Printer Under $2000
 
Microbytes Daily News Service Copyright (c) 1989, McGraw-Hill, Inc. With
yesterday's announcement of the MicroLaser, Texas Instruments is the latest
company to offer a laser printer priced at less than $2000. With the new $1999
printer, TI makes the growing list that includes Epson, Toshiba, and
Hewlett-Packard.
 
In many ways, the new TI MicroLaser is similar to H-P's LaserJet IIP. Like the
LaserJet, the MicroLaser comes with 512K of memory in its least-expensive
configuration; the MicroLaser is also upgradable to 4.5 megabytes and
PostScript (LaserJet emulation is also standard). The MicroLaser costs more
(the H-P is $1495) but runs at 6 pages per minute instead of the LaserJet's 4
ppm and holds more paper. The MicroLaser also uses small ROM cards instead of
the font cartridges employed by H-P.
 
A PostScript upgrade for the MicroLaser requires installation on the removable
motherboard, while the H-P's PostScript upgrade is in a font cartridge. The
MicroLaser offers two levels of PostScript upgrade: a version that gives you 13
fonts for $3000, and a full version that includes 35 fonts for $3500. The
LaserJet IIP's PostScript will include 35 fonts and, with the necessary memory
upgrade, will have a list price of about $3500.
 
TI says the MicroLaser is officially scheduled to be available before the end
of the year, but the company currently plans to have it out by Comdex next
month.
 
Contact: Texas Instruments, Data Systems Group, PO Box 202230, DSG-290,
Austin, TX 78720; (800) 527-3500.
 
                              --- Frank Hayes
 
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