Japanese typewriter king Brother Industries Ltd seems to have a significant breakthough in the field of laser printer engines, and the firm’s Brother International Corp unit has introduced its first laser printer in the US at just $400. It is aimed at the small office and home market and a key feature according to the company is that it has a Straight Paper Path – capitalised because it is so important to Brother. Brother describes the Straight Paper Path as the most revolutionary technology yet applied to laser printers because today’s printers send the paper on an intricate maze around numerous rollers. Making straight the path reduces printing jams and makes possible printing on heavier weight paper stocks and non-standard paper sizes and labels. The printers are claimed to run at six pages per minute; Brother does not give a resolution but plans true 600 dot per inch resolution and higher speeds by the end of the year.
