
Image Writer II
This is Apple's own 9-pin dot-matrix printer and as indicated by its name it is the second generation. This is the most basic of printers suitable for the office. Its output (figure F-1) is of vastly better quality than other computers' 9-pin print-outs. Its quality is, of course, at the cost of speed. The Image Writer, while rated at 250 characters per second (cps) in the "draft" mode it is only capable of 34 cps in the 144 dots per inch (dpi) "final" print mode.
Dot-matrix printers are very noisy but are the only Mac printers that can make carbon-copies. Dot-matrix printers commonly use tractor-fed paper that is unsuitable for presentation and the final text must be photo-copied to improve the image and the paper quality (figure F-2).
The Image Writer is compatible only with Apple computers and cannot be up-graded (via hardware). It is notable that the printer can be converted to a scanning device with an after-market product.
The Image Writer lists through Apple at $595.00 but can be had at $437.00 through a reputable mail-order company. The printer is known to be reliable and comes with a 1-year warranty.
High-End Dot-Matrix Printers
High quality in a dot-matrix printer means using more pins in approximately the same space — 24-pin printers. There are two roads to choose from with 24-pin printers, Apple's own Image Writer LQ (actually has 27 pins), or a normal 24-pin printer made Macintosh compatible by an after-market hardware/software kit.
Twenty-four-pin dot-matrix printers are delicate machines and can be expected to need repairs after approximately 4,000 hours of use. They also have the same pros and cons found in the 9-pin printers.
"[The LQ is] a bit expensive, but if you're wasting time switching paper and hand-feeding envelopes ... get the optional envelope bin ... the Image Writer LQ driver allows you to select it when you choose print in your application. The LQ can also handle two bins of letter head ... It also prints documents beautifully (as long as you have the screen font three times the size used in the document installed)."
There are several good 24-pin printers, aside from the LQ, but most will require one of three after-market hardware/software kits to be compatible with the graphical way the Mac outputs text (and graphics). The three kits are: MacPrint by Insight Development at $95.00, The Grappler by Orange Micro at $80.00 - $130.00, and Print Link by GDT Softworks at $60.00. An analysis of six, of the many, 24-pin printers available can be found in Appendix A. These printers are compatible with IBM PCs. (The proper cable is needed.)
Apple's Image Writer LQ sells at discounters for $995.00 and the other printers vary in price: $500.00 to $800.00, depending upon capabilities.
Ink Jet Printers
There is one clear choice in this category — the 300 dpi Hewlett-Packard DeskWriter printer. This printer is specifically for the Macintosh.
Quick, quiet, and near-laser-quality are the abilities of most ink jet printers. Ink jet printers shoot a special ink through a fine injector to render text and graphics onto (preferably) special paper sheets.
The DeskWriter is easy to install, light in weight, and takes-up only 15 inches by 17 inches because the paper tray is underneath. The printer is also able to address envelopes strait out of the box.
"True the output is not quite as good as that of a LaserWriter. Somehow, 300 dots of ink seem not to be equivalent to 300 dots of laser-primer black dust. Graphics, however are dazzlingly clear...," (see figure F-3).
The Hewlett-Packard can be had at discount for $739.00 including a 1-year warranty.
Low-End Laser Printers
These printers work in a fashion similar to a photo-copy machine and their 300 by 300 dots per inch resolution look nearly typeset.
The low-end of the laser printer field contains printers like General Computer Company's $1,595.00 PLP printer, and Hewlett-Packard's $1495.00 LaserJet IIP. These printers have 300 dpi resolution but they do not support a special font format called PostScript which greatly adds to an outputs text quality.
Non-PostScript laser printers are aimed at the home Macintosh user and have light duty cycles intended, similar to their home photo-copier counterparts.
Mid-Range Laser Printers
These printers could be called typesetters if you want. Not only do they print at 300 dpi but they use PostScript technology to make there output even better. They range in price, and there is no clear cut-off-point in the market place, but for this report we will not consider any PostScript printer over approx. $3,000.00.
