home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Jason Aller Floppy Collection
/
266.img
/
VP30-02.ZIP
/
EXAMPLES.ZIP
/
MAGAZINE.TXT
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1990-03-22
|
4KB
|
93 lines
@HEADLINE = Laser Printers Arrive
@DECKHEAD = Speedier, Less Costly Laser Printers Are Changing the
Computer Business
@BYLINE = by Joseph Smith
@CREDITLINE = Joseph Smith pioneered the publishing revolution by
being the first to use the phrase Professional Publishing.<><$&Frame
1[v]><>
@FIRSTPAR = A<|>s laser printers gain more attention with lower prices,
higher speeds and quality output, high-end dot-matrix printers are
starting to lose some of their appeal.
Though PC users are still buying dot-matrix printers, the laser printer
is giving them an alternative to think about, according to industry
observers.
Laser printers, though relatively expensive, are being used more in
networked environments where the distributed use of the printer justifies
the expense, several analysts said. The non-impact printers also catch
user interest because they are less noisy, offer sharper graphics
(commonly 300-by-300 dots per inch) and can produce from eight to
10 pages per minute.
@SUBHEAD = Competing Technologies
@BULLET = Daisy Wheel
@BULLET = Dot Matrix
@BULLET = Laser printers
@BULLET = Laser printers with write-white engines and copier options,
using dry powder toner.
Laser printers still have a few areas that could be improved, according
to George Jones, a key industry analyst. He noted that there are no
standards in controllers for laser printers and but the cost of using
a laser is now less than a dot matrix on a cost-per-copy per minute
basis.
The laser printer provides sharper graphic images, Jones noted, and
the laser now has the wealth of software support dot-matrix printers
have always enjoyed. So, if a user moves to a laser printer from a
dot-matrix printer <169>he can run much of his graphics software and
get better graphics resolution,<170> Jones said.
<169>The next step is developing generic graphics drivers which support
lasers at 300-by-300 resolution. That's when you will see a huge impact
on dot-matrix printers, both in price and the number of units shipping,<170>
he said, adding that it will be a year to 18 months before this happens.
Jones was quick to point out that he never sees dot-matrix printers
disappearing. <169>Multiple-part forms are still important, and an
impact printer is needed for that.<170> He also noted that people
will always want hard copies for their files or interoffice memos,
and the quickest, most cost-efficient way of doing that is through
a low-cost dot-matrix printer<197>without having to wait in line for
a share laser printer. Current sales figures seem to bear Jones out.
In its June 1985 Store Board Survey, market-research firm Laser Computing
of Alamo, Texas, polled over 600 computer specialty stores finding
that, while laser-printer sales are up, they have not eclipsed dot-matrix
printers.
Laser Computing analyst Todd Wiggins said he expects dot-matrix printers
to continue competing with laser printer in the future. He also said
the two technologies can work well together. <169>If you've got a
laser shared by six to 10 people, you may still have dot-matrix printers
for drafts of your own work. I think there's room for both [types]
for a while,<170> he said.
As the prices of laser printers fall, more PC users may choose them
over dot-matrix printer. Wiggins said the current value of the laser-printer
market is about $450 million, expected to grow to about $2.2 billion
by 1990.
Bill James product marketing manager with Acme Hardware which produces
impact as well as non-impact printers, said both have a category in
which they're most efficiently used.
He said dot-matrix printers are suited for <169>fast utility output,
like internal documents, and for operational documents such as multi-part
forms used with invoices. These are things that you don't need full-font
printer for.
As for laser-printer applications, James said they are good in areas
<169>where people don't need multiple-part forms, where they need
to output data with high quality and speed<197>like in a group doing
systems programming or an accounting department.<170>