On another topic, I am interested if anyone out there has found a
video copy processor (VCP) or other screen dump device which has the
following characteristics:
1) Compatible with video signals from modern Unix workstations,
such as SGI Indy. Typically, this means a horizontal scan frequency of
about 78 kHz for a 1280 X 1024 display with a 76 Hz refresh rate.
2) Inexpensive to operate, preferably printing on rolls of thermal
paper.
3) Does not need to support large media size; e.g. 110 X 120 mm is fine.
4) Photographic or near-photographic quality output of grayscale images.
5) Fast printing, i.e. no more than about 90 seconds per print.
All of these specifications except (1) were met nicely by
Mitsubishi's P68 thermal transfer dye sublimation video copy processor,
which we have used on both our Bruker AM and AMX/ABX systems for several
years. We are now planning to upgrade from the X32 computer to the SGI Indy
and have learned that the P68 VCP's are not fast enough to handle the
Indy's video output without an additional (and very expensive) SGI video
card to slow down the video signals to a rate acceptable to the P68 (vH <=
35 kHz). Bruker is now replacing their customers' VCP's with Tektronix 440
dye sublimation printers, which take PostScript output from the Indy rather
than analog video signals. The Tek 440 gives beautiful prints on both paper
and transparency film, but is slow and uses hideously expensive media and
supplies. Thus, we would also like to have an Indy-compatible VCP on each
workstation for everyday printing of NMR images.
We have learned that Mitsubishi has not updated the P68 for faster
scan rates and probably never will. I recall that SISCO instruments once
used Seikosha VCP's but I can't find any address for that company.
I would appreciate any suggestions on an inexpensive solution to
the Indy grayscale video printing problem. As before, I will be pleased to
collect and summarize the responses in a future posting to this bulletin
board.
Regards,
Ken Fishbein
Facility Manager, NMR Unit
NIH/NIA/GRC
Ph. (410) 558-8176, 8388, 8169
FAX (410) 558-8173
E-mail: fishbein@vax.grc.nia.nih.gov
Address: Ken Fishbein
NIH/NIA/GRC
4940 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224 USA