Below is short table of popular laser printers:
POSTSCRIPT PRINTER PRICE
Apple LaserWriter SC $2,000.00
Apple LaserWriter NT 3,199.00
GCC Business Laser 2,998.00
Hewlett-Packard LJ III 2,395.00
Ricoh Laser 6000/PS 2,495.00
Qume ScipTEN 2,999.00
These printers, like photo-copiers, require the changing of a toner cartridge at the end of a duty cycle. They also need the special PostScript fonts (many fonts are included with the laser printer, the Ricoh has 35 fonts) which can cost over $200.00 even through mail-order.
This report was printed on an Apple LaserWriter NT with the PostScript font called Times. (An example of laser printer graphics can be seen in figure F-5.) Outside Typesetting
If laser-quality output is needed and can not be had "in-house", then the document can be taken to one of several Kalamazoo area print shops that not only provide but cater to Macintosh typesetting. Print shops allow access to quality laser printers and even higher quality 2,540 dpi Linotronic typesetting machines.
Three such Macintosh able print shops are listed below:
- Copies Now, 4630 West Main St., Kalamazoo, 388-4466
- Copy Desk, Bernhard Center, WMU, Kalamazoo, 387-4458
- XL Graphics, 5111 Miller Rd., Kalamazoo, 345-3030.
Their prices per laser copy are listed below:
PRINT SHOP less than 10 10 or more
Copies Now 80¢ 50¢
Copy Desk 95¢ 50¢
XL Graphics 50¢ 40¢
Technical help is usually at additional cost and it is advised to check what word processing software is available at the print shop.
The Future of Macintosh Rendering
Wheels of progress are continually turning under the Macintosh. Advances in Macintosh printing are surely to overtake the items detailed above. Improvements in both hardware and software too detailed to mention are being setting-up for release as this is written.
Please note that Apple is releasing new Macintosh System Software this summer and it will include PostScript-like fonts included in the System. These changes are not radical, but rather include most users in a growing net of compatibility and options.
CONCLUSION
Summary of Findings
This report has presented most printing options (of interest to a small business.) While all were able to generate passable Macintosh text and graphics, they did fall into three classes. The dot-matrix printers, 9-pin & 24-pin, were the only impact printers and thus the only type of printers able to make carbon-copies, as in IRS forms.
The ink jet printers, like the quiet Hewlett-Packard DeskWriter, and the non-PostScript laser printers use a variety of non-standard means to generate the appropriate font shapes. The use of a PostScript laser printer can be expensive both as an owner and on the per page basis — but is the sure way of getting type-quality output.
Recommendation
In general a small business could not got far wrong with a printer produced by Apple Computer or Hewlett-Packard. Getting the text to print is only half the battle to get a quality output, and Apple and H-P take care of 90% of the other details.
Since most of the present business involves face to face contact, the business's only voice is not the printed word. An Apple Image Writer II ($437.00), a H-P DeskWriter ($789.00), and some outside laser typesetting for contracts, bids, etc., should fulfill needs very well. There will be no problems with networking the printers to all the Macintoshes, as both units are proven in such environments.
APPENDIX A (in order by author)
- Beverly Hills Computer (MacWorld, 7 (5), p.492)
- Computer Discount Warehouse (BYTE, February, p.255)
- ComputerLane (BYTE, April, p.230)
- InfoWorld Products of the Year (InfoWorld, 12 (10), p.1 and 12+)
- The LaserJet IIP: Inexpensive, Not Cheap (BYTE, February, p.179-183)
- Dr. Macintosh: Tips, Techniques, and Mastering the Macintosh (p.190)
- Mac-In-Stock (MacWorld, 7 (5), p.505)
- MacLand (MacWorld, 7 (5), p.494+)
- MacProducts USA (MacWorld, 7 (5), p.502)
- Short Takes: Hewlett-Packard's Laser Counterattack (BYTE, April, p.102)
- Product Comparison — Affordable Dot-Matrix Printers: Six 24-pin Printers that Provide Great Output at a Great Price (InfoWorld, October 2, p.65-76)
APPENDIX B
** Thank you for choosing GEnie **
The Consumer Information Service
from General Electric
Copyright (C), 1990
GEnie Logon at: 22:54 EST on: 900318
WELCOME to the Macintosh RoundTable on GEnie! RoundTable Conference Schedules
(RTC): SUN 9:00pm EST Sunday Night Fights (Open Topics)
Room 1, the General Club room.
