CompuServe Messages

Malcom, Pagesetter was not much better printing to dot matrix printers. Funny thing is – NOW it is better. A "trickle down" benifit from Pro Page. Version 1.0 was designed only for PostScript. Any other printing was just a "tack on". I knew that. Every magazine reported it in their reviews. I didn't buy it then for just that reason. Then when 1.1 (or was it 1.2?) came out, they advertised claims like "much improved dot matrix printing" through "improved printing routines" (or something to that effect). That is when I purchased Pro Page. And discovered, much to my chagrin, that they were describing what the "new" AmigaDOS 1.3 print routines would do for dot matrix printing. Not acceptable. If they had "stuck to their guns" and kept it a PostScript only program, I would have had no quibble with them. I felt I had been "had", for the above mentioned reasons. That is only my opinion however. BUT, if they were going to add support for non-PostScript printers (to make the program more salable), they should have done it better the FIRST time. "Serious" DeskTop Publishing demands the use of PostScript printers, no arguement. I got tired of fighting the different software packages and finally bought a PostScript printer. NOW the PostScript alternatives are very numerous. But a year ago or so you still had to look at about $3000 MINIMUM to get a PostScript printer. A LOT more people could afford HP type lasers, or a DeskJet at the "low end". And those printers can do a very credible job of DTP work, given the proper software. And those users were being ignored, forced to print screen resolution fonts to their 300 DPI printers. It was suggested they print their pages at FOUR TIMES the normal size, and then photocopy the page at .25% to get an "apparent 300 DPI". Yeah…… Anyway, now they BOTH print to non-PostScript printers in a much better fashion. And produce more than acceptable output. A little late, but better than nothing. At least many people won't have to try to scrimp and save for [ MORE ]