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MODEL DATA Model Number QMS-PS 810 turbo Introduction Date August 1989 Original MSRP $5,995 Replaces Model QMS-PS 810 Replaced by Model QMS-PS 815/825
GENERAL INFORMATION
The QMS-PS 810 turbo established a new class of printers for QMS. It was both the fastest PostScript laser printer made and the only QMS printer to feature a SCSI port. The SCSI port could be used for up to 7 hard drives to hold downloadable typefaces, emulations, and PostScript programs. The PS 820 turbo is the dual bin version of the 810 turbo. All other features are the same, and the engines and control panels are the same as those used for the non-turbo 810/820.
QMS and Apple printers have always been similar products because they both use Canon engines and Adobe-based controllers. In order to compete with Apple, QMS designed versions that ran a little faster and had a few more features. When QMS introduced the PS 810 in October of 1987, Apple was still selling the slow CX based LaserWriter Plus, a first generation PostScript product. The QMS-PS 810 was the hands down winner in every comparison article because it had the SX engine and the faster ASAP controller, plus more features for PC users. When the LaserWriter II NT was introduced in January of 1988, the PS-810 was still the preferred product because of the faster QMS ASAP technology and a 16 MHz processor (vs. the NT's 12 MHz processor). The NT didn't have a Centronics Parallel port or HP emulation, which, at the time, made it impractical for PC users, and the RAM on the NT was fixed at 2 megabytes. For a short time it looked like many faithful Apple customers were going to switch to QMS for their next printer.
Then Apple introduced the LaserWriter II NTX in February of 1988. The NTX was faster and more expandable than the PS-810 because it was based on the 68020 processor running at 16.67 MHz. (The 810's 68000 is a 16-bit processor; the NTX's 68020 is a 32-bit processor.
The NTX was also much more expandable (to an astounding 12 megabytes of RAM) than the 810, and it had a SCSI port for an optional hard disk that could be loaded with Adobe's huge library of fonts. Naturally, the NTX captured the professional DTP market for fast, low cost proofing for Linotronic imagesetters. The PS 810 was still very popular in its niche, but Apple had the premier product.
It wasn't until August of 1989 that QMS again got back into first place in the Adobe PostScript race with the PS 810 turbo. The processor was a 20 MHz 68020 with ASAP versus the 16 MHz of the NTX without ASAP. The turbo had 39 fonts resident instead of 35, and the list price was $1000 less. Maximum RAM was 8 MB, which is plenty for virtually any application though not as much as the NTX. Like NTX, the 810 turbo had a SCSI interface for more fonts on-line. However, by the time the 810 turbo was introduced, the industry was buzzing with talk about RISC processors that were far faster than the NTX. So the 810 turbo turned out to be too little, too late to catch the attention of the market. It never stole the show as it would have if it had been introduced soon after the NTX.
Up until 1992, the PS-810 turbo was probably the best printer available for proofing Linotronic. It is an authentic Adobe implementation rather than a clone, and it can use a SCSI hard drive. Adobe is just beginning to introduce printers based on RISC technology. Most of the faster RISC based printers execute clones of Adobe PostScript. The clones are getting very good, but experts will notice that sometimes the fonts and graphics produced by some clones are not quite the same as those procuced by true Adobe.
The Printer Works offers PS 810 turbo printers and PS 810 turbo controller board upgrade kits to convert other types of SX and TX based printers. Please check with us for great deals on these excellent products.
FONT INFORMATION
The resident typefaces are the standard Adobe "Plus" set of 35 with four variations of Helvetica Condensed added to make a total of 39 faces. Evidently, Helvetica Condensed was once more popular with professional typesetters than Helvetica Narrow.
REFURBISHED PRINTERS AVAILABLE
The QMS-PS 810/820 turbo has been discontinued, but The Printer Works can build them from parts at special request. Refurbished printers are in like-new condition and come with a full one-year warranty. For a price quote, select the printer's part number in the ordering information table.
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CONTROLLER SPECIFICATIONS Part Number 2905145-902 Designer QMS Manufacturer QMS & Adobe Design Similar to None Std. Emulations PostScript, LaserJet+ (HP-PCL), Diablo 630, HP 7475A (HP-GL) Opt. Emulations None Emulation Brand Adobe CPU & Clock Rate 68020 @ 20 MHz Bitmap Resolution (max) 300 X 300 RET None Base RAM 2 Megabyte Max RAM 8 Megabytes ROM 1 Megabyte Font Cartridges None Control Panel Type OEM LED Display Standard Interfaces RS-232, RS 422/AppleTalk, Centronics Parallel, SCSI Optional Interfaces None
The 810 turbo controller represents the third generation of QMS/Adobe ASAP technology. The same PCBA is used in the 820 turbo. Standard base RAM is 2 megabytes and 2 additional megabytes can be plugged into sockets provided without changing a custom PAL! A 4 Mbyte daughter board from QMS provides additional expansion to 8 megabytes. HP LaserJet emulation is included and works well for most programs. With the fast processor and Adobe's nifty emulation that builds HP fonts from the scalable Adobe library, the PS-810 turbo in PCL mode is faster than a real LaserJet II. No functionality boards are needed as all firmware is on the main board.
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You can check prices or order these items from the ordering information table below.
The QMS-PS 810/820 use the same toner cartridges as all other SX-based printers.
PAPER HANDLING
The 810/820 printers use the same shaped paper trays and high-capacity feeders as all other SX-based printers. All versions are physically interchangeable, but there are slight color differences. (See also Diagram 300.)
MEMORY
Standard base RAM is 2 MB and an additional 1 or 2 megabytes can be plugged into sockets on the 810 turbo motherboard. Unlike the PS 810, you do not need to change any other chips when adding this memory. A 4 MB RAM expansion card from QMS may then be added to bring the memory up to 8 megabytes.
CONTROLLER UPGRADE OPTIONS
The PS 815/825 controllers have some very nice features that the earlier models lacked. These controllers have eliminated the interface/emulation selection switch by making all the interfaces active with automatic interface selection and automatic emulation sensing. The simple LED status panel is also replaced by a full-function LCD control panel. For improved print quality, the PS 815MR/825MR (Multi-Resolution) controller offers selectable 300 or 600 dpi resolution. One feature lacking on both the 815 and the 815 MR is the SCSI interface used for attaching an external hard drive. To upgrade to the PS 815/825 or the PS-815MR/825MR, the control panel must be changed in addition to the controller.
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For price and ordering information or to place the item in your shopping cart, select a Part Number in the table.
PRINTERS Part Number Description 5250026-901 Printer, QMS-PS 810 turbo 5250034-901 Printer, QMS-PS 820 turbo CONTROLLERS Part Number Description 2905145-902 Controller, QMS-PS 810/820 turbo MEMORY Part Number Description 2600059-901 Memory, 1 MB Kit for QMS-PS 810/820 turbo 2600059-902 Memory, 2 MB Kit for QMS-PS 810/820 turbo 2600059-903 Memory PCBA, 4 MB for QMS-PS 810/820 turbo DOCUMENTATION Part Number Description 11800114-001A Manual, User's Guide, QMS-PS 810/820 turbo SOFTWARE Part Number Description 7017599003 Software, QMS-PS Executive 7599005 Software, QMS-PS Executive HP-GL SCSI HARD DISKS Part Number Description 5100000-901 SCSI Hard Disk, 20 MB for QMS-PS 810/820 turbo 5100000-902 SCSI Hard Disk, 40 MB for QMS-PS 810/820 turbo
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