Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Distribution: world
From: Dennis_R._Dimick@uu0570.foggybottom.com
Organization: Foggy Bottom - Washington DC
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 13:51:18  EST    
Subject: SuperATM&PersonalLaserNT


RE: Super ATM and Apple's Personal LaserWriter NT

Fair warning to anyone planning to purchase Adobe's new font-rendering
utility, Super ATM, for use with Apple's Postscript Personal LaserWriter NT.  

>Super ATM may not work with the Personal LaserWriter NT.

Three citations in the Super ATM manual and accompanying READ ME file describe the following (somewhat
contradictory) situation about the Personal Laser NT:

1. Manual, Page 21: "Some applications may not be able to print a substitute
typeface to an Apple Personal LaserWriter NT printer; if you are in doubt
about whether your application can print....check with the manufacturer." It
goes on to say if your application can print, you must install the multiple
master outline typefaces Adobe Sans and Adobe Serif into a folder called
"Other Fonts" in the "Preferences" folder" in the System folder.

2. A paper insert with the manual states, "If you are using an Apple Personal
LaserWriter NT that has not been upgraded to a Personal LaserWriter NTR," you
may not be able to print substitute fonts from your application. Please
contact your authorized Apple dealer for information on upgrading your
printer." (Folks, this is about $1,000.)

3. The READ ME file accompanying Super ATM states, "If you are using an Apple
Personal LaserWriter NT printer which does not have upgraded ROMs from Apple,
your application may not be able to print substitute fonts. Please call
customer support for assistance (415) 961-0911. 

My experience: I bought this from MacConnection. The outside of the box has a
large red sticker saying Super ATM is NOT subject to a 30-day Money Back
Guarantee. Once you open the box, it's yours.  Only after opening the box did
I discover these problems with the Personal LaserWriter NT. (which I have)

Further, if you have ROM Version 1.1 in your (late model) Personal NT printer
you may be able to print using the workaround described in item 1. above. (You
can determine ROM version by looking in the lower right corner of the startup
page.) Early model (ROM 1.0) Personal NT printers may not be able to print at
all. I have access to both ROM 1.1 and ROM 1.0 printers. The ROM 1.1 works
with some applications. So far, Write Now 3.0 works most of the time and Word
5.1 some of the time.  I do get weird out of memory errors though, with Write
Now 3.0 using Super ATM. 

I have not had time yet to try the ROM 1.0 printer. If your printer doesn't
work with Super ATM no pages are printed at all. The computer spools to
printer, the printer light flashes, but nothing comes out.

I have received response from Adobe via CompuServe on this matter. They say the Personal LaserWriter NT is the ONLY true Adobe Postscript printer on the market that has trouble
with Super ATM.

A tech support person went on to say, "You can't print multiple master fonts
on Apple Personal LW NT. The ROM on the printer was developed prior to
multiple master technology and thus is not compatible with multiple master
fonts. Since SuperATM uses multiple master technology for font substitution it
won't be able to print the pseudo font from SuperATM to Personal LW NT.
Besides changing the printer ROM there is no other work around for this combo
to work."

Further, "Right after the multiple master technology was developed we provided
Apple with an updated version of the ROM to work with multiple master fonts,
however they decided to bypass that and offer the Personal LW NTR upgrade
instead."

This discussion applies ONLY to the Personal LaserWriter NT. No other
Postscript printers are involved, and Super ATM supposedly works fine with
QuickDraw printers, e.g., DeskWriter, Personal LaserWriter LS, et al.

I would be intrigued to hear success stories with Super ATM and the Personal
Laser NT, and whether ANY success is achieved with a ROM 1.0 Personal
LaserWriter NT.

All best regards,

Dennis Dimick, Arlington VA
ddimick@aol.com
ddimick@well.sf.ca.us
Planet BMUG: Dennis R. Dimick 





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