Which Plotter for Mac OSX??

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I know this has been asked before, but as I have searched through, I can't find a consenus. Here's my situation:

I am running AC9 on a G5 Mac (dual 2.0gHz) and need a 24" plotting solution, instead of the PDF option which has worked fine, but I really want a "set it and forget it" solution plotting from PM. Can those Mac users weigh in on a reliable solution?

Thanks!

+pablo

[Thomas Holm]

For plotting/printing from the Mac, Postscript in the plotter used to be a requirement for good quality output. Not so anymore with OSX. HP has good hardware. Find the option that fits your capacity requirement, (starting with the 130 series) and test it before buying. Bring an OSX machine with Archicad/PM installed to your dealer, if necessary, and test.

[TomWaltz]

We're using the Kip Starprint 2000 and 8000.

They took a little setup, but have worked well since. The 2000 jams if you change paper rolls a lot (we have 3 different paper sizes in ours). The 8000 absolutely screams, printing 22 Arch D sheets per minute, but it's a but pricey.

[Rick Thompson]

Depending on how much you want to spend... I am very happy with an Oce 9300. That models gone, but I would assume the new version would be even better. It is very fast (it's laser plotter), never jambs, "cheapish" to run, no warm up (huge) and great prints. I run about 20,000 feet per year and never think about it.

[Stress Co_]

Find the option that fits your capacity requirement, (starting with the 130 series) and test it before buying.

Don't by an HP 130 if you plan on printing to Vellum or T-bond. This printer uses pigmented ink and so ...these are "unsupported" media.

Marc

[Anonymous]

We used both an HP750C (older) and an HP1055CM+ (newer) across our network with no serious complaints. Try different bond papers until you find one that you like the results on.

[Anonymous]

We have 3 G5 machines all 2.0 and higher and one XP machine. We bought a HP Designjet 800 PS and have spent three days trying to get the macs to print without error from our Macs. We are using Archicad 8.1. When it does print...It looks great and seems to be an easy machine to deal with. We have had tech people from Graphisoft and HP trying to help us and we are still without reliable printing capabilities. So...Maybe I would look for a different machine. Or at least be prepared for a bit of work in the setup process.

Good luck,

[Rick Thompson]

rhewer wrote:
When it does print...It looks great and seems to be an easy machine to deal with. We have had tech people from Graphisoft and HP trying to help us and we are still without reliable printing capabilities. .

Good luck,

For what it is worth... plotting on the Mac via the plot command, or via Publisher, has not worked right in a long time, even on AC9. However, it works great if you use Plotflow. For whatever reason that has been the only reliable way to plot with a Mac in my experience. Plotflow is a much better route in my opinion for many reasons. I have reported this as a bug several times, but for me Plotflow remains the method of choice, and actually a very good one.

[Anonymous]

i just got an HP designjet110 plus nr. it has 24" roll feed. usb connection. works great so far. $1,523.prints fine to bond and vellum

donald mac donald

mac G-5, V-9

[Anonymous]

Pablo,

We have 5 Dual 2.x G5's and an HP Designjet 800ps 42" model. The plotter is awsome and once we worked out the bugs it seems to be fine. Just make sure you update all the drivers and firmware. Should only have to do that once. We plot all the time now and have had great results.

Rob