Mobile, Atlanta-based QMS Inc has announced its QMS-PS 1700, a 17 page-per-minute, RISC-based, 600 dpi network laser printer: it is designed to serve up to 20 users in any computing environment and can be shared simultaneously amongst different kinds of systems; the QMS-PS 1700 connects directly to the backbone of either Ethernet or Token Ring networks, and this direct attachment is said to increase print speeds dramatically and enable users to place the printer at the most convenient location along the network; QMS’ MultiRes technology provides 600 by 600 dpi, four times the normal resolution, and the printer also has microfine toner; host interfaces are active simultaneously and continuously, enabling any system to communicate jobs to the printer at any time; also, configurable input buffers use the printer’s random access memory – up to 32Mb – to spool print jobs so that they go to the printer over any interface; the printer is powered by a 25MHz Intel Corp 80960CA RISC-based internal controller and the 1700 includes standard RS-232C serial, Centronics parallel and LocalTalk interfaces; a fourth slot holds an optional Ethernet or Token Ring network interface card which supports NetWare, TCP/IP, DECnet or EtherTalk protocols; the optional Token Ring interface supports NetWare protocol; the 1700 printer costs $8,000.
