Is your computer ready for desktop publishing? Whether upgrading your system or starting from scratch, here's how to get started in DTP - Desktop Publishing - Column

Home Office Computing, March, 1993 by Steve Morgenstern

That's why, for professional-looking desktop publishing, a laser printer is essential. For simple projects, you can do without PostScript capability (more on that later), and you don't need a speed-demon printer made for multiple users in an office environment. I've been impressed with the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIIp laser printer, which can be upgraded to PostScript capability later on. Other strong contenders in the under$1,000 laser printer market include NEe, Texas Instruments, and Canon.

ADD SOPHISTICATION AND STIR

Let's crank the complexity level of our publications up a notch. Now we have a product catalog with several illustrations on each spread; or a newsletter with line art or photographs, and stories that don't follow in neat ducks-following-Mama sequence; or a flier with a picture or two, a fancy headline, and a coupon with a dotted border at the bottom of the page.

What software? Now you want page-layout software. Yes, I know you can do an awful lot with sophisticated word processors. In fact, there's a mini-industry of books and videos devoted to showing you precisely how to push WordPerfect or Microsoft Word to their desktop-publishing limits. But why bother, when it is faster and easier to use a dedicated page-layout program? What's more, powerful entry-level software in this category is dirt cheap.

I am a staunch proponent of today's midrange page-layout programs. If you walk into your local computer store and ask the guy about desktop publishing, he'll probably push you towards one of the Big Three: Aldus PageMaker, Ventura Publisher, or Quark XPress, each of which runs about $600 to $800 at retail for either Windows or the Mac. Don't get me wrong: These are terrific programs, and I use them for many of my own projects. But they are professional-level tools, with power and complexity most people won't need or want. For $100 to $150 you can buy a midrange program that offers an extraordinary amount of power and won't take you weeks to master. Specifically, on the Macintosh, I like both Publish-It? Easy from Timeworks and Aldus Personal Press. On the PC side there are Microsoft Publisher, Publish-It!, and Express Publisher (separate versions for DOS and for Windows, from Power Up Software). These are not second-rate tools by any manner or means. In fact, I prepared an entire 224-page illustrated book using Personal Press.

What hardware? Now let's talk computer hardware. I cannot undertake serious page layout on a small-screen compact Macintosh. Instead, ! need a computer with a separate monitor, preferably a 13-inch model at least (although Apple's 12-inch monitor will do in a pinch). A 40MB hard-disk drive is OK if that's what you already own, but if you're going out to buy a system now, get at least an 80MB drive. And 4MB of system memory is mandatory (try for 8MB if you can). Which models are we talking about? If you're trying to scrimp. the LC II (or its near-twin, the Performa 400). If you have a few more dollars to spend, look at the Macintosh IIsi (my everyday Macintosh), the IIci for a little more money, or the Performa 600 (I particularly like the model with built-in CD-ROM drive).