Mobile, Alabama-based QMS Inc has launched the QMS-PS 815 MR and the QMS-PS 825 MR printers, which it says offer desktop publishers up to four times better quality and crispness of text and graphics than the traditional desktop laser printer. Based on Canon Inc print engines, QMS’ Multi-Res printing technology and Adobe System Inc’s PostScript software, the printers offer 600 by 600 as well as 300 by 300 dots-per-inch prints. The QMS-PS 815 MR has one 200-sheet capacity input tray, while the QMS-PS 825 MR has two 200-sheet input trays. Both printers produce up to eight pages per minute, and feature front panel menu selection. The new output devices also feature proprietary QMS Advanced System Architecture for Printing – ASAP IV technology, with a 20MHz Motorola 68020 processor, and QMS’s Jewell controller. The standard configuration includes 6Mb RAM upgradable to 8Mb, and features simultaneous interfacing and multilingual control panels. The printers feature QMS’ Emulation Sensing Processor technology, which automatically switches printer languages – PostScript, Hewlett-Packard Co’s HP PCL, or optional printer emulations such as HP-GL 7475A plotter language – based on the type of file being sent. Hewlett-Packard’s LaserJet Series II emulation and 45 resident Adobe typefaces with the Adobe Type Manager font scaling module are resident, and the printers ship with the QMS PS Executive Series facilities which include a PostScript printer driver for Microsoft Corp Windows 3.0 users. For compatibility with MS-DOS personal computers, Macintosh and networked systems, the printers come with RS-232-C serial, Centronics parallel and LocalTalk interfaces. The simultaneous interface capabilities enable all three interfaces to be active at the same time, says QMS, eliminating the need to change interface settings, either manually or via software. The QMS-PS 815 MR and 825 MR printers cost $5,500 and $6,500 respectively, and are scheduled to ship this month, via direct sales channels and a network of resellers in the US – outside the US, they are also available direct and from QMS distributors.
