From: oueichek@imag.fr (Ibaa Oueichek)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Many Questions in Mac Peripherals (Recommendation Needed)
Date: 15 Apr 92 15:05:46 GMT

jgl7@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Andrew T. Kim) writes:
: Hi, netters.
: 
: My questions might have been asked/answered here before.  I haven't read
: this group so I have no idea what was discussed before.  Please forgive me
: if you think I am wasting the bandwidth...
: 
: I need info/price/criticism/review/recommendations/anything in shopping any
: of the following peripherals.  
: 
: NOTE: My wife, who is a graphic designer, will use the products, so the
:       reliability, and "headache-free"ness is more important issue than
:       blazing performance.  It would be a plus for me if they can be
:       connected to DOS PC's.
: 
: 
: I. Laser Printers
: 
: - Full postscript capability.
: - The main function of this will be for Graphic Design, if that makes the
:   difference. 
: - True Type.
: - My wife has been using old Laser Writer (II?), which she could live with.
: 
: * I have looked at several ads, and it seemed to me that they are in $1200 -
: $1500 range.  Including the products from QMS, NEC, TI and Apple LW NTR.
: Any of you know of these or anything else that I might be missing?
: 
: 
   I've read a PC revue that compared different (~35) Laser printers, the 
   results shouldn't be different for Macs given that most of those printers
   had also a Mac interface. The best one was a Minolta printer (i was quite
   astonished when i read that, i didn't knew that Minolta produced printers).
   It was a little more expensive than the Microtek printer. This one was
   placed second, and the Lexmark (ex IBM) printer was classed 3rd. It seems
   that the new Nec printer has the same Minolta engin, so you may consider
   that. The TI was considered cheap but not excellent. The Microtek (classed
   second) has several good points : Risc processor, fast printing, upgradable
   to post-script level 2, only one "little :-)" problem, there is no way to
   extend the warranty, and it seems that you have to send the printer to
   Microtek to get it repaired.
: II. Scanners
: 
: - Color
: - Gray scale.
: - Good Resolution.
: - Good Software.
: - Can they be used for PC?
: 
: * Again, these seem to be in the same range too (1200-1500).  I looked at
: MicroTek, Umac(sp?) and Sharp.  They all had 600 dpi resolution.  I also
: saw the ad from LaCie.  When it comes to scanners, I have absolutely no
: idea how to determine the value.  I also found out most of them come with
: PhotoShop, which is nice.
: 
  The December 91 issue of MacUser had a detalied comparaison between scanners,
they didn't like the MicroTek, Sharp had a good quality but it needed a NuBus
Card (not a SCSI interface), the Umax had also a good quality. The LaCie
scanner hardware wasn't that good, but the software bundeled was a bargain
(even at $1990, but beware, they seem to have a bad reputation with their 
service). You can consider the Mirror scanner also, it's nearly the same as
the Umax scanner and it has excellent quality.

   I think you shouldn't have any problem using the same scanner with PC or
Mac, as long as they are using the SCSI interface (SCSI is SCSI, it has
nothing to do with the host machine). But you may need a different software,
try to ask at MacConnection, they sell also PC products (under the name of 
PC connection :-)).

: III. Removable Hard Drive.
: 
: * My wife has used 44MB Cartridge Drive from PLI.  Do different companies
: all use the same format?  Do they have basiacally the same compatibility?
: Is it possible to use Cartridge from one company for the Drive from the
: other?  I don't know what the price is.  How much more expensive for the
: ones above 88MB?  What is the speed?

  Removables have compatibility problems, you may want to look at Dec 91 issue
(or it Jan 92 ?, can't remember) of MacUser, they give a detailed study of
all the 88 drives. I won't buy a 44MB Removable, they are really obsolete now,
if you can afford it, go to the new optical 128 removables. They are not
THAT fast, the drive is expensive (~$1300), but they have a solid standard,
and they are ultra-reliable (I've seen the Pinnacle (sp?) drive advertised
for Mac's and PC's).

: 
: IV.  19' - 20' Monitors.
: 
: This is not our top priority, but while I am at it...
: 
: She used SuperMac at work.  I am not planning for 24-bit card yet, but
: ability to upgrade is nice, I guess.  Considering that combination, which
: company has cheap monitor but good with or without the 24 bit card? 
: BTW, what does the 24-bit card give you other than the millions of colors.
: Does it make the graphics faster?
: 
  SuperMac was classed 1st in MacUser labs when it came to quality and speed
(Feb 92 issue). But they are quite expensive (like all 19-20 monitors), and
if you want an accelerated card it will cost you MUCH more, can't give you a
price because i'm posting from France.

: 
: Whee, I feel better now.  
: 
: Thank you in advance for anyone who can give me any kind of information.
: 
: Send me a e-mail to jgl7@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu.
: Posting here will do also, since I will be reading this for a time being.
: 
: Thanks again.
: 
: Andy T Kim
: jgl7@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu
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