Architosh Staff (info@architosh.com)

18 Jan 2001

 

Macworld SF 2001 - AEC Report - p2

• What AEC document tools were shown at the Macworld Expo?

• How do I print my AEC documents?

• How do I print my CAD/3D documents in large format?

• How do I work with my AEC documents in the field?

• How do I photo-document my AEC projects? New!

• What tools can I use for digital photo editing? New!

• How do I manage my digital media files? New!

• How do I showcase/promote/publish my AEC work? New!

• How do I print my AEC documents?

Canon has new multifunction printers for you Macintosh. The MutliPASS C545 and C555 are two such models. They start for under US$200 and do both color printing, copying and faxing. If a single-purpose inkjet is what you need, Canon makes a number of USB-based models for both Mac and Windows. The S400 is just $99 and offers resolutions up to 1440x720dpi. Other printers include the BJC-2100, S450, BJC-8200, and the mobile printers BJC-55 and BJC-85, both with wireless Fast IfDA printing for laptops with infrared capabilities.

Espon has been producing awesome award-winning printers for the Mac for years now and keep adding more products. Epson's newest printer, the Stylus Photo2000P offers truly bleeding edge archival quality prints. Other models include: Epson Stylus Color580, 777i, 880i, and Epson Stylus Photo 875DCS, EPL-5700i Laser Printer and the old but trusty Stylus Color 1520 (medium format printer). For photographic printers, Epson makes the Stylus Photo 875DC, 870, 1160, 1270, and 3000, in addition to the new Photo2000P.

HP continues to push forward with ever more products for the Macintosh, a telling sign of their confidence in the platform. Anyone remember HP's lack of Mac support just a few years ago? Things have changed. To get their entire Mac line of products for home or home office, which has grown to over 35 products go here (and prepare to wait quite a long time) Boy! there site is pathetically slow at times.

Key products include the HP DeskJet 935c and HPLaserJet 4050. Wide format printers (not plotters) include products like the HP DeskJet 1220cse and DeskJet 1220c/ps. These printers print up to 13x19 in. and support optional network cards for Mac ethernet networks. Additionally there are four laser printers for the Mac, including one that starts at $769.

HP now has a Macintosh Business Products Line page which features, an HP Mac-connect Solutions for Mac OS X Public Beta. This page simply tells you that they will not be releasing beta drivers. New and key products in the Business Products list include the new HP DeskJet 990cxi Professional. This printer supports native Apple QuickDraw and HP PCL 3 enhanced printer languages and duplex printing, and 8 MB of memory. The new HP Photosmart 1215 printers feature two models. These are really nice printers. They feature HP's color layering technology, 2400dpi output and support for digital camera flash memory cards. The HP Photosmart 1218 features two-sided printing and optional network support.

Other key products include the new DesignJets, 500, 800 and 5000 series. Additionally the HP DesignJet ColorPro GA is a medium format printer costing $1681.

Xerox has not only acquired leading color laser printer maker Tektronix, but jumped into the ink-jet market with a passion. Two new products from the combined talents of both Tektronix and Xerox are the Phaser 1235 and Phaser 790. Xerox's new breed of intelligent ink-jets include the DocuPrint M750 and M760 models (USB for Mac OS 8-9+).

• How do I print my CAD/3D documents in large format?

Key products include the new DesignJets, 500, 800 and 5000 series. Additionally the HP DesignJet ColorPro GA is a medium format printer costing $1681. Epson's venerable 1520 is also an excellent medium format, networkable ink-jet printer. And of course the older HP DesignJet models which are still available from some resellers make good buys as well.

Between Canon, Epson, HP and Xerox, there are over 50 printing solutions for Macintosh AEC, from sizes as small as a stamp to large posters beyond 20' long. And yet there is even more! And we will be bring that news to you at the Seybold Boston show in February, the premier show for the publishing industry. But for now this is a pretty big group of competiting products to look at.