Job City Room Sta Mail-Address
1 Kansas city,MO 1 N BOB.DANIEL
2 Sherwood,AR 1 N [Todd] T.MARTIN33
3 Fort worth,TX 1 N [Scott] J.HULSEY
4 Portage,MI 1 N C.GAUDETTE
11 Calgary,AB 1 N [Bob] R.WHITE33
.
.
.
< C.GAUDETTE> New Topic -- I've found I really need a Mac printer, any opinions
out there?
.
.
.
< [Todd] T.MARTIN33> Hey C.G., you still looking for a printer?
< C.GAUDETTE> sure
< [Todd] T.MARTIN33> What are you looking at?
< [Scott] J.HULSEY> How about an IW LQ?
< [Todd] T.MARTIN33> Try an HP Deskwriter
< [Todd] T.MARTIN33> Great quality, Low price!
< C.GAUDETTE> I'm looking for good 'bangs for the buck' performance.
ImageWriter or better. No more than $1600.00.
< [Scott] J.HULSEY> How about an IW LQ?
< BOB.DANIEL> I hear IW LQ is nice.
< C.GAUDETTE> you tell me.
< BOB.DANIEL> haven't seen it though.
< [Todd] T.MARTIN33> Deskwriter is the answer. A good Dealer will cut it
for 850, and the quality is as good as a laser!
< C.GAUDETTE> the ads look good
< [Scott] J.HULSEY> I've got a brand new, never used, reconditioned one
for sale
< [Todd] T.MARTIN33> Brand new what?
< C.GAUDETTE> never used ? reconditioned?
< [Scott] J.HULSEY> it is an Apple refurb replacement
< [Scott] J.HULSEY> the early models had some slight..uh problems
< [Scott] J.HULSEY> so they gave a lot of people a free fix refurb one
< D.FRY> Bob -- I'm Dave...what's does Scott have from Apple?
< [Scott] J.HULSEY> An ImageWriter LQ
< [Scott] J.HULSEY> one of the refurbished ones
.
.
.
REFERENCES
Beverly Hills Computer (1990). Beverly Hills Computer. MacWorld, 7 (5), 492.
Computer Discount Warehouse (1990). Computer Discount Warehouse. BYTE, February, 255.
ComputerLane (1990). ComputerLane. BYTE, April, 230.
Editors (1990). InfoWorld Products of the Year. InfoWorld, 12 (10), 1 and 12+.
Gaudette, C. et al. (March 1990). Sunday Night Fights (Open Topic) — "Really Need A Printer". Appeared on General Electric Information Service (GEine): Macintosh RoundTable RTC.
Josh, A. (1990). The LaserJet IIP: Inexpensive, Not Cheap. BYTE, February, 179-183.
LeVitus, B. (1989). Dr. Macintosh: Tips, Techniques, and Mastering the Macintosh. New York: Addison-Wesley.
Mac-In-Stock (1990). Mac-In-Stock. MacWorld, 7 (5), 505.
MacLand (1990). MacLand. MacWorld, 7 (5), 494+.
MacProducts USA (1990). MacProducts USA. MacWorld, 7 (5), 502.
Miastkowski, S. (1990). Short Takes: Hewlett-Packard's Laser Counterattack. BYTE, April, 102.
Naiman, A. (1989). The Macintosh Bible: Second Edition. Berkeley: Goldstein & Blair.
Timacheff, S. (1989). Product Comparison — Affordable Dot-Matrix Printers: Six 24-pin Printers that Provide Great Output at a Great Price. InfoWorld, October 2, 65-76. |
