From: sharley@isis.cs.du.edu (steve harley)
Subject: Re: Many Questions in Mac Peripherals (Recommendation Needed)
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 92 07:06:58 GMT

oueichek@imag.fr (Ibaa Oueichek) writes:

>jgl7@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Andrew T. Kim) writes:
>: Hi, netters.
>: [. . .] 
>: 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
>: [. . .]
>: I. Laser Printers
>: [. . .] 
>: 
>: * 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?
>: 

for ease of use, i recommend anything with a one-piece toner/drum cartridge
(such as printers with canon LX & SX engines, including most of the Apples).
for quality output needs of a designer, consider 400dpi, or any of the
"resolution enhancement" approaches (Apple, HP, NewGen). SX engines
can take remanufactured toner carts that are considerably higher quality
than the standard carts. (i recommend LaserTech of Boulder as a source.)
most of these are pricier than the range you quote.

>: II. Scanners
>: [. . .]

i don't know much about these, but i do know that Photoshop is the
best general purpose program for those doing serious color imaging.

>: 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).

the mechanisms and cartridges for the 44 & 88s all are manufactured by 
Syquest. it's the drivers with which the cartridges are formatted that
cause the incompatibility problems. i use Syquest carts a lot and have
only had one (minor) compaitibility problem. use good driver software.

for designers who take files to service bureaus, the 44 meg Syquest is the
best choice because all the bureaus and color houses have them (the 88s
are not fully backward compatible). i find them very reliable and
convenient. there is snazzier technology on the market, but it won't
do you much good if no one else has it.
>: 
>: 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.

i don't know th large monitors well, but i suggest a compromise, since 
price is an issue. if screen space is most important, get a 16" w/an 8-bit
card. if hi-res color (to really to get some use out of the color 
scanner) is more important, get a 24-bit accellerated card for a 13"
monitor.
>: 
>: 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
>-- 
>Sham(u) ya tha (s)seif(u) lam yaghib(i) | Ibaa Oueichek. oueichek@imag.imag.fr
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steve harley     sharley@nyx.cs.du.edu