🚀 go-pugleaf

>They are interested in setting up an area specifically for
>desktop publishing and would prefer to be in a UNIX environment as all
>their office automation is currently on UNIX/XENIX machines.

     Here at Harris, we use Frame Maker, from Frame Technology, on Sun
workstations.  Our users are pleased, and the overall cost per system is
relatively low.  If you want real Unix machines, I think it is a mistake to 
go with Mac II.  Sun workstations are far more "developed" in that the Unix
is mature, network support is built in, and the Sun Unix community is growing
by leaps and bounds.  I would guess that a Mac II, equipped with a 19" 80 dpi
screen (on a Sun, that comes to 1152x900, allowing full 8.5x11 WYSIWYG), 
Ethernet, at least 140 Mbytes of disk, 8 megs of memory, Unix, two serial 
ports, mouse, and 1/4" cart tape would cost far more than a 3/60 so equipped.
If you can live with just 4 megs of memory, a 3/50 is definitely cheaper.
Suns also give you an upgrade path to faster machines, up to 8 mip Sun-4, if
you so desire.

     If you must have PC compatibility, look at the new Sun RoadRunner (I
think they designated it the Sun-386i), which is a 386 based workstation with
all of the above features.  However, I don't know if Frame Maker runs on this
platform yet.

     I can't speak for plotters, but if you need higher than 300 dpi from a
laser printer, you're talking big bucks, particularly if you want PostScript
compatibility.  We find the LaserWriter (300 dpi) to be perfectly adequate
for our in-house publishing and some camera-ready work.  I also don't know
about color raster devices, especially PostScript ones.  You may want to look
into the new HP ThinkJet printers, or the new (expensive) Seiko color printers.

Chuck Musciano
Advanced Technology Department
Harris Corporation
(305) 727-6131
ARPA: chuck@trantor.harris-atd.com

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