O.k., all you digital imaging folks:  Looking for comments of any
kind comparing the Condonics NP-1600 and the Tektronix Phaser 450.
We're presently in the market to purchase a full page "publication
quality" dye-sublimation printer, and based on vendor lit.,
listserver comments, and industry reviews. (Where as the Fuji
Pictography 3000 looks really nice its just a little out of our
price range, scarily slow).

Image Sources:

- Need to print via a networked solution, perferably a directly
networked printer.

- Printing variety of images, but primarily Greyscale EM, color
Confocal, and full color LM images.  Ranging from 256 x 256, on up to
over 5,000 x 5,000.  (Fully realizing that at 300dpi 1:1 isn't going
to happen)

- Printing from Intel PC's (Primarily Win NT) and Some Mac's, and a
variety of software.


Codonics:

        Whereas this printer comes highly regommended by the Microscopy
community (Even recommened by a vendor who sold the Tektronix and
NOT the Condonics) I have some grave concerns about it.

(1)  Considering the highly computer oriented nature of digital
imaging, the Condonics web site(http:\\www.codonics.com\) is
pathetic, and last updated Aug, 6, 1997 with the NP-1600 page
updated Dec, 5, 1995!).  No online tech support, no on-line
drivers, no FAQ's, no even a downloadable  PDF manual. Whereas the
"built in floppy drive for easy upgradability" maybe great but where
do the "upgrades" come from?  Snail mail communications?  Any feeling
for longer term support?  (Last Codonics I worked with, '90-'94,
worked great, but 1.5 years after purchase Tech support didn't really
want to help at all with drivers for Windows 3.1 world, they had
moved on to better things I guess)

(2)  What, if any, options are there?

(3)  Web search for "codonics" only results in 50-60 different sites
for "Instructions for printing to the Codonics printer".

(4)  No OS specific drivers, simply allows straight transfer of
most image formats to the printer (this is nice) or relies on
Post-Script printing (which is an option? How is it implemented?),
but does require "loging on" and some rather criptic numerical
"print-like-this" mode commands.  I take it you are stuck with 1:1
printing and thus have to scale your image sizes prior to printing.

(5)  From the user end (since most users aren't computer techno geeks
like some of the rest of us) how user friendly is it really?

(6)  Very fast, to Fastest on market - great.  Any comments,
particularly compared to Tektronix?

(7)  Handles multiple jobs simultaneously - again great!  Any
comments?


TEKTRONIX

(1)  Solid support for a variety of printing environs but primarily
graphics industry, not sci. imaging.

(2)  Solid on-line tech support.

(3)  Requires OS specific drivers - how easily installed?

(4) Requires memory upgrade for larger image printing.


        Any requested confidentiality for candid comments will be strongly
protected.  Vendors should feel free to reply as well.

        Thank you.



Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D.
Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor
352 Pearson Hall
Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056
Ph: 513.529.5712        Fax: 513.529.4243
E-mail: [log in to unmask]


"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
     -- Bill Gates, 1981